Was Michael Dokes faster than Larry Holmes?

Question

Was Michael Dokes faster than Larry Holmes?

Answer 1

Dokes had faster HANDS than Larry but it would not have mattered because he didnt have the defensive ability to stop Larry from exploiting his other weaknesses.  

Dokes also didnt have the foot movement to trouble Larry.   He would land his share of jabs but he would pay a price for the other punches.   Larry was no turtle himself.  Dokes could land some conbinations but now without retaliation.  Holmes is always in much better shape than Dokes was.  

Dokes would lead on points for the first few rounds.  Larry's jab would swell Michael up a bit and he would also realize he has to slow Dokes down.   He did this very well against Carl Williams by going to the body.  

My money says Dokes would tire first.  He wasn't a very good 15 round fighter.   He could go the distance as he proved against Weaver but he's NOT a 15 round fighter in the way Larry is.  

Larry puts money in the bank with the early jab and body work.   He runs even in rounds 5 thru 8.  Guess who's starting to get tired.  Speed means nothing if you're too winded to punch.  

In round 10 a right over the top shakes Dokes.  Another to the side of the head has him doing the "drunken sideways crackhead" dance.    Dokes wobbles to the ropes with Holmes in persuit.  Dokes covers up and about half of Larry's punches get through.   That's all it takes for that last straight right to snap Michael's head back.  Before Holmes can land another punch the ref has seen enough.

Holmes by TKO in 10

Answer 2

no

Answer 3

No just look at his fights with Evander Holyfield.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH9Syucd2...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBnLPzHoj...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFz6HxN1-...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRPfNC9zG...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5hYajWO5...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb09LD_Yo...

Answer 4

Larry Holmes wasn't overly fast for a heavyweight, His jab was really quick but as for all round speed Dokes was much faster then Holmes.

Dokes was probably one of the fastest heavyweights of all time, defiantly making the top 10 for speed. He wasn't overly fast at getting out of the way of punches. But his hand speed was unmatched at the time.

But in the end I dont see what it matters, Holmes would take Dokes apart no matter how fast he was. Dokes was quick coming in at you but he left himself to open, any good heavyweight would and did have an easy time with him.

Bowe was not a fast heavyweight and he caught up with Dokes and finished him in the first round.

Ruddock got him in 4 or 5.

And although he was fast, he would tire easily, by the 4th or 5th round his speed would usually diminish and his opponent would pick him apart.

As for Stew61 comment on how he looked vs Holyfield, Holyfield was comming up from Cruiserweight and at the time he fought Dokes he was almost as fast as Dokes.

The problem Dokes had was that he was outclassed, Holyfield was relentless, you cant be fast when a guy has his gloves in your face the whole fight. Also he came into that fight at around 230 and Holyfield was barley over 200lbs.

Watch The Dokes-Weaver fights, or watch him earlier in his career, when he was in with other c level heavyweights he showed his speed. He just couldnt compete with the B and A class heavyweights. They all knew how to nulify his speed.

Answer 5

Single punches, Larry was faster, but Dokes could throw combos faster than Holmes.  Larry was hesitant to throw more than 2 punches at a time as he felt the need to temper aggression with defense.

Answer 6

No his arms were just shorter so he looked a lot faster than he was . Michael Dokes and I fought as armature's together in Ohio both fighters had a lot of snap on there punches

Answer 7

I am sure he was. with his knockout records.