Tyson being past his prime when Douglas beat him???

[butterfly1964]

So are we making Douglas out to be some sort of a highly rated contender now? Pathetic. Before the fight, the fight was thought of to be so much of a mismatch that they couldn't find a venue in American to land the fight so it had to be taken to Toykio. Douglas was not much before or after Tyson.

He was ranked number 3 in the world when he fought Tyson, so I think that's highly rated enough.

[butterfly1964]

So are we making Douglas out to be some sort of a highly rated contender now? Pathetic. Before the fight, the fight was thought of to be so much of a mismatch that they couldn't find a venue in American to land the fight so it had to be taken to Toykio. Douglas was not much before or after Tyson.

Oh, and by the way the Louis-Schmeling fight was thought to be just as much of a mismatch if not more.

[slicksouthpaw16]

Schmeling didn't win the title against Stribling, he won the title against Sharkey on a low blow. Schmeling was getting the crap beat out of him by Sharkey for 4 rounds and then Sharkey accidentally hit him low, and Schmeling couldn't continue so they disqualified Sharkey. Schmeling was seemed as washed up before he fought Louis and many peole feared for Schmeling's life in that fight. Douglas was a top-rated contender when he fought Tyson. and had some good wins, so he was definetely not a bum.

My mistake about Schemelling/Stribbling. However, Douglas wasn't a top rated contedner because if he was, then the fight would have been in the states and he wouldn't have been that big of an underdog. Douglas had lost all of his biggest key fights up until Tyson. He was known as underachiever, a quitter and a guy that never showed becuase he was often out of shape. Read this article. It talks about how he wasn't much before or after Tyson.

''James "Buster" Douglas (DOB: 4/7/1960; Columbus, Ohio) was considered one of many bums whom champions face in between title defenses versus more serious contenders. However, Douglas had previously beaten accomplished fighters such as Oliver McCall and Trevor Berbick (both in 1989). Still, he had lost 4 fights in his career and was hardly seen as a major threat. Douglas was listed as a 42-1 underdog against the unbeaten, and seemingly unstoppable, Tyson. Still, Douglas's mother had recently died so Douglas was greatly motivated and in great physical shape.

The bout, on February 11, 1990 in Tokyo, didn't go as everyone expected. Perhaps taking Douglas lightly (afterall, everyone else did), Tyson didn't knock Douglas out early, as he did most previous opponents (none of his 5 most recent title defenses lasted past the 5th round). Douglas took advantage, and shocked the world with a 10th round knockout of Tyson, becoming undisputed heavyweight champion.

Douglas went overnight from an unknown to a champion. Sega Genesis released the video game Buster Douglas Boxing (which, fittingly, probably wasn't as good as Mike Tyson's Punchout on NES).

The honeymoon ended on October 25, 1990 in Las Vegas, when Evander Holyfield knocked Douglas out in the 3rd round, to take the heavyweight championship. Remarkably, Douglas was out of shape and overweight for the fight, which was his first and last title defense.

Douglas did not fight from 1991-1995, and had health problems related to being overweight (including being in a diabetic coma at one point).

Buster returned to boxing in 1996. He won his fights, but didn't fight anyone of note and was still out of shape. Douglas suffered a first-round knockout by Lou Savarese on June 25, 1998 in Ledyard, Connecticut, which effectively ended talks of a Tyson-Douglas rematch.

Douglas fought a few times since, but as far as I know, he's now retired from boxing. His career record is 38-6-1, with 25 knockouts.

Recently, when unknown Hasim Rahman knocked out Lennox Lewis to win the heavyweight championship, comparisons were drawn between Rahman and Douglas.

Buster Douglas's legacy is as boxing's David who beat the sport's Goliath to become a champion (if only for a few months).''

[slicksouthpaw16]

Oh, and by the way the Louis-Schmeling fight was thought to be just as much of a mismatch if not more.

Joe Louis was a 10 to 1 favorite to beat Max Schmelling, Mike Tyson was a 42 to 1 favorite to beat Douglas. Massive difference. That actually goes to prove my point that Schmelling was a lot better than Douglas. So there you have it.

