R.I.P. - Bernard "Big Duke" Docusen
I felt the need to let the crowd at CBZ know that one of the finest
welterweights of his era Bernard "Big Duke" Docusen has passed away
at the age of 81. Bernard had suffered from Parkinson's which came on him late in life much like it did Billy Conn.
Bernard was born in New Orleans of mixed Philipine and French Creole heritage. He was trained by that master of boxing Whitey Esneault and he quickly in a career that moved very fast, let the world know that he was championship material.
His victims included Eddie Giosa, Milo Savage, Tippy Larkin, Frankie Fernandez, Johnny Bratton, Gene Burton, Phil Terranova, Jackie Graves, and Lulu Constantino amonst others.
But the fight that Bernard Docusen will always be remembered for was his
tremendous effort against Sugar Ray Robinson, THE Sugar Ray Robinson, in Chicago's Comiskey Park for the Welterweight championship of the World. People who just see the result in a book today don't know some of the facts of that bout which I will present here.
The bout was postponed three times by Robinson very close to the fight date. The reasons why are only known to Robinson, but two things we know. One Sugar knew he had a real match on his hands, and two the delays hurt the challenge of Bernard because of his weight struggle, and his problems with overtraining and keeping his peak.
The fight itself was a classic as Bernard showed no fear of the world's
greatest welterweight, and actually outboxed Robinson over the first eleven rounds having the lead. In the last four rounds Robinson turned on the heat as Docusen tired, scoring a knockdown and winning a close nod. A classic boxing match between two great boxers that should go down in welterweight history. Everyone who saw that bout came away with respect for the beautiful boxing of Bernard Docusen. If Sugar Ray Robinson is the greatest welterweight of all as most say he is, than Bernard Docusen must be remembered for giving him one of his closest and toughest matches in his prime.
Bernard retired with a record of 72-10-6 with 21 ko's. He was a beautiful man to watch in the ring with his jet black hair, tan tone, and a perfect boxing build.
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Bernard got a thrill just a short time ago when he was voted into the
California boxing Hall of Fame. I am a personal friend of the family and
believe me they were very excited about the honor, and were present at the induction. It left Bernard Ducusen, a almost forgotten great, a very happy man, as he accepted it with the humble personality he always showed.
Many thanks from me and his son Danny to Hap Navarro and Frankie Baltazar, two of the best, for helping to make this a happy day and to give one very fine boxer and a good man something he and his family could share even at the end.
R.I.P. Bernie......
Here's another article that was on fightnews.com
Bernard Docusen passes
By Bob Ryder
Bernard “Big Duke” Docusen one of boxing’s’ uncrowned champions of the 1940’s-1950’s died on January 11. 2009. Docusen suffered several heart attacks and lapsed into a coma. The 81 year old Docusen was best known for his terrific fight with Sugar Ray Robinson for the welterweight championship of the world on June 28, 1948. Docusen , who had just turned 21 years old 9 days before the fight, lost a very close 15 round decision to the man most consider to be the best pound for pound boxer of all time. In the days of only 8 weight classes and one champion per division, Bernie never got another crack at a title.
As an amateur he won the National AAU bantamweight championship at 14 years old. Turning pro at 15 he attracted big crowds in his native New Orleans due to his exciting, smooth boxing style. He defeated former champions and contenders Phil Terranova, Johnny Bratton, Tippy Larkin, John L. Davis and Gene Burton on his way to a 73-10-6 pro log. He retired from boxing after suffering a TKO defeat to Joey Giambra in 1953.
After retiring from the ring, Docusen relocated to the Detroit, MI area where he worked as a welder and later as a custodian for a local high school. An active family man he also hand wrote his memoirs which were later published in book form.
Bernard was inducted into the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1976 and the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.
Docusen is survived by his wife of 64 years Ernestine, 6 children, 15 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and 1 great, great grandchild.
Thanks once again, Henry Hascup
