Why Mike Tyson vs Douglas II/rematch didn't happen?

[apollo creed]

It seems likely that Buster didn't particularly want it either. Later that same year he showed up looking fat and sluggish against Evander, got very easily knocked out, reportedly ballooned up to almost 400 pounds, and didn't fight again for six years (and never fought at top level again). I'm not sure at what point folks think he was champing at the bit to kick Tyson's ass again. Immediately after their first fight? At that time, perhaps he didn't want to -- it seems like he got real pissed at how they tried to jerk him around with protests about him only winning the title by way of a 'long count'.

Yup.

[Onetimeonly]

Rewatching that fight and I saw that it was a very tough fight for Tyson. Buster had a good jab and he was fighting Tyson back. I think after that fight Tyson's mentality of being invincible was broken. He wasn't the same fighter.

Getting yourass whipped will do that

[apollo creed]

I guess Tyson didn't want to share the same ring square again with Buster at that time.

[Onetimeonly]

I guess Tyson didn't want to share the same ring square again with Buster at that time.

He'd have rather done that than deal with holy field.

[squiggy]

It seems likely that Buster didn't particularly want it either. Later that same year he showed up looking fat and sluggish against Evander, got very easily knocked out, reportedly ballooned up to almost 400 pounds, and didn't fight again for six years (and never fought at top level again). I'm not sure at what point folks think he was champing at the bit to kick Tyson's ass again. Immediately after their first fight? At that time, perhaps he didn't want to -- it seems like he got real pissed at how they tried to jerk him around with protests about him only winning the title by way of a 'long count'.

Yup.

"Screw you, I'm fighting someone else" makes a lot more sense to me in his place than "sure, guy I just took the title from, I'd love to fight you again." It also seems likely that he lost a lot of his focus pretty much immediately after beating Tyson.

[apollo creed]

Tyson was the money-man in boxing/ face of boxing at that time. I think Buster would've liked to get a rematch with Tyson and make even more money than with Holy. It was up to Tyson and his handlers.

[Onetimeonly]

Tyson was the money-man in boxing/ face of boxing at that time. I think Buster would've liked to get a rematch with Tyson and make even more money than with Holy. It was up to Tyson and his handlers.

No, it wasn't.