BoxRec

On a Saturday night of February 10th, 1990, at Karouken Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, the great Mike Tyson, 23, of Catskill, NY, via Brooklyn, was making his tenth defense of the Undisputed World Heavyweight Crown. Tyson, a couple of years earlier, CLEANED UP the division of the latter part of the 80s with some amazing skill of speed and power, and a ferocity never seen before since the days of the great Jack Dempsey. By the end of the 80s, Iron Mike was considered by many fans as the greatest heavyweight of all time. Some boxing experts had him as a maybe top 3 best heavyweight ever.

James "Buster" Douglas, 31, of Columbus, OH, was an unknown contender that fought once for the vacant IBF version of the heavyweight title to a Tyson victim named Tony Tucker. He lost to Tucker by knockout in ten rounds. Jesse Ferguson, another Iron Mike's victim, beat Douglas by decision in 10 five years earlier. By the time Buster fought Tyson, he already had 4 losses. The odds were 42-1 for Douglas to become champ. He was considered to be another dinner for the champion. His mother died days earlier, and the mother of his eleven year old son was sick. He had the world in his shoulders. But those setbacks motivated him, and Douglas trained for the best shape of his career. Win or lose, he prepared very well for this opportunity of a lifetime. And he was not going to be denied. Douglas, at 6'4", came in at 231 pounds for the fight. He looked trimmed and ready....Sharp.

Tyson in the other hand, came in at 220lbs. He was knocked down in sparring by former champion Greg Page. Some say that he was very disinterested for the fight. That he took Buster Douglas lightly. That the night before the fight, he slept with Japanese sluts, did not trained properly, that his former trainer, Kevin Rooney was not present, etc, etc, etc. But he is still the INVINCIBLE TYSON right? He is made of iron, right? He cannot be beaten, right?

Well, from the opening bell I saw something in Douglas different from previous Tyson's victims.

First, HE WAS NOT SCARED.
Second, he came to fight and used his physical advantages of reach and height perfectly.
Third, he was in the best shape of his career.
Fourth, he was faster than all 37 of Tyson's victims.
And finally, Buster did not had nothing to lose.

Buster was popping that left jab in Tyson's face from the opening bell. When Tyson rushed in, he just smothered him with his weight and upper body. And always was the first one to throw a punch. I noticed after round one, that he was not scared and wanted to keep on going at it after the bell rang. Something that most of Tyson's victims were GLAD that the round was over. Buster craved for more like saying "You want some more?"

By round 6, people could not believe what they were seeing in the stands. HBO's Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley were in DISBELIEF. Color commentator, the great boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard was very impressed with Douglas tactics and attributes. IRONICALLY, THIS WAS THE LAST FIGHT THAT SUGAR RAY was engaged in a Tyson fight. He was dismissed by telling the truth of what was happening in the fight.

Tyson by round 7, had one eye shut. His homies, THE WORST TRAINERS AND CORNERMEN THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFETIME, did not know what they were doing. They were not screaming at Tyson and telling him that he was behind. They were just whispering at his ear. The head trainer was Aaron Snowell? Who the heck was he? They did a TERRIBLE JOB. Snowell had a bag of ice instead of an endswell. In round 8, Douglas had Tyson in trouble and was giving Tyson a barrage of lefts and rights, but, somehow, a LUCKY UPPERCUT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE and dropped Douglas down. It was a beautiful timed uppercut. A thing of beauty. People thought that the fight was over. A BIG ROAR HAPPENED INTO THE STADIUM. But no. Douglas went down, and in disgust, hit the mat with his gloves like saying "I got careless. I got greedy". He got up at referee's Octavio Meyran of Mexico count of 9. When Buster got up, the bell rang.

In round 9, Tyson received the biggest beating that he ever got in a boxing match. He was helpless, with one eye, but still fighting against the ropes. At least I could say that Tyson had heart and will and determination. That he would not quit. But he was getting bombs from all angles. Lefts, rights, uppercuts, left hooks, right crosses at his face and eye, the whole nine. After a serious exchange of blows in round 9, Douglas was spent. Tyson was almost knocked out. The crowd WAS SILENT. THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT THEY WERE SEEING. The worst came in round 10. A 5-punch combination ended Tyson's reign and he dropped on his back. His head hit the canvas first. It was unbelievable! Tyson, tried to get up while Meyran was counting. He put his mouthpiece backwards. But when he got up, Meyran said it was over. He was counted out. A big celebration came in Douglas corner. Douglas camp was the only people celebrating the win. Nobody else in the stadium cheered for him. All they had was a sense of disbelief. EVEN I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT TYSON WAS GOING TO GET KNOCKED OUT. NOT BY BUSTER DOUGLAS. BUSTER WHO?

