In one of the biggest upsets in sports history, James “Buster” Douglas defeated the seemingly unbeatable Mike Tyson to capture the undisputed heavyweight championship on February 11, 1990 in Tokyo, Japan. Douglas, a 42-to-1 underdog going into the fight, overcame tremendous personal adversity to pull off the shocking victory.
Personal Setbacks for Buster Douglas
In the weeks leading up to the fight, Douglas faced several major personal setbacks. His mother, Lula Pearl, passed away just 23 days before the bout. Additionally, the mother of his son was suffering from a severe kidney ailment, and Douglas himself had contracted the flu the day before the fight.
However, Douglas found motivation in a promise he had made to his mother. He revealed that his mother had told everyone she knew that he would beat Tyson, and he didn’t want to let her down. This promise seemed to drive Douglas to defy the odds against the seemingly unbeatable champion.
The Fight was a Spectacular Display of Douglas’ Self-Belief and Courage
From the opening bell, Douglas showed no fear against the fearsome Tyson. He used his quick jab to keep Tyson at bay and landed several clean punches whenever Tyson tried to get inside[1][7]. In the second round, Douglas landed a snapping uppercut that snapped Tyson’s head back.
Tyson began to regain control in the middle rounds, landing a punishing left to the body in the fifth round. However, Douglas weathered the storm and continued to outbox Tyson with his jab and right hand In the eighth round, Tyson landed a huge uppercut that dropped Douglas, but the challenger beat the count and came back to outclass Tyson in the ninth round.
In the 10th round, Douglas took over again, landing several clean punches. He then finished Tyson off with a combination, scoring a stunning 10th round knockout to pull off the massive upset.
Douglas’ victory over Tyson is widely regarded as the biggest upset in sports history. He overcame incredible odds and personal tragedy to dethrone the seemingly unbeatable champion. While he lost the title later that year to Evander Holyfield, Douglas’ name will forever be etched in boxing lore as the man who pulled off the unthinkable and knocked out Mike Tyson.
