Former world heavyweight champion Dokes dies

Former World Boxing Association (WBA) heavyweight champion Michael Dokes has died of liver cancer, aged 54, the WBA said Tuesday on its website. Dokes, who won the heavyweight title against Mike Weaver in December 1982, died in Akron, Ohio on Saturday. Dokes, nicknamed “Dynamite”, won 53 of his 61 fights, 34 by knockout, in a 21-year career. He won the WBA heavyweight title after his fight with Weaver was stopped in the first round. He drew the rematch with Weaver and retained the title before relinquishing it to Gerrie Coetzee in September 1983, dpa reported.