The greatest upset in the history of sports was made. The Upset of the Century will forever be remembered as one of boxing's greatest fights. Cassius Clay vs Sonny Liston I and James J. Braddock vs Max Baer were not even close.

Was Tyson in shape? Did the firing of trainer Kevin Rooney was his downfall? I did not see him as ferocious as other nights. Neither the head movement was there. He did not had that snap in his punches.
I know that Tyson was not in his best shape, but if he was, would he beat that Douglas that night? I know it would have been a different fight. Buster was FOCUSED. Tyson was not.

I don't take nothing away from Douglas. I think he fought a perfect fight. He was faster and busier than Tyson. And I think in that night, he could have beaten any other heavyweight in boxing history. And why not? Look at that great skill. If he would have come like that against the great Evander Holyfield in my opinion, he would have beaten Evander.

What you guys think of this historical upset? Let's talk about the fight 25 years later.

elmersalsa wrote:On a Saturday night of February 10th, 1990, at Karouken Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, the great Mike Tyson, 23, of Catskill, NY, via Brooklyn, was making his tenth defense of the Undisputed World Heavyweight Crown. Tyson, a couple of years earlier, CLEANED UP the division of the latter part of the 80s with some amazing skill of speed and power, and a ferocity never seen before since the days of the great Jack Dempsey. By the end of the 80s, Iron Mike was considered by many fans as the greatest heavyweight of all time. Some boxing experts had him as a maybe top 3 best heavyweight ever.

James "Buster" Douglas, 31, of Columbus, OH, was an unknown contender that fought once for the vacant IBF version of the heavyweight title to a Tyson victim named Tony Tucker. He lost to Tucker by knockout in ten rounds. Jesse Ferguson, another Iron Mike's victim, beat Douglas by decision in 10 five years earlier. By the time Buster fought Tyson, he already had 4 losses. The odds were 42-1 for Douglas to become champ. He was considered to be another dinner for the champion. His mother died days earlier, and the mother of his eleven year old son was sick. He had the world in his shoulders. But those setbacks motivated him, and Douglas trained for the best shape of his career. Win or lose, he prepared very well for this opportunity of a lifetime. And he was not going to be denied. Douglas, at 6'4", came in at 231 pounds for the fight. He looked trimmed and ready....Sharp.

Tyson in the other hand, came in at 220lbs. He was knocked down in sparring by former champion Greg Page. Some say that he was very disinterested for the fight. That he took Buster Douglas lightly. That the night before the fight, he slept with Japanese sluts, did not trained properly, that his former trainer, Kevin Rooney was not present, etc, etc, etc. But he is still the INVINCIBLE TYSON right? He is made of iron, right? He cannot be beaten, right?

Well, from the opening bell I saw something in Douglas different from previous Tyson's victims.

First, HE WAS NOT SCARED.
Second, he came to fight and used his physical advantages of reach and height perfectly.
Third, he was in the best shape of his career.
Fourth, he was faster than all 37 of Tyson's victims.
And finally, Buster did not had nothing to lose.

Buster was popping that left jab in Tyson's face from the opening bell. When Tyson rushed in, he just smothered him with his weight and upper body. And always was the first one to throw a punch. I noticed after round one, that he was not scared and wanted to keep on going at it after the bell rang. Something that most of Tyson's victims were GLAD that the round was over. Buster craved for more like saying "You want some more?"

By round 6, people could not believe what they were seeing in the stands. HBO's Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley were in DISBELIEF. Color commentator, the great boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard was very impressed with Douglas tactics and attributes. IRONICALLY, THIS WAS THE LAST FIGHT THAT SUGAR RAY was engaged in a Tyson fight. He was dismissed by telling the truth of what was happening in the fight.

Tyson by round 7, had one eye shut. His homies, THE WORST TRAINERS AND CORNERMEN THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFETIME, did not know what they were doing. They were not screaming at Tyson and telling him that he was behind. They were just whispering at his ear. The head trainer was Aaron Snowell? Who the heck was he? They did a TERRIBLE JOB. Snowell had a bag of ice instead of an endswell. In round 8, Douglas had Tyson in trouble and was giving Tyson a barrage of lefts and rights, but, somehow, a LUCKY UPPERCUT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE and dropped Douglas down. It was a beautiful timed uppercut. A thing of beauty. People thought that the fight was over. A BIG ROAR HAPPENED INTO THE STADIUM. But no. Douglas went down, and in disgust, hit the mat with his gloves like saying "I got careless. I got greedy". He got up at referee's Octavio Meyran of Mexico count of 9. When Buster got up, the bell rang.

