Douglas Vs Tyson II, May 1990

Jaybee From The Castle · Post by **Jaybee From The Castle** » 11 Mar 2008, 11:53

How do you think this would have gone?

walshb · Post by **walshb** » 11 Mar 2008, 14:18

It's a little too optimistic to think Mike would have recovered by May, considering the punishemnt he took in Feb...

m1kee50 · Post by **m1kee50** » 11 Mar 2008, 14:49

maybe not May, but i think if it had been the next fight for both of them I think Tyson could have won the rematch

Seamus · Post by **Seamus** » 11 Mar 2008, 14:51

I couldn't see Buster Douglas putting togather another performance of that level, and so I think Tyson would have stopped him around the 6th round had their been a rematch.

The Great John L · Post by **The Great John L** » 11 Mar 2008, 15:01

This is actually a pretty sad thing to think about, because Douglas probably would have entered the ring about 10-15 pounds heavier and poorly prepared and it really wouldn’t have made much difference what shape Tyson was in. I think Douglas fought a great fight and beat a prime, though poorly prepared Tyson. However, Douglas was also better prepared for that fight than any other fight in his life, and his generally poor work ethic would probably have resurfaced in a rematch, just as it did against Holyfield.

Tyson by quick and brutal KO.

Rocky Balboa · Post by **Rocky Balboa** » 11 Mar 2008, 17:03

I have DVD footage of both Tyson & Douglas being interviewed together by Larry Merchant for a HBO program. It was perhaps a week at the most after their fight as Tyson was still wearing sunglasses to cover his swollen eye.

Both were pleasant to each other, but you could see that Tyson was very eager for a rematch to happen asap. When asked about a rematch, Douglas did not seem as enthusiastic as Tyson, saying he would rather defend against Holyfield first. I guess the fact James was being paid a great deal to box Holyfield is why he wanted to face him.

I think Tyson wou;d have won a rematch. He would have been training hard, prepared properly & focused on Douglas. Not out partying, pulling birds every night, etc.

observer1 · Post by **observer1** » 11 Mar 2008, 17:08

i Think tyson would have learnt his Lesson from the fight and trained Harder... Knowing Tyson, he would have gone for a Quick KO to Prove a Point

Robinson · Post by **Robinson** » 11 Mar 2008, 17:43

I think it is safe to say tyson would have won the rematch.

The reasons listed above, are pretty much te reason why I feel he would have won.

It is safe to say Tyson would have found a focus and new vigour in his preparation and that Douglas as we saw in the Holyfield defence would not have been in the same shape as he was in Tokyo.

I Feel Fine · Post by **I Feel Fine** » 11 Mar 2008, 20:17

Tyson's next fight with Henry Tillman (a rematch of Tyson's amateur losses to Tillman) and Douglas' next fight with Holyfield were quite similar. One guy (Tillman, Douglas) running away until he gets hit with the first big punch (by Tyson, Holyfield) and goes down. Pretty safe to say that this rematch between a newly invigorated Tyson and an inflated and unmotivated Douglas would have gone the same way. Douglas runs for a round or two and Tyson nails him with a big shot and its over.

The aftermath would likely be the same as well; Douglas takes his 30 million and goes into retirement and gains about two hundred pounds, and Tyson commits some sort of felony and goes to prison.

banjo · Post by **banjo** » 11 Mar 2008, 20:35

the thing with the Tyson - Douglas fight was Buster had a unique advantage - he had absolutely nothing to lose - where as Mike probably thought just like everyone else that this would be an early night.
but if they had a rematch i think Mike would be a lot more focused and take Douglas out within the first 3-4 rounds.

Klee Gluckman · Post by **Klee Gluckman** » 13 Mar 2008, 07:20

Douglas would not mentally get up for the second fight. Douglas would have had the attitude Mike wants it more than me taken his thirty million and retired pretty much like he did with Holyfield.

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 13 Mar 2008, 07:51

I think Tyson would have won the rematch.

I voted for the 1st option because Tyson usually always won in the 1st half of a fight.

BTW: why did this fight never happen?

As it was a shock result etc & Tyson was the biggest name in the sport, you'd have thought that the promoters could have engineered a rematch & paid Evander Holyfield to wait for the winner.

I'm 100% certain that Holyfield would rather have face Tyson than Douglas, as he was chasing Tyson since '88.

overhand_right · Post by **overhand_right** » 13 Mar 2008, 10:07

What on earth is there in Tysons career to show he could come back from adversity or have the character to punch out a man who had the psychological edge.

He came in the shape of his life for the Holyfield rematch in 97 & still mentally imploded because Holyfield still had his number. If Douglas comes out boppin Tyson on the head a few times we all know hes going to unravel.

More fantasy from the sad, obsessive Tysonites who cant let go.

I Feel Fine · Post by **I Feel Fine** » 13 Mar 2008, 19:00

Because the only fighter more inconsistent than Tyson is Douglas. After he beat Tyson, Douglas was no longer a fighter. You don't have to be a Tyson fan to know that, I'm hardly a "Tysonite."

Tyson is another one of these fighters where you pretty much can't say anything right. If you suggest that he could possibly lose a fight in his prime, five Tyson nuts will tell you he's the greatest of all time and that no one could have beaten him. If you suggest that he could possibly win a fight with even minor adversity, another five guys will say the opposite. Can't we find a happy medium?

Goodnight, Irene · Post by **Goodnight, Irene** » 13 Mar 2008, 21:41

"...Tyson is another one of these fighters where you pretty much can't say anything right. If you suggest that he could possibly lose a fight in his prime, five Tyson nuts will tell you he's the greatest of all time and that no one could have beaten him. If you suggest that he could possibly win a fight with even minor adversity, another five guys will say the opposite. Can't we find a happy medium?" - IFF

Same point I was making a ways back on Ali, though that was generally speaking, less so this forum. It applies to Tyson, too, IMO.

Syntax Error · Post by **Syntax Error** » 14 Mar 2008, 07:02

overhand_right wrote:What on earth is there in Tysons career to show he could come back from adversity or have the character to punch out a man who had the psychological edge.

He came in the shape of his life for the Holyfield rematch in 97 & still mentally imploded because Holyfield still had his number. If Douglas comes out boppin Tyson on the head a few times we all know hes going to unravel.

More fantasy from the sad, obsessive Tysonites who cant let go.

If you think I'm a Tysonite, then you've obviously never read my posts about him, because I am one of his biggest critics.

However, I do believe that with proper preparation & focus, he might have won a rematch.

I believe that he underestimated Douglas, as the same time as Douglas was inspired the night he beat Tyson.

observer1 · Post by **observer1** » 14 Mar 2008, 16:25

Indeed. You may get some Hardcore Tyson Fans, much like fans for any other Boxer. But we should remember... its Douglas we are talking about here, not Holyfield or Lewis where the real debates are.

Evander · Post by **Evander** » 14 Mar 2008, 19:01

By now almost everybody knows the Tyson story.
Coming into Douglas 1 Mike Tyson seemed like he had so many problems.
Even so I doubt you would have found many people that would have backed against him.
I probably would have taken Tyson to win a rematch if I were perfectly honest with you.
He was that good at one point.
Tyson by stoppage somewhere around the mid rounds.
I have never seen a Heavyweight like Mike Tyson in my time.
I don't care if his opponent had 4-5 inches in height or 15-20 pounds in weight on their side,I believe a prime Tyson or close to it would have knocked them out unless they opted to run or hold for the duration.
The guy was incredible.

Douglas Vs Tyson II, May 1990

The result, chaps?

Douglas Vs Tyson II, May 1990