European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - February 08, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse Making his first title defense heavyweight Champion Riddick Bowe follows through with a first round right he threw at challenger Michael a takes on saturday in new York Over chomp stops Dokes in 1st by Wallace Matthews new Day liw York Riddick Bowe stopped in his old Hometown saturday night for a Little while 139 seconds to be exact but it was Long enough for him to Batter Michael Dokes into a Stu por and drive 16,000 fans at Madison Square Garden into a rage. Bowe s Homecoming turned into a shambles of Boos catcalls and that one word eight letter chant that usually is heard Here a Hen the new York rangers Are playing. Bowe played with the woe fully Over matched Dokes for the first few seconds of the bout and then pounded him into the ropes with a 1-2 that Fol Lowed a combination of a right Lead and three left Hooks. Somehow not go All the Way Down his body re bounding off the ropes but referee Joe Santarpia wisely stepped in and administered a count. But As soon As Dokes got up Bowe pounced on him with a pair of left Hooks that had pokes in trouble. He staggered Forward into Bowe s fists catching a bar rage of lefts and rights but again refused to hit the Canvas. But when Dokes Stag gered backward into his own Corner Santarpia hesitated and allowed Bowe to land several More solid shots before he finally stepped in end stopped the fight with 41 seconds left in the round. Dokes 50-4-2 protested the stoppage mildly through bloodied lips and glazed eyes to Santarpia. Dokes Corderman Sterling Mcpherson seemed on the verge of apoplexy As he jumped up and Down around the ring his arms flailing. But it was Clear that had the bout gone much longer Dokes might have been Hurt badly. I thought he was Hurt said Bowe who earned $6 million for his Brief work night. I thought the referee should have stopped it. He was just no match for me. I Don t want to kill a Dokes however disagreed. I was under control he said. "1 was ready to fire Back. I was t even Hurt. How could he do that to me he never even asked me. He never said Bowe 33-0, 28 Kos said it All with his fists which landed 55 out of 83 times he threw them. The ropes saved Dokes Santarpia said. I looked in his eyes and he was gone. He was out. His eyes were Glassy. He was falling All Over the place. He must have got hit with 25 the stars and stripes february 1993 b Page 36 truth eludes battered Dokes by Lisa i Sakkis liw York him by nature Box ers and drug addicts Are among the worst candidates to see truth. Michael Dokes has qualified As both for a Long time. He does t believe he was knocked out by Champion Riddick Bowe at 2 19 of the first round saturday night. Before Bowe and his Camp entered the Post fight news conference Dokes had just one admission and it was t the right one. It was the worst officiating i be seen in a Long time he said. "1 feel somewhat guilty because 1 requested this Dokes curbing the referee Madison Square Garden and the City of new York said he thinks he deserves a re match from Bowe. His argument was based on the fact that he did t receive a standing eight count which the referee explained was unnecessary. He said unequivocally he plans to continue to fight. Asked what Bowe landed Dokes asked what did t he land but his Trainer Bill Slayton put it Best when he said he wanted to go out on his Bucknot like Mercer s shot Dies new York up Ray Mercer squandered a heavyweight title shot by losing a unanimous decision to Jesse Fer Guson saturday night on the under card of the Riddick Bowe Michael Dokes championship bout. Heavyweight Alex Stewart then threat ened to follow suit but escaped when he Kafoed Jerry wimpy Halstead at 1 46 of the seventh round with the third Knockdown of the round. Mercer admitting he looked ahead to Bowe called this a Good lesson Lor Young fighters but also blamed Back and shoulder injuries he said he suffered last week. Plodding through 10 rounds with his Lowe. Lip spouting blood for the last halt of the fight Mercer lost 96-94, 99-91, and 97-94 on the judges cards. Ferguson 35, improved to 19-9. Tennis world mourns Ashe Page 31 ow6850m000351
