This Day in Boxing History: Douglas Beats Tyson

[VG_Addict]

On this date in 1990, James "Buster" Douglas defeated Mike Tyson in possibly the biggest upset in sports history.

Where were you when you heard about it? How did you react?

[Master]

I was pissed off Sky had bought the exclusive rights for Tyson's fights and ITV had lost him so could not watch his title fights for the first ever time.

I have never forgiven sky ever since and is where my intense hate for the company started.

No one hardly had a sky dish. I was secretly hoping Tyson would lose and he could come back to ITV and Reg Gutteridge.

I heard the news on radio in the morning and could not believe it.

[nuggetdotcom]

I was away on business, probably Australia (not the US obviously), that would have been a two week trip. I did not therefore perform my normal ritual of going to the local bookie and betting on Tyson to get beat, as I did religiously every fight. Missed out on some massive odds there! Honours even in later years when I had Evander (twice) at 20-1, Lennox, Danny Williams and that Irish bloke who's name I've forgot, so still a profit overall. Not that I'm a Tyson hater, just thought he was over hyped, and like Liston beat most of his opponents before they entered the ring. Happy daze

[Spicoli]

Nice impact year for me as a fight fan. Still living with the parents and we had rigged cable to our rooms. I always remember Douglas being knocked down and yelling something along the lines of "kick his ass Tyson" from upstairs. A few minutes later my Dad walked by my bedroom and pounded on the wall.."how'd you like that one bahaha" as he walked by and Tyson slumped in the refs arms .

I didn't know up until few years ago that Mike was originally signed to fight Ruddock instead but they ditched contract. And Holyfield fight was already signed with promotion posters already out and commercials cut. Really shows what a guy takes for granted.

[Mark TKO]

I wa 17 and woke up and raced downstairs to put teletext on. It came up - Tyson Knockout Sensation- as the headline and I just assumed he’d knocked Douglas out in about 3 seconds so keyed the page and the story came up. Page 381 if my teletext memory serves me correctly.

Read the story in shock and then ran off back upstairs shouting my dad with the news.

[smashup]

I was pretty much the same as Mark TOO, in fact the first time I actually saw the whole fight was when my older brother bought it on a video cassette 😁
That was massive news right across the entire planet, something i doubt we'll ever see in sport again let alone boxing.
Tyson was a mega mega star at that point in time

[Master]

I am sure the poster for Tyson v Holyfield was just before he got convicted for rape Spicoli, as I have one.

[Spicoli]

I am sure the poster for Tyson v Holyfield was just before he got convicted for rape Spicoli, as I have one.

I have two write ups and fold up poster releases from what I remember, plus promo page bios from Boxing illustrated pre Douglas. They claimed 'rib injury' or something second cancellation.

[Master]

I am sure the poster for Tyson v Holyfield was just before he got convicted for rape Spicoli, as I have one.

I have two write ups and fold up poster releases from what I remember, plus promo page bios from Boxing illustrated pre Douglas. They claimed 'rib injury' or something second cancellation.

The rib injury was for the Holyfield fight and then the rape trial got in the way of the fight. I am sure I am right mate.

[Fenster]

For all the tales about Tyson's poor training he weighed what he always did for this fight (give or take a pound). Now, obviously, the mental aspect of competing is as important as the physical, but all the excuses of Tyson's out-the-ring behaviour probably wouldn't even be known had he won.

Douglas was top 5 ranked by three governing bodies, had solid world-class wins and two of his previous losses had come when he weighed north of 240 (like he was against Holyfield), the other two defeats were late stoppages in fights he was winning (the Tucker stoppage was arguably premature). A 230 fully prepared Douglas may well have beaten Tyson at any time, he certainly shouldn't have been the no-hoper he was.

[Master]

Tyson life was spiralling out of control even when he fought Bruno and Spinks. He had a suicide attempt, punch up with Mitch Green and managerial issues. Tyson weighed the same weight but was poor against both. It all caught up with Tyson against Douglas and Mike did look crap. His corner were a joke and Douglas was inspired.

[Fenster]

Tyson life was spiralling out of control even when he fought Bruno and Spinks. He had a suicide attempt, punch up with Mitch Green and managerial issues. Tyson weighed the same weight but was poor against both. It all caught up with Tyson against Douglas and Mike did look crap. His corner were a joke and Douglas was inspired.

What Douglas fights had you seen before he fought Tyson?

[Master]

Tyson life was spiralling out of control even when he fought Bruno and Spinks. He had a suicide attempt, punch up with Mitch Green and managerial issues. Tyson weighed the same weight but was poor against both. It all caught up with Tyson against Douglas and Mike did look crap. His corner were a joke and Douglas was inspired.

What Douglas fights had you seen before he fought Tyson?

When he quit against Tucker, watched that live and think he was on the undercard of a Tyson defence.

[Spicoli]

I am sure the poster for Tyson v Holyfield was just before he got convicted for rape Spicoli, as I have one.

I have two write ups and fold up poster releases from what I remember, plus promo page bios from Boxing illustrated pre Douglas. They claimed 'rib injury' or something second cancellation.

The rib injury was for the Holyfield fight and then the rape trial got in the way of the fight. I am sure I am right mate.

I'm sure you are cause we agree . The official Ring mag poster was definitely for the rescheduled fight in 91'. As was injury aka they knew charges were about to be filed. But the first fight date was being negotiated since Dec of 89 and sooner and both Don King and Dan Duva had confirmed, King and Tyson were promoting the Douglas fight, signing agreement for them to fight on June 18 1990 with the Douglas "tune up" just a formality for Mike. Now I know there was early promotion poster or pull out that dropped right before Douglas bout and they were all over the talk show circuit. The Boxing illustrated write up feature and picks mentioned were in this one below. Now I may need to go to storage to dig out some articles that dropped right before Douglas turned the boxing world on its head and made history . There was a great head to head breakdown I believe in 'Boxing 90' or KO also.

[Mark TKO]

such a shame Douglas couldn't motivate himself again after this fight - Douglas that night would have beaten anyone.

He was an embarrassment against Holyfield - the late Gary Mason, commentating, said he'd lost the fight about ten seconds in just watching the way he moved out of his corner after opening bell.