In round 9, Tyson received the biggest beating that he ever got in a boxing match. He was helpless, with one eye, but still fighting against the ropes. At least I could say that Tyson had heart and will and determination. That he would not quit. But he was getting bombs from all angles. Lefts, rights, uppercuts, left hooks, right crosses at his face and eye, the whole nine. After a serious exchange of blows in round 9, Douglas was spent. Tyson was almost knocked out. The crowd WAS SILENT. THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT THEY WERE SEEING. The worst came in round 10. A 5-punch combination ended Tyson's reign and he dropped on his back. His head hit the canvas first. It was unbelievable! Tyson, tried to get up while Meyran was counting. He put his mouthpiece backwards. But when he got up, Meyran said it was over. He was counted out. A big celebration came in Douglas corner. Douglas camp was the only people celebrating the win. Nobody else in the stadium cheered for him. All they had was a sense of disbelief. EVEN I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT TYSON WAS GOING TO GET KNOCKED OUT. NOT BY BUSTER DOUGLAS. BUSTER WHO?

The greatest upset in the history of sports was made. The Upset of the Century will forever be remembered as one of boxing's greatest fights. Cassius Clay vs Sonny Liston I and James J. Braddock vs Max Baer were not even close.

Was Tyson in shape? Did the firing of trainer Kevin Rooney was his downfall? I did not see him as ferocious as other nights. Neither the head movement was there. He did not had that snap in his punches.
I know that Tyson was not in his best shape, but if he was, would he beat that Douglas that night? I know it would have been a different fight. Buster was FOCUSED. Tyson was not.

I don't take nothing away from Douglas. I think he fought a perfect fight. He was faster and busier than Tyson. And I think in that night, he could have beaten any other heavyweight in boxing history. And why not? Look at that great skill. If he would have come like that against the great Evander Holyfield in my opinion, he would have beaten Evander.

What you guys think of this historical upset? Let's talk about the fight 25 years later.

I was 15 years old. Remember staying up (in the uk) as I had done for the last few Tyson fights. Two of my life long friends with me and my Dad. I remember that feeling of Tyson being invincible. There was no one on the planet that could last with him. I just remember that very clearly...there was no chance for Buster ...at all. We watched in disbelief at Douglas' performance, but at no time did I expect him to win...it is strange as he was so dominant in parts yet it didn't even register with me that he could win at any stage! Thing is I wanted him to lose so much - an odd one ; He was so good, that in my eyes he was encroaching on Ali's greatness, and to my young eyes , if he lost that would make Ali still the greatest ( i know it is pathetic). When he was finally counted out in the 10th we were all jumping for joy hugging each other. It was almost surreal when I think about it...staying up all night , feeling very tired and that mixed with huge elation made it an odd night. I remember the following days news and it was headline news (imagine that now) I mean front page stuff and headline news..if I remember right it coincided with the release of Nelson Mandela.

It certainly was headline news.

HW title fights don't even get mentioned on the news in the UK these days, yet this was a main news story on telly & in the print media too.

I can't believe it was quarter of a century ago either.

The only thing that annoyed me of this fight was that Tyson never accepted the loss like a man. Promoter Don King was a crying baby as the new Tyson camp. They were a whole bunch of leaches and pests, especially that John Horne. They were Tyson's homeboys from way back. That comes to tell you that never mix business with friends or pleasure. These are the results.

evrenb wrote:

elmersalsa wrote:On a Saturday night of February 10th, 1990, at Karouken Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, the great Mike Tyson, 23, of Catskill, NY, via Brooklyn, was making his tenth defense of the Undisputed World Heavyweight Crown. Tyson, a couple of years earlier, CLEANED UP the division of the latter part of the 80s with some amazing skill of speed and power, and a ferocity never seen before since the days of the great Jack Dempsey. By the end of the 80s, Iron Mike was considered by many fans as the greatest heavyweight of all time. Some boxing experts had him as a maybe top 3 best heavyweight ever.

