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CHAPTER 1: THE EARLY DAYS
January 1988: I had previously been only a martial arts fan. I loved Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Sho Kosugi. However, I had not known much about boxing. I was hearing about this young champion who everyone was going nuts over. My next-door neighbor was hell-bent on recording every one of his fights on VHS. He had his sister call me to ask if I'd record the Tyson-Holmes fight for him. Just to be spiteful I said I wanted to record it for myself! I ended up watching the fight and as my Dad rooted for old-timer Larry Holmes. Unfortunately, he had ended up on the canvas three times early in the fight. I said to myself, "Wow!!"
February 1988: I had just gotten a Nintendo. My first two games were Super Mario and Mike Tyson's Punch Out! I was completely hooked on the Tyson game as I had mastered the arcade version of Punch Out! and was looking for a new challenge. I found it in beating Mike Tyson and with lots of practice I had finally conquered the game and the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion!!
March 1988: Tyson-Tubbs was on and I watched. Two short rounds and Tubbs was out-cold. After the fight Mike says, "He was outta shape and thats why I got rid of him quickly!" After that I was hooked!! I had asked my next-door neighbor to lend me all the Tyson fights and I watched enthusiastically and we all impatiently waited for the big Tyson-Spinks fight in June!!
June 1988: I had just gotten out of 7th grade and summer vacation was on. I had a party the night of the Spinks fight. Everyone was so excited!! I thought we'd see a great fight with a lot of give-and-take and Mike would win by 7th round KO. My Dad made a comment, "Watch...It'll be over in the 1st round! He was right!!" As much as I was in awe of Mike's performance I was actually depressed that it ended so quickly.
Feb 1989: Many months had passed since the Spinks fight and we were all eagerly awaiting Mike's defense against British challenger Frank Bruno. By this time I was a die-hard Tyson fan to the degree I'd actually get a bit worried of a challenger posed some sort of threat. I'd also decided to wear black shorts on his fight nights to give him better luck. I had much more knowledge about the history of boxing by this time as I'd watched all the tapes Mike had made about it. As a child, I thought Bruno was a Sonny Liston type of fighter with a lot of power. For some reason, I thought a puncher would be the only kind of fighter with a chance against him as I always believed he'd walk through any boxer.
I'd predicted a 1st round KO as I thought Mike wouldn't take any chances and end it early. When Frank hit the canvas within 30 seconds I remember yelling to my friends "I told you guys!" My one friend who predicted a 5th round TKO said, "No way!!" But then something different happened. Frank got up out of anger and disappointment and fought back hard literally throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Mike. I saw Mike stagger which freaked me out! I started wondering if he was the same fighter as before or whether he lost his touch. But thank God he regained composure and took out Frank with awesome combos in the round my friend had predicted.
July 1989: Finally, out of grammar school and enjoying another summer vacation filled with lots of fun and more video games! Tyson-Williams was on for July 21st. I recall seeing number 1 challenger Carl Williams on the Mort Downy jr. show the night before the fight promising to win. I guess it was a lie as The Truth did his very best to impersonate Mike Spinks the year before. But he only missed by two seconds. I said "Mike was back!" Damn, I should keep on wearing black shorts!!
Feb 1990: All of my friends are vastly looking foward to Tyson-Holyfield. One of my friends actually predicted a Holyfield win. I thought he was crazy! But, Mike had to get past his tune-up James Douglas on the 10th. Is that a joke? Is there anyone on the planet who thinks such a great champ like Mike would lose to a guy like this?? I remember feeling crappy that day and going to the mall. I was in a good mood cause Mike was fighting that night. I recall saying to my Mom, "Happy Tyson day!!" The big debate in my mind was if Buster would make it to round 2.
Round 1 starts and ends. Round 2 starts and ends. We're in round 3. I know Mike's gonna end it in this round. Nope, he doesn't. Damn, I'm thinking Mike looks like a zombie! WTF!! He keeps losing round after round. I'm saying to my friend, "Look at his eye...It's closing.." Then I'm saying to myself that in a way it's good cause it's a war but he's still gonna win, of course. He said he would! Then I'm thinking somethings not right. I look down and I'm wearing, "Red freaking trunks! Red trunks!! Oh no!!!" I run and slap on my black trunks. "Down goes Douglas...As sudden as that..."
Anyway, not knowing anything about the long-count at the time... I felt as though it was a hell of a long knockdown. I thought the ref would wave it off as Douglas got up slowly with a facial expression as though he didn't want any more. I breathe a sigh of relief. It was an eight-round TKO for Mike. He better train with more intensity next time!! Then I look up and see Buster pounding on Mike and Tyson go down. It was like seeing a freaking miracle! He actually went down... How was this possible????? Then the ref waves MIKE off as he gets up at the count of nine with his mouthpiece dangling out of his mouth. I ask my friend to pinch me. I go out and look up at the sky and wonder if I'm dreaming...
