What if Tyson and Douglas had a rematch?

[Majesty]

I notice there is a lot of people that point to their first fight as the moment it was proven Mike Tyson was overrated and that it proved he wasn't a big deal, or that all you had to do was stand up to Tyson to beat him.


I think this is a huge misconception. Everyone likes to mention a fighters shortcomings before losing a fight but they treat Tyson's loss to Douglas as if he trained his butt off for that fight and was beaten.

There were a lot of factors, "shades of Tokyo" where Tyson wasn't training, was having sex with a lot of women, and wasn't taking the fight seriously even to the point of getting knocked down by sparring partners.

Douglas trained his heart out and had his mother's death inspire him to a victory and he was the better man that night, it was the perfect time for Douglas and the worse time for Tyson. That said..

Everyone that says that the Douglas fight proved Tyson was overrated, tell me this, if they had a rematch back then, would you have fancied Douglas to beat Mike again?

If you think about it, if they had a rematch, much like Lennox Lewis vs Rahman the first one, Lewis wasn't taking Rahman seriously, was filming a movie was doing all this stuff except focus on the fight and Rahman fought the fight of his life, in the rematch, it was a little different wasn't it?

So, had Douglas and Tyson rematched, you would obviously have Mike taking Douglas seriously, training his butt off for redemption and would Douglas be able to put in the same effort in training that he did the last time without his dead mother's inspiration.

So here's my question, what if Tyson and Douglas had their rematch, maybe 5 months after he beat Mike. A motivated, training hard Mike Tyson vs the new heavyweight Champion Buster Douglas.

How do you see that one going? And if Tyson wins, does history still look at him as overrated? do they point to that night as the night it all fell apart for Mike Tyson, or would it change your opinion completely?

Personally, I think if they had a rematch a Motivated Tyson knocks him out the way many felt he would initially. But I want to hear everyone else's opinion. What if they had a rematch? Would you pick Douglas to win it again? Or does a motivated Mike take him out? And if so what does it change? I've wondered this for a while, just wanted to get your opinions on it.

[ElTerribleMorales]

I notice there is a lot of people that point to their first fight as the moment it was proven Mike Tyson was overrated and that it proved he wasn't a big deal, or that all you had to do was stand up to Tyson to beat him.


I think this is a huge misconception. Everyone likes to mention a fighters shortcomings before losing a fight but they treat Tyson's loss to Douglas as if he trained his butt off for that fight and was beaten.

There were a lot of factors, "shades of Tokyo" where Tyson wasn't training, was having sex with a lot of women, and wasn't taking the fight seriously even to the point of getting knocked down by sparring partners.

Douglas trained his heart out and had his mother's death inspire him to a victory and he was the better man that night, it was the perfect time for Douglas and the worse time for Tyson. That said..

Everyone that says that the Douglas fight proved Tyson was overrated, tell me this, if they had a rematch back then, would you have fancied Douglas to beat Mike again?

If you think about it, if they had a rematch, much like Lennox Lewis vs Rahman the first one, Lewis wasn't taking Rahman seriously, was filming a movie was doing all this stuff except focus on the fight and Rahman fought the fight of his life, in the rematch, it was a little different wasn't it?

So, had Douglas and Tyson rematched, you would obviously have Mike taking Douglas seriously, training his butt off for redemption and would Douglas be able to put in the same effort in training that he did the last time without his dead mother's inspiration.

So here's my question, what if Tyson and Douglas had their rematch, maybe 5 months after he beat Mike. A motivated, training hard Mike Tyson vs the new heavyweight Champion Buster Douglas.

How do you see that one going? And if Tyson wins, does history still look at him as overrated? do they point to that night as the night it all fell apart for Mike Tyson, or would it change your opinion completely?

Personally, I think if they had a rematch a Motivated Tyson knocks him out the way many felt he would initially. But I want to hear everyone else's opinion. What if they had a rematch? Would you pick Douglas to win it again? Or does a motivated Mike take him out? And if so what does it change? I've wondered this for a while, just wanted to get your opinions on it.

i think Douglas would have gone back to his lazy ways and Tyson would have stopped him brutally within 3

[Manju]

I think Tyson's an all-time great but I go with Douglas. Tyson was mentally weak. Once he loses confidence its over. If he doesn't dominate early, he doesn't dominate at all. He showed virtually no ability in his career to comback during a fight.

HIs greatness was his ability to genrate fear, intimidate and then overwhelm his opponant. If that failed there was no plan B. Fortunately for him, he could do that 95% of the time.

I see no evidence that MIke had untertrained or was out of shape for the fight. He looked ripped and the scale didn't indicate any problem. If the probelm was overconfidnece or perhaps menatal distraction, it doesn't matter. Tyson's nature is once his confidence is breeched, he can't adjust and comeback. By defeatring him the first time, Douglas owned him for life.

