Tony Tucker or Buster Douglas

[Mintcar923]

At their best who do you think was the better all around fighter? Granted, they'd fought back in May '87 with Tony winning by TKO with many consider an even fight right before up to that point..

However, Tucker would go on to lose two title attempts though performing very admirably in bouts with Tyson and Lewis.. Douglas as we all know redeemed himself in a masterpiece against Mike Tyson in Feb of 1990 that we talk about still to this day.. However, although at his best had immense talent he had really done little else meekly surrendering the title to Holyfield later in '90 after winning..

But, all in all who do you suppose was the superior boxer and should go down as such? Lastly, why do you think they had somewhat underachieved in their careers other than Tucker's problems with substance abuse and Douglas alleged eating disorder??

[Sugar Adam Ali]

I would favor tucker... I just think he was slightly more skilled and harden around the edges..

[rightsideup]

tucker was a higher level for longer and at his best beats douglas

[just the facts]

At their best? The version of Buster that knocked out Tyson soundly beats any version of Tucker

[TBear]

Douglas was outboxing Tucker and well ahead on points when Tucker came back and stopped him. But perhaps that does not answer the question.

[Mintcar923]

Douglas was outboxing Tucker and well ahead on points when Tucker came back and stopped him. But perhaps that does not answer the question.

Right but Douglas just handed the title to Tucker that night as a gift.. The combo that ended that fight was hardly devastating and not nearly as challenging as the shots he later took from Tyson.. Its almost as though he could have won or at least done well in certain fights but just had a serious lack of motivation for most of his career..

[Scott9945]

Douglas was outboxing Tucker and well ahead on points when Tucker came back and stopped him. But perhaps that does not answer the question.

Douglas basically quit in the Tucker fight on the Tyson-Thomas undercard. That was one of the reasons that his win over Tyson was the biggest upset ever.

[Mintcar923]

Douglas basically quit in the Tucker fight on the Tyson-Thomas undercard. That was one of the reasons that his win over Tyson was the biggest upset ever.

Hypothetically speaking if that little incident hadnt happened late in that fight Tyson Douglas would have been on 8/1/1987.. But, I guess thats besides the point of why Douglas would just lay down in the Tucker and Holyfield fights yet seemed to be possessed in the Tyson fight.. Tucker would have been an easier win and all he had to do was train to have a chance beating Holyfield to hold onto the title and megafight rematch with Tyson..

[Scott9945]

Hypothetically speaking if that little incident hadnt happened late in that fight Tyson Douglas would have been on 8/1/1987.. But, I guess thats besides the point of why Douglas would just lay down in the Tucker and Holyfield fights yet seemed to be possessed in the Tyson fight.. Tucker would have been an easier win and all he had to do was train to have a chance beating Holyfield to hold onto the title and megafight rematch with Tyson..

If Tyson-Douglas had happened in 1987, heavyweight boxing history may have turned out quite differently.

[juggernaut666]

Right but Douglas just handed the title to Tucker that night as a gift.. The combo that ended that fight was hardly devastating and not nearly as challenging as the shots he later took from Tyson.. Its almost as though he could have won or at least done well in certain fights but just had a serious lack of motivation for most of his career..

Tucker and douglas were mentally prepared and in shape for Tyson as most of Tysons opponents were because they knew they had to be,a big misconception is everyone didn't think they would beat him...wrong ,most of his top challengers showed up at their very best including Tillis who completely changed his life style and training regimine before fighting Tyson others boasted how overatted he was ,Tillis showed up one of the only few fights he came in shape for.Its hard to say the Dougals who beat Tyson fought a relatively easy to hit Tyson ,while Tucker fought a bored Tyson but in shape Tyson......one thing you cant give someone all the time is heart,gotta go with the more consistant Tucker on this.Using Tyson as a measuring stick is one,you can also look at the big men they fought...tucker took Lewis the distance way past his prime.