This 12 round Continental Americas Heavyweight Championship fight between Evander Holyfield vs Michael Dokes took place on March 11, 1989 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, NV…..and was presented by Showtime Championship Boxing featuring broadcasters Dr. Ferdie Pacheco and Steve Albert….as this fight featured a future legendary heavyweight champion in Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield….against a great former heavyweight champion Michael “Dynamite” Dokes….in what turned out to be an exceptional fight.
1988 was another productive year for Holyfield….as he started by becoming the first universally recognized World Cruiserweight Champion after defeating the Lineal & WBC Champion Carlos De León at Las Vegas….when the fight was stopped after eight punishing rounds by Holyfield….when after that fight, The Real Deal announced he was moving up in weight to pursue the World Heavyweight Championship held by Tyson. His first fight as a Heavyweight took place in July of 1988 when he beat former Tyson rival James “Quick” Tillis by a knockout in five after Tillis had gone the distance with Tyson). For his third and final bout of 1988, he beat former Heavyweight Champion Pinklon Thomas by a knockout in seven rounds.
Holyfield began 1989 meeting another former Heavyweight Champion, Michael Dokes….as seen in the video below. This fight was named one of the best fights of the 1980’s by Ring magazine….as the best heavyweight fight in the 1980’s….as Holyfield won by a knockout in the tenth round….and then he went on to meet Brazilian Champion Adilson Rodrigues, who lasted two rounds. His last fight of the 1980s was against Alex Stewart….a hard punching fringe contender….as Stewart shocked Holyfield early, with quick, hard punches, but eventually fell in eight.
Holyfield’s opponent in this fight seen below was Michael Dokes….an American professional boxer who competed from 1976 to 1997…..and held the WBA heavyweight title from 1982 to 1983…..who as an amateur, won a silver medal in the heavyweight division at the 1975 Pan American Games….after losing the gold medal to Cuba’s legendary heavyweight Teofilio Stevenson in a 5 round decision. Dokes’s reign as the WBA title holder was short-lived…..as he lost his title by a tenth-round knockout to Gerrie Coetzee. He was later knocked out by future champion Evander Holyfield in a fight which was called the “Heavyweight Fight of the Year” in 1989….and the “Heavyweight Fight of the Decade” for the 1980’s.
Simply put, this fight is a real treasure in our expansive boxing video library here at Imasportsphile….as there will eventually be 620 world championship title fights from the golden age of boxing (1964 – 1995) posted on our site….and this fight will remain as one of the greatest contests in our library….so, click below and enjoy an outstanding heavyweight fight..