[Pugilistic]

I would of favored Tyson in a rematch.

[CFH]

A properly motivated and trained Tyson would end the fight within 5 rounds.

[BIG H]

IMO Douglas could not have ever equalled that performance, it was a one-off super huma effort. Look how he looked in his next fight aganst Holyfield. Tyson inside 3.

And Tyson clearly should not have neen in the ring that night, he was a zombie! Having said that even a 100% Tyson would have find Douglas ery hard work on that night - Douglas was awesome!

[HatmanTV]

IF (& its a big IF) douglas was in the same shape he was for the 1st fight, then douglas wins again, possibly stopping tyson even earlier... tyson trained harder 4 the holyfield rematch but it made no difference, why? because as previous posters have said, once u break tysons will he is finished.

In the 1st fight with holyfield he came out swinging, in the rematch he couldnt even look holyfield in the eye b4 the 1st bell, & he started very tentitively with seemingly little self belief. & remember teddy atlas predicted BEFORE the fight, that tyson would resort 2 dirty tactics & try get disqualified rather than getting ko'd again- so tyson has always lacked heart from the very begining

in a rematch with douglas tyson would be intimidated, & if douglas was in shape like he was the 1st time round then he stops tyson even earlier, regardless how hard tyson trains

boxing is 80% mental, so regardless how hard u train, if u get in that ring and ur not right mentally you will not fight 2 the best of your ability

BUT if douglas turns up in the shape he was against holyfield then tyson has a decent chance, i still wouldnt be certain of a tyson victory though, because as i said tyson would be fighting the demons in his own mind as well as fighting douglas- & douglas would realise that. sure holyfield beat douglas easy, but he was a totally different fighter 2 tyson- taller, longer reach, lighter on his feet, better jab, better counter puncher

& as far as tyson being a "zombie" in the douglas fight, he came out swinging in the 1st round the same as usual, its only when he started getting tagged that he slowed up & seemed in a daze...he was in a daze coz a 235lb man was hitting him in the head! lol thats the 1st time anyone ever attacked tyson with any type of real speed & conviction, so its no coincidence that it was also the 1st time he got beat, in my opinion

[generalbulldog]

IF (& its a big IF) douglas was in the same shape he was for the 1st fight, then douglas wins again, possibly stopping tyson even earlier... tyson trained harder 4 the holyfield rematch but it made no difference, why? because as previous posters have said, once u break tysons will he is finished.

In the 1st fight with holyfield he came out swinging, in the rematch he couldnt even look holyfield in the eye b4 the 1st bell, & he started very tentitively with seemingly little self belief. & remember teddy atlas predicted BEFORE the fight, that tyson would resort 2 dirty tactics & try get disqualified rather than getting ko'd again- so tyson has always lacked heart from the very begining

in a rematch with douglas tyson would be intimidated, & if douglas was in shape like he was the 1st time round then he stops tyson even earlier, regardless how hard tyson trains

boxing is 80% mental, so regardless how hard u train, if u get in that ring and ur not right mentally you will not fight 2 the best of your ability

BUT if douglas turns up in the shape he was against holyfield then tyson has a decent chance, i still wouldnt be certain of a tyson victory though, because as i said tyson would be fighting the demons in his own mind as well as fighting douglas- & douglas would realise that. sure holyfield beat douglas easy, but he was a totally different fighter 2 tyson- taller, longer reach, lighter on his feet, better jab, better counter puncher

& as far as tyson being a "zombie" in the douglas fight, he came out swinging in the 1st round the same as usual, its only when he started getting tagged that he slowed up & seemed in a daze...he was in a daze coz a 235lb man was hitting him in the head! lol thats the 1st time anyone ever attacked tyson with any type of real speed & conviction, so its no coincidence that it was also the 1st time he got beat, in my opinion

Now this is a good explanation on why Buster would win if he came back out in shape for the rematch.

I was going to go with most people here and say Tyson would win, but you are right in that once someone gets to Tyson he becomes tame and his aura is gone. Tyson had that aura again during his comeback when he was knocking guys out before Holyfield. I remember the rematch with Holyfield where he couldn't look into the man's eye during the customary stare. Tyson was just shook.

[Jimanuel Boogustus]

To be fair, at no point did Tyson have Holyfield in any kind of trouble... But he actually knocked Buster Douglas OUT.

I'm sure that would of gave him heart enough to come out swinging a second time around.

[Chino]

Chino GIVE IT UP Tyson got the shit kicked out of him in that fight

I am not denying Tyson he got knocked out regardless of Douglas getting a gift 13+ second count.