James "Buster" Douglas, 31, of Columbus, OH, was an unknown contender that fought once for the vacant IBF version of the heavyweight title to a Tyson victim named Tony Tucker. He lost to Tucker by knockout in ten rounds. Jesse Ferguson, another Iron Mike's victim, beat Douglas by decision in 10 five years earlier. By the time Buster fought Tyson, he already had 4 losses. The odds were 42-1 for Douglas to become champ. He was considered to be another dinner for the champion. His mother died days earlier, and the mother of his eleven year old son was sick. He had the world in his shoulders. But those setbacks motivated him, and Douglas trained for the best shape of his career. Win or lose, he prepared very well for this opportunity of a lifetime. And he was not going to be denied. Douglas, at 6'4", came in at 231 pounds for the fight. He looked trimmed and ready....Sharp.

Tyson in the other hand, came in at 220lbs. He was knocked down in sparring by former champion Greg Page. Some say that he was very disinterested for the fight. That he took Buster Douglas lightly. That the night before the fight, he slept with Japanese sluts, did not trained properly, that his former trainer, Kevin Rooney was not present, etc, etc, etc. But he is still the INVINCIBLE TYSON right? He is made of iron, right? He cannot be beaten, right?

Well, from the opening bell I saw something in Douglas different from previous Tyson's victims.

First, HE WAS NOT SCARED.
Second, he came to fight and used his physical advantages of reach and height perfectly.
Third, he was in the best shape of his career.
Fourth, he was faster than all 37 of Tyson's victims.
And finally, Buster did not had nothing to lose.

Buster was popping that left jab in Tyson's face from the opening bell. When Tyson rushed in, he just smothered him with his weight and upper body. And always was the first one to throw a punch. I noticed after round one, that he was not scared and wanted to keep on going at it after the bell rang. Something that most of Tyson's victims were GLAD that the round was over. Buster craved for more like saying "You want some more?"

By round 6, people could not believe what they were seeing in the stands. HBO's Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley were in DISBELIEF. Color commentator, the great boxing champion Sugar Ray Leonard was very impressed with Douglas tactics and attributes. IRONICALLY, THIS WAS THE LAST FIGHT THAT SUGAR RAY was engaged in a Tyson fight. He was dismissed by telling the truth of what was happening in the fight.

Tyson by round 7, had one eye shut. His homies, THE WORST TRAINERS AND CORNERMEN THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFETIME, did not know what they were doing. They were not screaming at Tyson and telling him that he was behind. They were just whispering at his ear. The head trainer was Aaron Snowell? Who the heck was he? They did a TERRIBLE JOB. Snowell had a bag of ice instead of an endswell. In round 8, Douglas had Tyson in trouble and was giving Tyson a barrage of lefts and rights, but, somehow, a LUCKY UPPERCUT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE and dropped Douglas down. It was a beautiful timed uppercut. A thing of beauty. People thought that the fight was over. A BIG ROAR HAPPENED INTO THE STADIUM. But no. Douglas went down, and in disgust, hit the mat with his gloves like saying "I got careless. I got greedy". He got up at referee's Octavio Meyran of Mexico count of 9. When Buster got up, the bell rang.

In round 9, Tyson received the biggest beating that he ever got in a boxing match. He was helpless, with one eye, but still fighting against the ropes. At least I could say that Tyson had heart and will and determination. That he would not quit. But he was getting bombs from all angles. Lefts, rights, uppercuts, left hooks, right crosses at his face and eye, the whole nine. After a serious exchange of blows in round 9, Douglas was spent. Tyson was almost knocked out. The crowd WAS SILENT. THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT THEY WERE SEEING. The worst came in round 10. A 5-punch combination ended Tyson's reign and he dropped on his back. His head hit the canvas first. It was unbelievable! Tyson, tried to get up while Meyran was counting. He put his mouthpiece backwards. But when he got up, Meyran said it was over. He was counted out. A big celebration came in Douglas corner. Douglas camp was the only people celebrating the win. Nobody else in the stadium cheered for him. All they had was a sense of disbelief. EVEN I COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT TYSON WAS GOING TO GET KNOCKED OUT. NOT BY BUSTER DOUGLAS. BUSTER WHO?

The greatest upset in the history of sports was made. The Upset of the Century will forever be remembered as one of boxing's greatest fights. Cassius Clay vs Sonny Liston I and James J. Braddock vs Max Baer were not even close.

Was Tyson in shape? Did the firing of trainer Kevin Rooney was his downfall? I did not see him as ferocious as other nights. Neither the head movement was there. He did not had that snap in his punches.
I know that Tyson was not in his best shape, but if he was, would he beat that Douglas that night? I know it would have been a different fight. Buster was FOCUSED. Tyson was not.

