40 years since one-minute WBA heavyweight fight
Fists fly as Weaver is robbed in Sin City
Today marks 40 years since American referee Joey Curtis’s decision to stop the WBA heavyweight title fight in one minute of the first round in favour of Michael Dokes brought chaos which resulted in fists flying from every corner inside Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, as fans protested against his decision.
Mike Weaver had previously stopped Gerrie Coetzee in the 13th round of his successful second defence at Sun City in 1980. He was making his third defence.
The fight – staged by Don King – took place on May 20 1982. Weaver was later quoted saying he was informed that Curtis took a bet on Dokes winning by the first round.
“Hercules“, as Weaver was called due to his incredible physique, went home a very disappointed and angry man.
He had sensationally ripped the title from “Big” John Tate in 1980. Then in Sin City, before many fans had even got comfortable on their seats, Curtis had stopped the fight.
Dokes jumped on Weaver, known as a slow starter, and dropped him. The defending champion got up and did not appear hurt. Dokes threw many punches but failed to land anything of significance before Curtis jumped in to raise Dokes’s hands.
Then there was chaos in the ring. Weaver’s brother almost dropped the newly crowned heavyweight world champion with a punch. Weaver said: “Dokes never hurt me; I heard the referee, Joey Curtis, bet on Dokes to win in round 1.”
Dokes was badly knocked in the 10th round by Coetzee in 1983. Dokes died of liver cancer in 2012 at the age of 54.
Weaver turns 71 on June 23.