[StarshipTrooper]

He was ranked number 3 in the world when he fought Tyson, so I think that's highly rated enough.

You should remember that actual "ratings" are subject to manipulation by the alphabet boys to give promoters like Don King the fights they want. If King wants to put his meal ticket in against a tomato can then that fighter will
"mysteriously" be suddenly ranked in the top five to legitimize the fight. Another reason why promoters and alphabet organizations need to die.

Poet

[Yogi]

Ring Rating for Feb of 1990;

1. Mike Tyson
2. Evander Holyfield
3. Orlin Norris
4. Michael Dokes
5. Francesco Damiani
6. Tim Witherspoon
7. Buster Douglas
8. Carl Williams
9. Razor Ruddock
10. Gary Mason


Ring Ratings for year end, 1935, which was about six months before the first Louis/Schmeling fight, but I'll assume* Schmeling wasn't dropped any because he didn't have a fight between when those ratings were issued and the fight with Louis;

Champion: James Braddock
1. Joe Louis
2. Max Schmeling
3. Primo Carnera
4. Charley Retzlaff
5. Tommy Loughran
6. Eddie Mader
7. Hank Hankinson
8. Ray Impelletiere
9. Al Ettore
10. Ford Smith


*Also the assumption can be made because because the NYSAC came right and stated that the winner would be getting the next crack at Braddock's champioship.

For an example;

"The winner of the Joe Louis-Max Schmeling fight at the Yankee Stadium June 18 will be recognized as the No. 1 challenger for the world heavyweight championship now held by James J. Braddock. This was definately decided at a meeting of the State Athletic Commision yesterday, and it is probable that the title fight will be held in New York in September." - New York Times, May 20th, 1936

[butterfly1964]

Joe Louis was a 10 to 1 favorite to beat Max Schmelling, Mike Tyson was a 42 to 1 favorite to beat Douglas. Massive difference. That actually goes to prove my point that Schmelling was a lot better than Douglas. So there you have it.

Betting odds nowadays are grossly distorted. If the fight was held back in the thirties or forties Douglas would not have been more than a 10 or 12 to one underdog.

[Boogie Nights]

Betting odds nowadays are grossly distorted. If the fight was held back in the thirties or forties Douglas would not have been more than a 10 or 12 to one underdog.

leave it alone brother, it's pointless. you can see him judging one's ability and record by the odds of one fight. you'll have better luck talking to a brick wall. my advice just save the nerves and move on

[them_apples]

It's obvious Tyson just underrated his opponent and payed for it, if anyone thinks he would have lost to Douglas on a good night is delusional.

The same goes for Joe Louis, he just underrated his opponent and payed for it.

[slicksouthpaw16]

Betting odds nowadays are grossly distorted. If the fight was held back in the thirties or forties Douglas would not have been more than a 10 or 12 to one underdog.

I have never heard that one before. Odds are odds anyway we look at it. Schmelling was better than Douglas and ranked higher, as Yogi pointed out. He was also a champion where as Douglas was a very good journeyman as the article that i have posted pointed out. Its specifically stated that Douglas was another bum that Tyson was suppoose to blow out, in those words.

leave it alone brother, it's pointless. you can see him judging one's ability and record by the odds of one fight. you'll have better luck talking to a brick wall. my advice just save the nerves and move on

No, i'm proving that Douglas/Tyson was the bigger upset, maybe the biggest of all time. Lewis/Rachman I was even a much bigger upset than Louis/Schmelling was. You don't even respond to my posts above so clearly you are through. This is coming from someone that said they were done with this thread around the second page.

It's obvious Tyson just underrated his opponent and payed for it, if anyone thinks he would have lost to Douglas on a good night is delusional.

The same goes for Joe Louis, he just underrated his opponent and payed for it.

You said that a guy like Jack Johnson shouldn't be ranked over Tyson and you were actually serious. What has Tyson done to even come close? No offense but i think we heard enough of your views..LOL