To be continued...
January 1988: I had previously been only a martial arts fan. I loved Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Sho Kosugi. However, I had not known much about boxing. I was hearing about this young champion who everyone was going nuts over. My next-door neighbor was hell-bent on recording every one of his fights on VHS. He had his sister call me to ask if I'd record the Tyson-Holmes fight for him. Just to be spiteful I said I wanted to record it for myself! I ended up watching the fight and as my Dad rooted for old-timer Larry Holmes. Unfortunately, he had ended up on the canvas three times early in the fight. I said to myself, "Wow!!"
February 1988: I had just gotten a Nintendo. My first two games were Super Mario and Mike Tyson's Punch Out! I was completely hooked on the Tyson game as I had mastered the arcade version of Punch Out! and was looking for a new challenge. I found it in beating Mike Tyson and with lots of practice I had finally conquered the game and the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion!!
March 1988: Tyson-Tubbs was on and I watched. Two short rounds and Tubbs was out-cold. After the fight Mike says, "He was outta shape and thats why I got rid of him quickly!" After that I was hooked!! I had asked my next-door neighbor to lend me all the Tyson fights and I watched enthusiastically and we all impatiently waited for the big Tyson-Spinks fight in June!!
June 1988: I had just gotten out of 7th grade and summer vacation was on. I had a party the night of the Spinks fight. Everyone was so excited!! I thought we'd see a great fight with a lot of give-and-take and Mike would win by 7th round KO. My Dad made a comment, "Watch...It'll be over in the 1st round! He was right!!" As much as I was in awe of Mike's performance I was actually depressed that it ended so quickly.
Feb 1989: Many months had passed since the Spinks fight and we were all eagerly awaiting Mike's defense against British challenger Frank Bruno. By this time I was a die-hard Tyson fan to the degree I'd actually get a bit worried of a challenger posed some sort of threat. I'd also decided to wear black shorts on his fight nights to give him better luck. I had much more knowledge about the history of boxing by this time as I'd watched all the tapes Mike had made about it. As a child, I thought Bruno was a Sonny Liston type of fighter with a lot of power. For some reason, I thought a puncher would be the only kind of fighter with a chance against him as I always believed he'd walk through any boxer.
I'd predicted a 1st round KO as I thought Mike wouldn't take any chances and end it early. When Frank hit the canvas within 30 seconds I remember yelling to my friends "I told you guys!" My one friend who predicted a 5th round TKO said, "No way!!" But then something different happened. Frank got up out of anger and disappointment and fought back hard literally throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Mike. I saw Mike stagger which freaked me out! I started wondering if he was the same fighter as before or whether he lost his touch. But thank God he regained composure and took out Frank with awesome combos in the round my friend had predicted.
July 1989: Finally, out of grammar school and enjoying another summer vacation filled with lots of fun and more video games! Tyson-Williams was on for July 21st. I recall seeing number 1 challenger Carl Williams on the Mort Downy jr. show the night before the fight promising to win. I guess it was a lie as The Truth did his very best to impersonate Mike Spinks the year before. But he only missed by two seconds. I said "Mike was back!" Damn, I should keep on wearing black shorts!!
Feb 1990: All of my friends are vastly looking foward to Tyson-Holyfield. One of my friends actually predicted a Holyfield win. I thought he was crazy! But, Mike had to get past his tune-up James Douglas on the 10th. Is that a joke? Is there anyone on the planet who thinks such a great champ like Mike would lose to a guy like this?? I remember feeling crappy that day and going to the mall. I was in a good mood cause Mike was fighting that night. I recall saying to my Mom, "Happy Tyson day!!" The big debate in my mind was if Buster would make it to round 2.
Round 1 starts and ends. Round 2 starts and ends. We're in round 3. I know Mike's gonna end it in this round. Nope, he doesn't. Damn, I'm thinking Mike looks like a zombie! WTF!! He keeps losing round after round. I'm saying to my friend, "Look at his eye...It's closing.." Then I'm saying to myself that in a way it's good cause it's a war but he's still gonna win, of course. He said he would! Then I'm thinking somethings not right. I look down and I'm wearing, "Red freaking trunks! Red trunks!! Oh no!!!" I run and slap on my black trunks. "Down goes Douglas...As sudden as that..."
Anyway, not knowing anything about the long-count at the time... I felt as though it was a hell of a long knockdown. I thought the ref would wave it off as Douglas got up slowly with a facial expression as though he didn't want any more. I breathe a sigh of relief. It was an eight-round TKO for Mike. He better train with more intensity next time!! Then I look up and see Buster pounding on Mike and Tyson go down. It was like seeing a freaking miracle! He actually went down... How was this possible????? Then the ref waves MIKE off as he gets up at the count of nine with his mouthpiece dangling out of his mouth. I ask my friend to pinch me. I go out and look up at the sky and wonder if I'm dreaming...
To be continued...
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