James "Buster" Douglas

[jpspice]

I watched the Douglas/Tyson fight last night and I have to say Douglas looked reminiscent of Ali in his good days. I was amazed at how quick/effective his jab was and the vicious right hand. He truly looked (in this fight anyway)like a top notch HW. I have heard people say that Tyson "wasn't right that night" but from what I saw, what wasn't right was Buster putting the hurt on him from the opening bell. I read once that Douglas wasn't very disciplined. I never really followed his, or Tyson's careers that much but I wonder, if the discipline thing is true, where JD may have ended up. He seems to have had a lot of skill. Do any of you out there who have followed the HW's think Douglas was better than his career suggests? He faded from the limelight pretty fast.

[ldlamb]

Everybody that watched Douglas knew he had the skills.

The desire in training and the heart in the ring were the question marks.

But he put it all together for one night.

[Tuan_Jim]

Douglas was a world class talent and, like so many American heavies, a headcase. But the pure ability was always there. His story is told very well in the book 'The Last Great Fight'.

Beating Tyson, Berbick, Page and McCall is a good career for anyone.

[Mimmy]

James Douglas shook up the world that night he beat Mike Tyson but gave the titles away the very next fight without any desire. Douglas was a mediocre boxer who got lucky the night of 11th February.

Take a look at his record, nothing much in there and a few losses on the way up to the likes of debutant David Bey and another to Mike White, Jesse Fergusson but a good win over Oliver McCall who was very temperamental.

Beating Mike Tyson was a great feat but not defending it manly was a poor effort for what he had done previously.

Buster got lucky. Meeting Tyson 2 or 3 years before? Well different story. Not taking anything away from Buster but im not getting overly excited about that win back in 1990

[banjo]

People need to remember the troubles Buster had in the build up to that fight when they say Tyson "wasn't right"

[jbizzle20]

Douglas had a solid career with some quality wins besides just the Tyson fight. What a lot of people don't realize about the Holyfield fight was the long and vicious legal battle between his team and Don King. King claimed the rights to promoting Douglas due to the contract Douglas signed in order to fight Tyson (the winner was to sign with King). King ended up winning and Douglas had to pay King to go away because his manager, John Johnson, wanted the bigger $$ deal which had been presented by Steve Wynn. Douglas stated later on that this battle caused him great stress and depression (you can see the toll it was taking on him in the interview he gives during the HBO broadcast of Tyson-Tillman). I think this also ended up alienating him and Johnson as Douglas really disliked the business side of the sport. I'd say this struggle is what really hurt him not that he just wanted to be lazy, like so many claim. It's even more obvious when you consider what happened to him afterward with the obesity and coma. His comeback, though, was a major victory that few fighters could've ever pulled off (he had done so well that he was being considered for a mega fight with Roy Jones in 1996-97). All in all, a quality fighter with a career still worth being proud of.

[DrDuke]

Douglas still has a decent resume. It could have probably been better, if he was more dedicated and etc. Anyway he managed to be dedicated in the most appropriate moment. He made history and will always be remembered. Tyson apparently had not the best camp, but who gives a damn? He has still been undefeated reigning champion with that frightening aura around him. Douglas must be given a credit for overcoming life difficulties, his mother passed away prior to the fight, but Buster was still able to concentrate on the preparation. He came out without fearing Tyson, what was the one of crucial things. And he eventually did a great job. That his jab, those combinations of him, he looked just like a near-perfect fighting machine created specially for dethroning Tyson, who had looked invincible before.

[Tuan_Jim]

James Douglas shook up the world that night he beat Mike Tyson but gave the titles away the very next fight without any desire. Douglas was a mediocre boxer who got lucky the night of 11th February.

Take a look at his record, nothing much in there and a few losses on the way up to the likes of debutant David Bey and another to Mike White, Jesse Fergusson but a good win over Oliver McCall who was very temperamental.

Beating Mike Tyson was a great feat but not defending it manly was a poor effort for what he had done previously.

Buster got lucky. Meeting Tyson 2 or 3 years before? Well different story. Not taking anything away from Buster but im not getting overly excited about that win back in 1990

I cannot fathom how you can watch Buster Douglas and not see the bags of natural ability. Mediocre fighter? A mediocre fighter cannot box as Douglas did vs Tyson. The skill on show is beyond that of a mediocre boxer, it was an utterly brilliant work of movement, timing, punch variety and strategy. Do you think Lionel Washington would have beaten Tyson in Tokyo?

[bigjack]

James Douglas shook up the world that night he beat Mike Tyson but gave the titles away the very next fight without any desire. Douglas was a mediocre boxer who got lucky the night of 11th February.

Take a look at his record, nothing much in there and a few losses on the way up to the likes of debutant David Bey and another to Mike White, Jesse Fergusson but a good win over Oliver McCall who was very temperamental.

Beating Mike Tyson was a great feat but not defending it manly was a poor effort for what he had done previously.

