James "Buster" Douglas

[dchampishere]

After watching some of his fights the man gets a bad rap for the evander fight but Buster had very good skills, was very relaxed, fast hands, great footwork and very fluid with his combinations. But once again when you have good skills with poor training habits = a fighter open for criticism. "Distractions are a pitfall of the free world" Angel Savon

[Steak]

He definitely was better than some people make him out to be. He was pretty solid all around, but his training habits, as you said, could have been a lot better. For his size he was quite skilled, and had a very good jab.


Lets also not forget that Douglas was coming off wins over Berbick and McCall, and of course McCall went on to knock out Francisco Damiani, Oleg Maskaev and Lennox Lewis.

It really is true that he peaked for that one Tyson fight, where he fought like a man possessed. But even not in Tyson-esque shape he was pretty damn good.

He showed up in horrible shape against Evander.

[Boxing Bob]

I always thought the Tokyo version of Buster could have bested almost any of the ATG hwts. Too bad that was the only fight he was in that shape and motivated.

[Sugarj]

I always thought the Tokyo version of Buster could have bested almost any of the ATG hwts. Too bad that was the only fight he was in that shape and motivated.

I think that Tokyo Buster would give many an ATG a good fight too. You couldn't knock his speed, power, mobility, size, generalship, combination work and heart for that one night.

I don't think that an off form Tyson flattered him either, Buster was superb. A bit like Rid**** Bowe in his first fight with Holyfield.

[fitefanSHO]

Buster KO'd a prime Mike Tyson, any way you look at it.

That's more legacy than most boxers ever dream of.

[CarlosG815]

Buster was made out by media outlets to be a bum in order to over dramatize the tragedy of the Tyson loss but in reality he was a very good fighter when he was in shape. Nobody would deny that.

Average person at home thinks "Tyson isn't the real deal, he got beat by a bum."

Which is exactly what they wanted them to think. Buster at his best was a world beater.

[jabsRstiff]

Buster Douglas had the tools to be one of the very best heavyweights ever. On the night he beat Tyson, he was a perfect heavyweight.

[McGoorty]

Buster KO'd a prime Mike Tyson, any way you look at it.

That's more legacy than most boxers ever dream of.

Sure is, Buster was great that day, me and me mate rocked up at the pub and the fight was just beginning. I remember saying to my mate James after the first round that this guy might just pull it off..... LOL... you should have seen all the incredulous faces looking at me when I said that. They called me a f***w1t, but I am usually on the money and after the 3rd many were taking me seriously. After the fight I was a prophet, but I always knew that Tyson would lose to someone in that next year or two, I just knew it in my bones.

[jabsRstiff]

No version of Mike Tyson beats a 6'4", 231lb guy who is moving and boxing like a damn middleweight!

[McGoorty]

Yeah mate, good call.