35 years ago
Mike Tyson vs James Douglas
Date: 11th February 1990
Venue: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
Title: WBC, WBA & IBF World Heavyweight Titles
Promoter: Don King Productions & Teiken Promotions
Referee: Octavio Meyran
Tv: HBO Sports
Mike Tyson
(
37
-
0
-
0
)
Weight: 220½ lbs
James Douglas
(
28
-
4
-
1
)
Weight: 231½ lbs
In what has been universally acknowledged as one of the most monumental upsets in sports history, James "Buster" Douglas dismantled the aura of invincibility surrounding Mike Tyson on February 11, 1990, at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. The bout drew an estimated 40,000 fans and saw the seemingly unbeatable Tyson enter as the undefeated and undisputed heavyweight champion. He held the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles and boasted a record of 37-0. Douglas ranked No. 2 by the IBF, No. 3 by the WBC, and No. 4 by the WBA, came in as a 42-1 underdog, an afterthought to what many believed would be another routine defence for the champion.
Tyson's training camp leading up to the fight was marred by reports of poor preparation and disarray in his corner. Without the guidance of long-time trainer Kevin Rooney, his new team, led by Aaron Snowell and Jay Bright, was criticized for their inexperience. Tyson was reportedly knocked down during sparring by former WBA champion Greg Page, and rumours of a lackadaisical attitude permeated the boxing world. In stark contrast, Douglas, fueled by the recent loss of his mother to a stroke, entered the bout with newfound focus and determination, channelling his grief into a career-defining performance.
Douglas dictated the fight's pace from the opening bell with a sharp and consistent jab that disrupted Tyson's rhythm. The challenger's superior conditioning and strategy became apparent as he repeatedly tied Tyson up on the inside and kept the champion at bay with well-timed punches. Tyson's inability to close the distance effectively or adjust to Douglas' game plan highlighted the dysfunction in his corner. Tyson's left eye was visibly swelling by the fifth round, but his corner failed to bring an enswell, resorting instead to a makeshift solution involving a latex glove filled with ice.
The fight's most dramatic moment came in the eighth round. Despite being outclassed for much of the bout, Tyson unleashed a thunderous right uppercut that sent Douglas sprawling to the canvas with only seconds remaining in the round. Douglas beat referee Octavio Meyran's count at nine, and the bell rang immediately after, granting him precious time to recover.
Rather than crumbling under pressure, Douglas resumed control in the ninth round, wobbling Tyson with a series of powerful shots. Douglas capitalized on Tyson's deteriorating defence as the fight entered the tenth. A punishing uppercut stunned the champion, and a follow-up combination, capped by a left hook, sent Tyson to the canvas for the first time in his career. Disoriented, Tyson scrambled to retrieve his mouthpiece, inserting it backwards as he struggled to rise. Meyran completed the count at ten, and the unthinkable had happened—Tyson was no longer the world's heavyweight champion.
In the aftermath, promoter Don King attempted to contest the result, citing an alleged "long count" when Douglas was down in the eighth round. However, the backlash against King's claims was swift and severe. While the WBC and WBA initially withheld recognition of Douglas as champion, public pressure and threats from regulatory bodies forced them to reverse their decisions. On February 13, both organizations officially acknowledged Douglas as the new undisputed heavyweight champion.
The victory elevated Douglas into the annals of boxing history, earning him widespread acclaim and accolades, including The Ring's "Upset of the Year." Despite his subsequent struggles to replicate this performance, Douglas' triumph over Tyson remains one of the sport's defining moments, a reminder of boxing's inherent unpredictability and the indomitable spirit of an underdog. Tyson, who went on to restore his legacy in later years, never reclaimed the air of invincibility he carried into that fateful night in Tokyo.
Mike Tyson vs James Douglas on YouTube
