Feb 11 1990, 30 years ago Buster Douglas KO's Mike Tyson- greatest upset ever

[old-school-lifter]

in sports history.

at the time  undisputed HW champ + undefeated Tyson considered unbeatable, invincible and on his way to being one of the all time Heavyweight greats, had cleaned out the HW division.

42 to 1 underdog James douglas , a few months before the fight , endured the death of his mother.

somehow, this "journeyman" HW , who's best performance was a competitive until he lost effort to Tony Tucker for the IBF title, managed to fight the fight of his life.

Douglas refused to be intimdated like so many previous Tyson opponents and took the fight to Tyson.  Boxing + and moving effectively, using a sharp jab and punishing right crosses to outbox and outfight Tyson.

Admittedly Tyson look out of shape and rusty and did not have the sharpness and defense of previous fights but no excuses, Douglas simply was the btter fighter on that night in Tokyo and after Tyson bravely fought on and knocked down Douglas in the 9th, Douglas came roaring back, fighting back even harder in the very next round to hurt Tyson more and eventually KO Tyson in the 11th with a brutal 2 punch combination

one of the greatest and most dramatic HW fights and arguably the greatest upset in all of sports history!

[che]

Great fight

[G_Thang]

Japanese hookers, Don King and Robin Givens did Mike in before the sound of the bell.   

[old-school-lifter]

in Tyson's autobio "undisputed truth", he tells of the partying before the fight...………..he was def. not the same fighter who ko'd spinks but take nothing away from Buster...………..it was one of those once in a lifetime performances

[tommywishbone]

Buster Douglas was always very humble about his KO not TKO of Mike Tyson.

A legendary moment in sports history. Great stuff.

[Campeon Del Mundo]

    I remember the moments when i was watching this live on HBO at my parent's house.  I still remember
what my mom said and my reaction.  I taped it on VHS tape and then showed my friends the fight hehe..

There was some controversy on how the ref did his standing 8 count but Buster Douglas truly outboxed Tyson.

[johnny1]

30 years ago   every Tyson fight in the 1980s as teenagers we’d take cash bets...on which round Tyson would win bye ko...for the Douglas fight we didn’t bother...it was a “no brainer” Tyson would win...

3 reasons imo why Douglas won that crazy night in Tokyo so long ago now.

(1)...Douglas actually had the talent too pull it off (something most people forget)

(2)...Douglas had a life altering reasons and a corse too win that particular fight that particular night.

(3)...Tyson fucked around didn’t take the fight or Douglas serious history shows that leading up too that night...in hindsight “everyone” is a expert.

A local old guy I’d known for years actually took a bet @ the local betting agency called the TAB...and pocketed $29,000 witch was a lot of cash back in 1990 for a man on a government pension.

I bumped into him approx 6 months after that fight and asked him how the hell did he know or would be crazy enough too actually bet his small pension on the fight.

He looked @ me with a grin and said something I still recall too this day he said...”son” a viscous angry young dominating animal will always win...providing he’s kept hungry and his stomach is empty.

when that stomach becomes too full...the odds will always swing too the left.

I took those odds....that was the last time I seen him but those words still ring true.

[Powerlift66]

Douglas peaked that night and had excellent skills when he was on his game. (Was normally lazy, not driven).

Tyson was off his game, thinking just another easy win, partying up.

The next fight, James came in flabby with tits again, knew it was over for him (against blubbering fool Holyfield).

Fun time in Boxing though..

[IroNat]

The guy I worked for at the time had a few guys over and we watched the fight on PPV.

Quite an upset.

Tyson looked out of sync and not ready to fight.  Douglas caught him at the right time.

[Darren Avey]

I was only a child then but I remember Tyson was considered the world's second toughest man after the reigning Mr Olympia.

[joswift]

Holyfields destruction of Tyson in the first fight finished Tyson , he had no excuses after that fight, he had excuses for the Douglas fight..

[Humble Narcissist]

Buster was interviewed on the local radio stations (Columbus, OH) for a week leading up to the fight.  On the night of the fight ESPN was updating each round as it finished on the ticker.  Biggest sports shocker of my life when the BREAKING NEWS came in!  Columbus was rocking.

[SuperTed]

The fame and fortune had gotten to Tyson by this point and he wasn't as focused anymore.

Credit to Douglas, he fought like an ATG for that one night.

[Pray_4_War]

I still say Douglas got the benefit of a long count when Tyson knocked him down.  Should have been a KO victory for Tyson.

[oldschoolfan]

Douglas peaked that night and had excellent skills when he was on his game. (Was normally lazy, not driven).

Tyson was off his game, thinking just another easy win, partying up.

The next fight, James came in flabby with tits again, knew it was over for him (against blubbering fool Holyfield).

Fun time in Boxing though..

Totally agree that version of buster Douglas would have given any heavyweight problems

[old-school-lifter]

Totally agree that version of buster Douglas would have given any heavyweight problems

agreed!

Buster that night boxed brilliantly- it was like a mix of Holmes/ Ali- jabbing,, moving, combinations

Buster had skills- you could see that in the TUcker fight- which I think he was winning till Tucker (a very good boxer) caught him

[oldschoolfan]

agreed!

Buster that night boxed brilliantly- it was like a mix of Holmes/ Ali- jabbing,, moving, combinations

Buster had skills- you could see that in the TUcker fight- which I think he was winning till Tucker (a very good boxer) caught him

douglas actually wasnt a bad hw he did beat oliver mccall as well and i totally agree that version of douglas that night was a very good fighter, tyson can blame the partying and hookers etc he got his ass kicked