Chicago Filam boxer dies, 81

CHICAGO, Illinois Joseph Bernard “Big Duke” Docusen, a top contender for the world welterweight title in the late 40s, died Jan. 11, at the age of 81 at a hospital in Detroit, Michigan, according to Milwaukee -based Princess Emraida Kiram, an officer of the Filipino American Historical Society and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA). A son of a former member of the Old Philippine Scouts from Rosales, Pangasinan, Regino Elegado Docusen, and a French mother, Viola DelMolle Lytell, Docusen suffered several heart attacks and lapsed into a coma and “fought until the end,” according to his eldest daughter Patricia Ann “Patsy” Docusen-Maddox.
Mr. Docusen is best known for his scrappy fight with Sugar Ray Robinson for the welterweight championship of the world on June 28, 1948 at Comiskey Park in Chicago , Illinois . Born on June 19, 1927, Ducusen started boxing at the age of 12. When he was 14, he won the 1942 National AAU Bantamweight title. He left high school in his sophomore year to work with his father and brothers as a shrimp trawler before turning full time as a professional boxer at age 15.