Mike Weaver (boxer)

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Mike Weaver
Statistics
Nickname(s) Hercules
Rated at Heavyweight
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Reach 78 in (198 cm)
Nationality American
Born (1951-06-13) June 13, 1951
Gatesville, Texas
Boxing record
Total fights 60
Wins 41
Wins by KO 28
Losses 18
Draws 1

Michael Dwayne Weaver (born June 13, 1951, in Gatesville, Texas) a retired professional boxer who between March 1980 and December 1982 held WBA version World Heavyweight Championship, and who is better known in the boxing world simply as Mike Weaver.

Weaver is the oldest brother of "the fighting Weaver triplets" Floyd, Lloyd and Troy.

Marines

Weaver was a United States Marine Corps member from 1968 to 71, and went to Vietnam, and during this time got into amateur boxing and training. He notably fought Duane Bobick, a future amateur star out of the Navy. In a fight where both men were down, Weaver was outpointed.

Early pro career

By 1972 Weaver was living and training in California, and took up professional boxing. In his early career, Weaver was considered a journeyman opponent. He was frequently brought in on short notice and overmatched against more experienced and developed contenders, and used as a sparring partner for Muhammad Ali and Ken Norton, who famously nicknamed him "Hercules" due to his top developed muscle definition.

However after a few losses early on to tough fringe contenders like Howard Smith and even to journeyman Larry Frazier, Weaver showed signs of improvement. He fought both Bobick brothers, losing a debatable 10 round decicison to Rodney, and being stopped on a cut in the 7th to old amateur rival Duane but after decking him.

In 1976 Weaver beat well regarded veteran Jody Ballard, and in 1978 lost two close decisions. First to contender Stan Ward for the California State Heavyweight title, and then to Leroy Jones for the NABF heavyweight title.

Contender

In late 1978 Weaver got a new team and manager and reeled off five straight knockouts, two of which came over top ranked opponents. In October 1978 he came off the floor to knock out hard hitting Colombian Bernardo Mercado in 5, and in January 1979 knocked out hulking old foe Stan Ward in 9 to win the USBA heavyweight title.

World title challenge to Larry Holmes

These wins helped get him a high profile World title fight with reigning and undefeated WBC champion Larry Holmes in New York's Madison Square Garden in June 1979. New cable channel HBO bought the rights to the fight as Weaver was so lowly-regarded the fight was seen as a mismatch and the networks didn't want anything to do with it (Weaver was 20-8 to Holmes' 30-0).

But Weaver proved far better than expected, however, and gave Holmes a really tough battle. Finally Holmes would rally with that great champion reserve by decking Weaver with sharp uppercut in the 11th and stopping him on his feet in the 12th.

USBA belt contest

Although Weaver had lost, his surprise showing had made him a deserved high profile name. Later in the year he was back, retaining his USBA belt with a 12 round decision over Scott LeDoux whom he outboxed rather than slugged with. Using his jab a lot gaining complimentary reviews generally.

WBA heavyweight champion

In March 1980 fought John Tate for the WBA title, in Tate's backyard of Knoxville, Tennessee. Tate was an amateur star from the 1976 Olympic team. As a pro he had put together a 20-0 record and won the vacant WBA title by decisioning South African Gerrie Coetzee over fifteen rounds, in front of 86,000 hostile fans in Pretoria, South Africa.

Weaver v Tate produced one of the divisions finest knock outs ever. The giant taller Tate dominated Weaver for all the first 10 rounds. But then with sheer determination a battered Weaver suddenly turned it around, pushing Tate backward. But he'd left it 'too late?' noted the commentator, as only 5 rounds remained and Tate was expected to resume his lead. However with only 40 seconds left in the 15th round, Weaver caught Tate bouncing off the ropes towards him with a truly lethal left hook. It dropped Tate to the canvas out cold for well over a minute. Press pictures showed Tate sound asleep whilst Weaver did a handstand alongside to celebrate.

In October 1980 Weaver made his first defense, traveling to Sun City, South Africa, to fight Gerrie Coetzee. Weaver was hurt and nearly knocked down in the 8th round but rallied down the stretch and knocked Coetzee out in the 13th round. Coetzee a good boxer/puncher had never previously been down, amateur or pro.

In 1981 Weaver outpointed the spoiler James "Quick" Tillis over 15 rounds in Chicago to retain his title after a year's inactivity.