I don't take nothing away from Douglas. I think he fought a perfect fight. He was faster and busier than Tyson. And I think in that night, he could have beaten any other heavyweight in boxing history. And why not? Look at that great skill. If he would have come like that against the great Evander Holyfield in my opinion, he would have beaten Evander.

What you guys think of this historical upset? Let's talk about the fight 25 years later.

I was 15 years old. Remember staying up (in the uk) as I had done for the last few Tyson fights. Two of my life long friends with me and my Dad. I remember that feeling of Tyson being invincible. There was no one on the planet that could last with him. I just remember that very clearly...there was no chance for Buster ...at all. We watched in disbelief at Douglas' performance, but at no time did I expect him to win...it is strange as he was so dominant in parts yet it didn't even register with me that he could win at any stage! Thing is I wanted him to lose so much - an odd one ; He was so good, that in my eyes he was encroaching on Ali's greatness, and to my young eyes , if he lost that would make Ali still the greatest ( i know it is pathetic). When he was finally counted out in the 10th we were all jumping for joy hugging each other. It was almost surreal when I think about it...staying up all night , feeling very tired and that mixed with huge elation made it an odd night. I remember the following days news and it was headline news (imagine that now) I mean front page stuff and headline news..if I remember right it coincided with the release of Nelson Mandela.

I remember when Tyson lost I screamed saying "Ali is the greatest!", "Ali is the greatest!" It was an unforgettable night for me. I relished that Buster win with passion.

This fight re-ignited the division, Tyson wasn't the most feared man on the planet anymore, everyone could see this indestructible boxer could be beaten and he was human like them, he could be hurt and even better he could be beaten.

granted he will always be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, no-one could ever take that away from him, but he was shown to still be human when everyone thought he was a monster in the ring.

northern wrote:This fight re-ignited the division, Tyson wasn't the most feared man on the planet anymore, everyone could see this indestructible boxer could be beaten and he was human like them, he could be hurt and even better he could be beaten.

granted he will always be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, no-one could ever take that away from him, but he was shown to still be human when everyone thought he was a monster in the ring.

I really do believe that Tyson in Tokyo was not in great shape. But I cannot take nothing away from Buster. He fought a tremendous fight.

Fascinating read. About a fight that still thrills and fascinates us 25 years later.

http://thebiofile.com/2013/02/buster-do ... -in-tokyo/

By this stage I'd had enough of Tyson's antics and was glad he'd been exposed as a mere mortal. p s...a photo of Tyson on a beach not long before the fight, showed him with a nice old beer gut

Had Tyson's corner managed his eye like any competent corner would have, different fight.

As good as Douglas looked, Tyson still could have turned it with one punch.

But good on Douglas.

Klee Gluckman wrote:Had Tyson's corner managed his eye like any competent corner would have, different fight.

As good as Douglas looked, Tyson still could have turned it with one punch.

But good on Douglas.

Tyson was unlucky in that he seemed to be lumbered with some of the most incompetent cornermen I've ever seen.

It was the same for the Lewis fight too.

Not saying it would have made any difference to the outcome; it wouldnt especially for the Lewis fight, but it would have helped.

Tyson was unlucky in that he seemed to be lumbered with some of the most incompetent cornermen I've ever seen.

It was the same for the Lewis fight too.

Not saying it would have made any difference to the outcome; it wouldnt especially for the Lewis fight, but it would have helped.

@Syntax Error...agreed on that, Tyson was often badly let down by people he paid well but who could not perform the basic/essential tasks well when it really mattered. Tyson's generosity was often misplaced and then badly abused.

The Tokyo fight also has the long, cold shadow of the Kings behaving as if they were bigger than their fighter hovering over it. Several writers have covered this aspect - I am fairly sure Jonathan Rendell focussed on it - but there is no doubting that a very bad and negative vibe existed well before the first punch was thrown. King wanted the fight in Tokyo and was hell-bent on showing Tyson to the world....with various publicity stunts thrown in for good measure. Tyson hated all this bullshit....which I think included meeting Sumo wrestlers....and hid himself inside his hotel room. I think a couple of press calls and some key last minute training sessions were missed because Mike could not stand the nonsense of Carl and Don. Mike's usual focus and dedication was badly disrupted by the Kings.

Radio 5Live will be essential listening tonight at 8pm.

They'll be interviewing James 'Buster' Douglas.

Syntax Error wrote:Radio 5Live will be essential listening tonight at 8pm.

They'll be interviewing James 'Buster' Douglas.

Hey thanks for that didnt see it...