James Douglas, what if?

[NYDominican]

On February 11, 1990, James "Buster" Douglas performed magnificently in the ring against Mike Tyson. James beat Mike by a 10th round knockout.


After Douglas' victory over Mike, James had A LOT of stress in dealing with Don King. Had Douglas not had all that stress, had James not lost his mental will to train hard and stay in shape. ---------


1. Do you think that Douglas could have replicated his top performance such as what he did against Mike Tyson?



2. Do you think that James had the potential to have become one of the top heavyweight boxers of all time?




3. Could James Douglas have become one of the top heavyweight boxers of all time?

If so, why? If not, why not?



Please explain.

[DrDuke]

He had some problems and career troubling losses even long before Tyson fight, so he could have them after that vicory for some other reasons. I actually think, that prime Holyfield would have won Tyson fight shaped Douglas. And then there were Bowe and Lewis. So, Douglas didn't seem to be a conqueror of other all time greats, as I see it, but if he continued to be classy after Tyson, he could have probably captured some decent scalps, Ruddock's or Mercer's, for example.

[Nile4000]

He had some problems and career troubling losses even long before Tyson fight, so he could have them after that vicory for some other reasons. I actually think, that prime Holyfield would have won Tyson fight shaped Douglas. And then there were Bowe and Lewis. So, Douglas didn't seem to be a conqueror of other all time greats, as I see it, but if he continued to be classy after Tyson, he could have probably captured some decent scalps, Ruddock's or Mercer's, for example.

That's a good analysis. Truthfully, he was very in the right lane to get Tyson in the first place.

[elmersalsa]

James "Buster" Douglas had the skills, but his fat lazy self didn't allowed him the proper dedication and training for a professional boxer. He had the perfect tools for a great heavyweight: speed, fast jab, great movement, ring generalship, size, strength, reach and height. He was 6'4" and about 231 lbs when he fought the great Mike Tyson. That's a perfect weight for a heavyweight. But, you just can't be great with that alone. You gotta have the drive, the desire, the will and determination to get up in the morning and jog for the next fight. He certainly didn't had the desire and probably didn't care.

But, on that night in Tokyo, he beats any heavyweight champion of any era. He was that great. He was terrific!

[Onetimeonly]

But, on that night in Tokyo, he beats any heavyweight champion of any era. He was that great. He was terrific!

[elmersalsa]

What's that all about?

[Onetimeonly]

What's that all about?

You made a joke and I laughed.

[Controversial]

So many fighters, especially HWs, never really reach their full potential either due to laziness, bad luck, personal issues or injury. I've said it before about FMM, I don't like the guy particularly but he had a desire and drive that very few people have when they are poor, let alone when they are multi millionaires. Douglas fought a great fight but it should be remembered that Tyson didn't see him as any threat and trained accordingly. Not taking anything away from Buster but the lure of big bucks was a great motivation for him, for Tyson it was seen as another easy KO

[BoxBuzz]

The personal tragedy that Buster experienced apparently brought him to lazer focus......and he was a good fighter anyway. So on that night you have a razor sharp Douglas, and a lackadaisical Tyson.....the fight becomes far more competitive than most could have ever imagined, and ends up in an upset.

That my friends is plain and simply "a slice of life".

[bwu]

The personal tragedy that Buster experienced apparently brought him to lazer focus......and he was a good fighter anyway. So on that night you have a razor sharp Douglas, and a lackadaisical Tyson.....the fight becomes far more competitive than most could have ever imagined, and ends up in an upset.

That my friends is plain and simply "a slice of life".

Yeah. This. Dougls seemed like a nice guy. The Tyson fight was just amazing. But even without the other distractions, he wasn't going to be an all-time great and Holyfield would beat him.