Buster got lucky. Meeting Tyson 2 or 3 years before? Well different story. Not taking anything away from Buster but im not getting overly excited about that win back in 1990

I cannot fathom how you can watch Buster Douglas and not see the bags of natural ability. Mediocre fighter? A mediocre fighter cannot box as Douglas did vs Tyson. The skill on show is beyond that of a mediocre boxer, it was an utterly brilliant work of movement, timing, punch variety and strategy. Do you think Lionel Washington would have beaten Tyson in Tokyo?

x2,was a great performance

[vidal]

In my opinion the Douglas of that night would have bettered any version of Tyson at any time over the distance the fight lasted.

What I mean by that is that Tyson would always need a knockout to win...... which, let's face it, nearly happened in that fight.

Douglas showed how vulnerable Tyson was when he wasn't feared.... it was also an absolute masterclass in timing, and what the word means in boxing. His footwork was sublime and his natural ability in knowing when to step back away from a punch or step in and hold is something I'm not sure you can teach..... his decision making that night was almost faultless.

[Noxy]

Tyson had already peaked when he fought Douglas. But you can’t blame Douglas for that. He did, as the OP says, box brilliantly that night.

[SenorPipino]

That was the real Buster Douglas that night in Tokyo.

Tyson had nothing to do with it. A 100% Doulglas, physically and mentally beats Tyson on any night.

Big guy. Underrated power. Smart movement and one of the better jabs out there. He knew how to fight.

His mother's death months earlier inspired him to give his best effort and Tyson paid for it.

But Douglas never had the discipline or drive to maintain greatness.

He weighs 231 for Tyson. Eight months later he's 15 pounds heavier and surrenders his title meekly to Holyfield.

But the prepared Douglas who battered Tyson would have been a 12 round handful for Holyfield.

[Mimmy]

James Douglas shook up the world that night he beat Mike Tyson but gave the titles away the very next fight without any desire. Douglas was a mediocre boxer who got lucky the night of 11th February.

Take a look at his record, nothing much in there and a few losses on the way up to the likes of debutant David Bey and another to Mike White, Jesse Fergusson but a good win over Oliver McCall who was very temperamental.

Beating Mike Tyson was a great feat but not defending it manly was a poor effort for what he had done previously.

Buster got lucky. Meeting Tyson 2 or 3 years before? Well different story. Not taking anything away from Buster but im not getting overly excited about that win back in 1990

I cannot fathom how you can watch Buster Douglas and not see the bags of natural ability. Mediocre fighter? A mediocre fighter cannot box as Douglas did vs Tyson. The skill on show is beyond that of a mediocre boxer, it was an utterly brilliant work of movement, timing, punch variety and strategy. Do you think Lionel Washington would have beaten Tyson in Tokyo?

Why was his performance against Evander Holyfield poor?

I havent suggested Douglas was a crap boxer, or indeed a brilliant boxer. He put in 1 world class display in his career. For me that display was brilliant, but I dont get too excited about the rest of his career.

If Douglas had been beaten, and beaten royally im sure we would be saying that he didnt deserve a title shot at all.

Imo Douglas fought a great fight. But It was a 1 off.

[Tuan_Jim]

James Douglas shook up the world that night he beat Mike Tyson but gave the titles away the very next fight without any desire. Douglas was a mediocre boxer who got lucky the night of 11th February.

Take a look at his record, nothing much in there and a few losses on the way up to the likes of debutant David Bey and another to Mike White, Jesse Fergusson but a good win over Oliver McCall who was very temperamental.

Beating Mike Tyson was a great feat but not defending it manly was a poor effort for what he had done previously.

Buster got lucky. Meeting Tyson 2 or 3 years before? Well different story. Not taking anything away from Buster but im not getting overly excited about that win back in 1990

I cannot fathom how you can watch Buster Douglas and not see the bags of natural ability. Mediocre fighter? A mediocre fighter cannot box as Douglas did vs Tyson. The skill on show is beyond that of a mediocre boxer, it was an utterly brilliant work of movement, timing, punch variety and strategy. Do you think Lionel Washington would have beaten Tyson in Tokyo?

Why was his performance against Evander Holyfield poor?

I havent suggested Douglas was a crap boxer, or indeed a brilliant boxer. He put in 1 world class display in his career. For me that display was brilliant, but I dont get too excited about the rest of his career.

If Douglas had been beaten, and beaten royally im sure we would be saying that he didnt deserve a title shot at all.

Imo Douglas fought a great fight. But It was a 1 off.

His performance versus Holyfield was poor because he wasn't meant to beat Tyson and his life had been made a living hell by King, the sanctioning bodies and the lawyers. This is all so extensively documented it boggles my mind you don't know anything about it. The guy who showed up to fight Holyfield didn't want to be champ anymore, and was getting paid 24,000,000. Personally, I'd cash out too. Doesn't make him a mediocre boxer who got lucky. He was a top class boxer who got unlucky when he knocked 10 shades of crap out of a prime Mike Tyson.

[TheGoods]

Douglas was world class. The first heavyweight who REFUSED to be intimidated by Tyson. He was awesome on the night, brilliant jab and classy combination punches. Took some heavy shots too, and all just 23 days after his mother died. The most memorable part of the whole fight was when an incredulous interviewer asked him in the ring “Why did you win?” He just mumbles “Mother. My mother. Bless her heart.” Then breaks down.