Michael Dwayne Weaver (born June 13, 1951) is
an American former professional boxer. Weaver fought in the heavyweight
division, and is a former WBA world heavyweight champion.
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" do 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 decision 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 knockout 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 a 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.
WBA heavyweight champion
In March 1980 he 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 vs Tate produced one of the
divisions finest knockouts 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.