Evander Holyfield looks to position himself for a shot at the Heavyweight Championship by taking on former titleholder Michael Dokes. They slug it out from the opening bell, with each man landing some low blows early. Dokes loses his mouthpiece early in the third round but has Holyfield hurt, and there is never a lull in the action to replace it. In the sixth, Steele penalizes Dokes a point for a low blow. A huge left hook from Holyfield early in the seventh knocks Dokes's mouthpiece out and has the former champion in trouble. Dokes shows his heart in dominating the early portions of round eight, but Holyfield rallies down the stretch to blast him with bombs of his own. An uppercut from Holyfield has Dokes wobbling in the tenth. Holyfield sends him staggering into the ropes with a left hook and snaps Dokes's head back with a straight right hand. Steele jumps in to stop the fight just as Dokes turns and collapses onto the second rope, ending a classic heavyweight battle.

A Date With Destiny: Michael Dokes vs. Evander Holyfield 

Dokes was a 5-1 favorite.
There was a crowd of about 7,000 at the Richmond Coliseum, which was about ten miles from Dokes' hometown of Akron.
About 15 people protesting Apartheid in South Africa, Coetzee's home country, distributed leaflets to fans as they arrived for the fight.
Dokes was dropped to one knee in the fifth round by a right.
A right dropped Dokes two seconds before the end of the tenth round, and he was counted out.
Named The Ring magazine Upset of the Year for 1983.
Dokes later told Sports Illustrated that he trained for the Coetzee fight on Jack Daniel's and cocaine.

Michael Dokes vs Gerrie Coetzee

Michael Dokes vs Randall 'Tex' Cobb

Heavyweight Champion Riddick Bowe returns home to New York City to make the first defense of his title against the tough Michael Dokes. Dokes opts to slug from the outset, which results in Bowe sending him staggering into the ropes after a right hand and a left hook. Bowe keeps punching, but Referee Joe Santarpia stops him and rules a standing eight count in the first heavyweight fight in which it is in the rules. When the fight resumes, they trade huge left hooks, staggering Dokes back into the ropes. Bowe continues to pound away on the helpless Dokes in the corner until Santarpia stops the fight. Dokes protests the stoppage, but Bowe gets the win.

A Date With Destiny: Michael Dokes vs. Evander Holyfield

Michael Dokes vs Gerrie Coetzee

Michael Dokes vs Randall 'Tex' Cobb

The Homecoming: Riddick Bowe vs. Michael Dokes

Michael Dokes vs Donovan Ruddock

Michael Dokes vs Gerrie Coetzee

Michael Dokes vs Jesse Ferguson

Jimmy Young vs Michael Dokes

Michael Dokes vs Lucien Rodriguez

Michael Dokes vs Randall Cobb

On this Day