Vs. Michael Dokes, controversy

After another year's inactivity, Weaver took on highly regarded Michael Dokes in Las Vegas, December 10, 1982. Dokes came out fast and dropped Weaver inside the opening minute. As Weaver covered up on the ropes and Dokes missed a few swings, referee Joey Curtis stopped the fight after 1:03 had passed and awarded Dokes the victory by technical knockout. This caused controversy due to the timing of the stoppage, and many in the arena accused the fight of being fixed. The fight also occurred 28 days following the Ray Mancini-Duk Koo Kim fight in Las Vegas that resulted in Kim's death due to a brain injury and Curtis was said to have been warned by the Nevada State Athletic Commission to protect the health of the boxers in order to avoid another potential fight-related fatality. (ESPN later ranked this the #7 worst bad call by a referee in a fight, doing so in 2008.[1])

Weaver was given a rematch with Dokes on May 20, 1983, which ended in a 15-round majority draw; judge Jerry Roth gave Dokes a four point victory while judges Harold Lederman and Larry Hazzard had it even.

Challenges again for title and rest of career

In June 1985 Weaver took on Pinklon Thomas, who then held the WBC title. Weaver lost by eighth-round knockout. This would be Weaver's last title challenge although a notable 2nd round KO of Carl "The Truth" Williams a skilled boxer would follow the defeat to Thomas. Weaver continued to fight for another 15 years. His career ended at the age of 49 with a sixth round KO rematch loss to Larry Holmes.

Achievements & style

Weaver proved a courageous boxer not to be overlooked with a knock out punch who improved and developed to a notable peak. His first Holmes and Tate matches being his most famous.

After boxing

After retiring from boxing, Weaver worked for the US Postal Service. He has three daughters: Shanrika, Krystle, and AunJenelle Weaver.

