I remember Buster Douglas’ shocking KO of Mike Tyson like it was yesterday. As a young teenager at time — I bought into Mike Tyson being the baddest man on the planet.
I didn’t think the terminator could beat Mike Tyson — let alone another boxer. If social media, cell phones and the internet were around during that fight — the planet and social media as we know it would have exploded.
Douglas was a 42-1 underdog — meaning who ever bet on him that night didn’t have to work anymore. Today is the 25h anniversary of that shocking evening in Tokyo, Japan.
Tyson, 23 at the time, went into the fight 37-0 with 33 knockout. A no-name except to big boxing fans, Douglas was 29-4-1.
Nobody gave Douglas a chance to survive let alone win. With most bouts on pay per view at the time, HBO televised the bout figuring it would be over quick.
On the same day that Nelson Mandela was released after 27 years in a South Africa prison, Douglas shocked the sports world by knocking out Tyson 1:23 into the 10th round.
Knocked down for the first time as a pro — Tyson spent more time trying to find his mouth piece — than he did focusing on finishing the fight.
“It’s over,” HBO play-by-play man Jim Lampley called out.
“This makes Cinderella look like a sad story what Buster Douglas has done here tonight,” HBO’s Larry Merchant responded. “I would be willing to say it’s the greatest upset in boxing history.”
Eight months later, an out of shape and cashed out Douglas — was stopped by Evander Holyfield.
Douglas is 54 and training young boxers in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio.
