Mike Tyson was the most popular boxer in the 1980s and 1990s. He was the youngest Heavyweight Champion in the history of boxing. Tyson’s cardio, movement, and knockout power made him the most unbeatable force in combat sports. However, not every great fighter remains undefeated forever. Only a few combatants in combat sports have retired with an undefeated professional record. Rocky Marciano, Floyd Mayweather, and Khabib Nurmagomedov are among the others who retired without a single defeat. Tyson’s first defeat became the biggest shock in boxing history.
The latter half of the 1980s marked a scandalous time in Tyson’s career. He had a troubled relationship and abusive marriage with actress Robin Givens. He left his boxing coach Kevin Rooney. Mike Tyson was embroiled in contractual battles with his longtime manager Bill Clayton and promoter Don King. In 1990, he competed against James “Buster” Douglas at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. Douglas came into the bout as a 42:1 underdog but left the venue the World Heavyweight Champion. Most importantly, James “Buster” Douglas became the first fighter to defeat Mike Tyson inside the boxing ring.
Buster Douglas was the seventh-ranked Heavyweight heading into the bout against Tyson. Many considered Douglas a warm-up for Tyson before he fights the No. 1 contender Evander Holyfield. The lead-up to the fight became extremely difficult for Douglas as his mother passed away. His mother, Lula Pearl, died more than three weeks away from the fight. Douglas’s separated girlfriend and the mother of his son had extreme kidney ailments. He also contracted flu on the day before the fight.
Despite all the hardships and difficulties, Douglas knocked Tyson down in the tenth round, and referee Octavio Meyran counted him out. Following the knockout victory, Douglas teared up in his post-fight interview and paid an emotional tribute to his mother. He said his mother believed he could win when no one else did. His victory over Tyson remains the biggest underdog win in boxing.
How did James Douglas defeat Mike Tyson?
Mike Tyson and James Douglas met in the Tokyo Dome with the WBA, WBC, and IBF titles on the line. Tyson was the favorite to win, and Douglas came into the bout as a 42:1 underdog. The bout started with a surprise shocking the commentators and the viewers. Douglas showed that he was not afraid of Tyson. He used quick jabs and movement to prevent Tyson from coming on the inside. He was the better boxer in the early rounds.
Tyson regained some momentum after the middle rounds. However, Douglas still troubled Tyson in the ring. He busted up Tyson in the fifth round, making his eye swell. Commentator Larry Merchant noted Tyson was facing adversity for the first time in his career. In the eighth round, Tyson landed a huge right uppercut that knocked Douglas down.
It did not slow down Douglas as he fought back and almost knocked out Tyson with a four-punch combo. Still hurt from the ninth round, Tyson absorbed a few jabs and an uppercut before Douglas landed the four-punch combo again to knock him down. The referee counted him out, and Douglas became the new Heavyweight Champion.
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