Professional boxing record

41 Wins (28 knockouts, 13 decisions), 18 Losses (12 knockouts, 6 decisions), 1 Draw
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 67-6 United States Larry "Easton Assassin" Holmes TKO 6 17/11/2000 Mississippi Biloxi, Mississippi, United States Referee stopped the bout at 0:45 of the sixth round.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 21-7-1 United States Melvin "Top Gun" Foster TKO 9 08/08/1998 North Dakota Spirit Lake, North Dakota, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6-1-1 United States Derrick Ryals UD 10 27/03/1996 California Woodland Hills, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15-15-3 United States George O'Mara UD 12 21/06/1995 California Woodland Hills, California, United States NBA Heavyweight Title. 120-108, 119-109, 118-110.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9-5-1 United States Bill Corrigan TKO 2 17/09/1994 China Macao, China NBA Heavyweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 23-16 Mexico Ladislao Mijangos KO 2 06/06/1994 Mississippi Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi, United States IBA World Heavyweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 29-9 United States "Smokin" Bert Cooper UD 10 27/02/1993 China Beijing, China NBA Heavyweight Title. 98-93, 97-93, 96-94.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11-11-1 United States Mike Gans KO 5 17/11/1992 California Bakersfield, California, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 15-0 United States Lennox "The Lion" Lewis KO 6 12/07/1991 Nevada Stateline, Nevada, United States Weaver knocked out at 1:05 of the sixth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6-3 United States Dion Burgess TKO 5 18/07/1990 Canada Toronto, Ontario, Canada Referee stopped the bout at 2:58 of the fifth round.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 23-8-1 United States James "Bonecrusher" Smith UD 12 04/04/1990 New York New York City, United States WBA Americas Heavyweight Title. 109-118, 110-117, 107-118.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 30-4-2 United States Philipp Brown PTS 12 27/07/1989 New York New York City, United States WBA Americas Heavyweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10-4 United States Lionel "The Train" Washington TKO 1 01/05/1989 California Inglewood, California, United States WBA Americas Heavyweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 35-18-1 United States Bobby Crabtree KO 3 31/01/1989 California Reseda, California, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 18-1 South Africa Johnny DuPlooy KO 2 30/04/1988 South Africa Sun City, North West, South Africa
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17-0 South Africa Johnny DuPlooy TKO 7 28/11/1987 South Africa Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15-0-1 United States James Pritchard TKO 6 24/08/1987 Kentucky Louisville, Kentucky, United States Referee stopped the bout at 2:30 of the sixth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19-10 United States David Jaco KO 2 29/07/1987 Cameroon Yaounde, Cameroon
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 12-1-1 Canada Donovan "Razor" Ruddock SD 10 23/08/1986 North Carolina Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States 93-97, 96-94, 92-98.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 15-5 United States James "Bonecrusher" Smith TKO 1 05/04/1986 New York Latham, New York, United States Referee stopped the bout at 2:29 of the first round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17-1 United States Carl "The Truth" Williams TKO 2 16/02/1986 New York Troy, New York, United States Referee stopped the bout at 2:37 of the second round.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 25-0-1 United States Pinklon Thomas TKO 8 15/06/1985 Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada, United States WBC World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:42 of the eighth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16-2 United States Tony "Fighting Schoolteacher" Anthony DQ 1 09/11/1984 Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Anthony disqualified for hitting after the bell.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3-16 United States Billy Joe Thomas TKO 7 31/08/1984 Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Referee stopped the bout at 1:16 of the seventh round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18-5-2 United States Stan "Avalanche" Ward TKO 9 30/09/1983 California Inglewood, California, United States
Draw 26-0-1 United States Michael "Dynamite" Dokes PTS 15 20/05/1983 Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada, United States WBA World Heavyweight Title. 143-143, 144-144, 141-145.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 25-0-1 United States Michael "Dynamite" Dokes TKO 1 10/12/1982 Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada, United States WBA World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:03 of the first round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20-0 United States James "Quick" Tillis UD 15 03/10/1981 Illinois Rosemont, Illinois, United States WBA World Heavyweight Title. 146-142, 145-143, 147-142.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 23-1 South Africa Gerrie "The Bionic Hand" Coetzee TKO 13 25/10/1980 South Africa Sun City, North West, South Africa WBA World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:49 of the 13th round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20-0 United States "Big" John Tate KO 15 31/03/1980 Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee, United States WBA World Heavyweight Title. Tate knocked out at 2:15 of the 15th round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 25-7-4 United States Scott "Fighting Frenchman" LeDoux UD 12 24/11/1979 Minnesota Bloomington, Minnesota, United States USBA Heavyweight Title. 118-110, 117-114, 117-108.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12-6 United States Harry Terrell KO 4 22/09/1979 California Los Angeles, California, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 30-0 United States Larry "Easton Assassin" Holmes TKO 12 22/06/1979 New York New York City, United States WBC World Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 0:44 of the 12th round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3-4 United States Oliver Philipps KO 4 02/03/1979 Nevada Reno, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10-2-2 United States Stan "Avalanche" Ward TKO 9 18/01/1979 Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada, United States USBA Heavyweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 0-4-1 United States Abdul "Mel Rush" Khan KO 2 05/12/1978 Nevada Reno, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20-1 Colombia Bernardo Mercado TKO 5 22/10/1978 Nevada Reno, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1-3 United States Mike Creel KO 2 17/09/1978 Nevada Reno, Nevada, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 20-0-1 United States Leroy Jones UD 12 19/08/1978 Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada, United States NABF Heavyweight Title. 52-56, 53-55, 53-55.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 8-1-2 United States Stan "Avalanche" Ward UD 12 24/01/1978 California Sacramento, California, United States California Heavyweight Title. 113-115, 113-117, 113-117.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18-2-2 Argentina Pedro Lovell UD 10 15/11/1977 California Anaheim, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1-5-1 United States Dave Martinez KO 1 13/09/1977 Alaska Anchorage, Alaska, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14-0 United States Bill Sharkey MD 10 01/04/1977 New York New York City, United States 6-4, 5-4-1, 5-5.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4-3 United States Dwain Bonds KO 9 19/01/1977 Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 21-1 Tonga Fonomanu Young Sekona KO 6 04/11/1976 California San Carlos, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 25-7 United States Jody Ballard PTS 10 14/07/1976 Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 40-15-1 United States "Irish" Tony Doyle TKO 9 27/06/1975 California San Diego, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 23-6 Tonga Mani Vaka PTS 10 24/08/1974 Hawaii Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 23-0 United States Duane Bobick KO 7 26/07/1974 California San Diego, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11-8-1 United States Orville "Baby Boy" Qualls KO 2 31/05/1974 California San Diego, California, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 25-3 United States Rodney "The Bowlus Bear" Bobick PTS 10 22/03/1974 California San Diego, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5-3-1 United States Ellis "Kid Hercules" McKinley PTS 6 21/02/1974 California Los Angeles, California, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 5-0 United States "Laughing" Larry Frazier KO 2 11/12/1973 California San Francisco, California, United States Weaver knocked out at 2:15 of the second round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win -- United States "Bouncing" Bob Swoopes KO 1 09/11/1973 California San Diego, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9-2 Tonga Tony Pulu KO 2 11/10/1973 California Los Angeles, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4-0 United States Lyn Martin KO 1 10/09/1973 California Inglewood, California, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 4-0 United States Billy "The Kid" Ryan TKO 2 28/02/1973 California Fresno, California, United States Referee stopped the bout at 1:55 of the second round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win -- Carlos Lopez PTS 5 02/02/1973 California San Bernardino, California, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 4-1 United States Howard "K.O." Smith PTS 5 31/10/1972 California Bakersfield, California, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 3-1 United States Howard "K.O." Smith KO 3 14/09/1972 California Los Angeles, California, United States

References

External links

Preceded by
John Tate
WBA heavyweight champion
19801982
Succeeded by
Michael Dokes
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