Boxing’s Biggest Upsets: Tyson vs Douglas

Boxing’s Biggest Upsets: Tyson vs Douglas

By Simon Graham

At the Tokyo Dome on February 11, 1990 fight fans ringside and the millions watching on TV, witnessed a fight that is often ranked among the biggest upsets in sports history. James Buster Douglas a 42-1 rank outsider will be forever immortalised as the boxer who destroyed the myth of Iron Mike Tyson.

When Lennox Lewis lost to Hasim Rahman I was gutted however there was an air of inevitability that Lewis could and would right the wrong and regain his title, after all he had done that once already against Oliver McCall.

Tyson vs Douglas is still raw in my memory, I remember the fight like it was yesterday. I don’t believe there isn’t a boxing fan alive who wasn’t a Mike Tyson fan, a brooding young man a throw back to the fighters of old, menacing, powerful unbeatable the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ who would reign as heavyweight champion forever. I can’t describe how I truly felt in the early hours of that terrible day, Tyson had lost and I was devastated.

Going into the fight, Tyson was the undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion. He held the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles, Tyson was viewed as such a dominant heavyweight that he was also viewed as the number one fighter in the world pound-for-pound a rarity for heavyweights.

In stark contrast Douglas had progressed up the ranks into the contender spot with mediocre wins previously he had lost by TKO to Tony TNT Tucker, but 6 straight wins had the fighter ranked 7th in the world which would earn him his title shot at Tyson.

A very confident looking Douglas bounced around in the ring waiting for Tyson to make his trademark entrance as the bell sounded for round one it was clear Douglas was not afraid clearly unaffected (as so many fighters had been before him) in Tyson’s intimidating persona.

Douglas quickly established his jab keeping Tyson at arms reach tying him up on the inside and unleashing slick accurate combinations. Through the early rounds Douglas was giving Tyson a boxing lesson out working him with accurate and cumulative punches, round 4 had Tyson impose himself on the challenger far more landing his signature uppercuts but Douglas continued to dominate causing the champions eye to swell.

Tyson had gone through a major team change, Don King was now his promoter and long-time friend and trainer Kevin Rooney had been replaced by Aaron Snowel and Jay Bright this proved decisive during the fight, Tyson’s Corner was in total and utter chaos they had no idea how to execute a plan B.

The start of round 8 was non descriptive with Douglas tying up Tyson’s advances however into the last minute Douglas caught Tyson with a one two combination with Tyson against the ropes he loaded up hitting Iron Mike in a fashion we were not accustomed to seeing, with 10 seconds remaining Tyson unleashed a thunderous uppercut square on the jaw of Douglas sending him to the
canvas.

Somehow Douglas rose to his feet as the bell sounded giving him a much needed recovery and undoubtedly the ferocity of Tyson’s ability to finish hurt fighters.

Round 9 had Douglas once again tie up Tyson on the inside then keep him at range with his jab. With a minute left in the round Tyson found himself once again battling to stay upright taking some heavy hits, his eye now so badly swollen it was almost closed.

The end came in round 10, Tyson clearly dazed, confused and battered had no answers to Douglas’s superior speed and work ethic, he rocked Tyson with a stunning uppercut followed by a right then left combination, Tyson was down and being counted out. He looked a lost sorry soul as he fumbled about like a drunken man looking for pocket change, trying to pick his gum shield and get to his feet, by the time he was up the fight was over.

There are so many factors we can argue about as to why Tyson lost that night I’m biased I can’t help it I was a fan, however that would detract from a sensational performance and a place in heavyweight history for James Buster Douglas, he was the better man on the night with a hint of 8th round luck.