Former world heavyweight boxing champion Michael Dokes, serving prison time for a 1998 assault, is in solitary confinement at Nevada's Indian Springs' Southern Desert Correctional Center for allegedly breaking the jaw of another inmate during an unsanctioned sparring session, sources inside the prison say.
Prison officials declined to comment about the incident -- or even confirm it happened -- saying that disciplinary actions of inmates are not public record.
However, an inmate and prison employee independently confirmed that Dokes, a 45-year-old hard-luck prizefighter once plagued by drug problems, has been in the prison's Unit 8 -- "the hole" -- since the incident about two weeks ago.
The inmate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the incident occurred in the prison gym, where inmates are allowed to work out and shadow box, but not allowed to spar with each other. The inmate said at least three corrections officers witnessed the sparring session.
An employee, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said it is common knowledge in the prison that Dokes will spar with anyone to give them an opportunity to boast that they worked out with a former world champ. The only condition is that potential sparring partners not hit Dokes in the face.
The employee said an inmate punched Dokes in the face during the sparring session and Dokes punched the man in the face. At first, the other inmate said he was OK, then later it was learned his jaw was broken, the employee said, noting that the gym supervisor had gone to the bathroom at the time of the incident.