Had they fought tyson in tokyo feb 90

I disagree. You are imagining Douglas coming into a Tyson rematch in the same condition he was for Holyfield, and Tyson coming into the fight the best shape of his life. But Douglas knew how to beat Tyson and had an immense psychological edge, so I'd expect to see him in good enough shape to repeat the win, and mentally he'd always have the edge.

Besides, Douglas's poor state in the Holyfield fight (and it was poor) is greatly exaggerated. People seem to give Holyfield almost no credit for doing that, yet many of the same ones will build up Tyson's win over Spinks, a fighter in equally poor state or worse.

 

Everyone knows Tyson got destroyed, the fight is on YouTube for all to see.

 

I never said Tyson would come in the best shape of his life. But the Tyson we saw that same year was in good enough shape to beat the Douglas we saw that year, imo.

Holy gets pretty much zero credit for beating Douglas, that much is true.

 

But near enough everyone believes any other version of Tyson would destroy Douglas with ease, it just isn't happening IMO.

 

There's nothing at all to base a Tyson victory on. People always say "if Tyson trained harder" I always reply with "what if Douglas trained harder as well".

Tyson would have won a rematch based on the immediate future of both fighters, but primer for prime I'd always favour Douglas. It was too one sided to favour Mike in that one.

 

He looked pretty good but that doesn't mean he was prepared and at his best that night. I counter your argument by asking you if you don't believe it made any difference that Tyson hadn't been trained by Rooney and his personal issues hampered him for this fight, added to the fact his style seemed to be changing?

It's a moot point anyway. I still agree that Tokyo Douglas was a handful for any Mike Tyson but my point is that Douglas never proved he could fight like that more than once. He always folded even though he had potential and I really think Tyson would have got a ko over buster at any other point because of that. Doulgas didn't have the ability to be consistent like Bruno didn't have stamina for a whole fight. To give him that attribute is as unfair as saying if mayweather was heavyweight he would be the best ever and beat Ali.

 

It might have made a difference but not to the extant of getting battered from the opening bell and losing every round but one before getting brutally knocked out. What's to say that Douglas couldn't have gotten into even better shape than the condition he was in that night in Tokyo?

Who's to say Douglas in the best shape of his life would have beat other top fighters like he did Tyson? Holyfield would have always beat him IMO.

 

Anyway, the thread question. I doubt any of Tyson's previous opponents would beat the 1990 Tokyo version. I don't believe Tyson was significantly under par.
Tony Tucker is the best candidate for the job but he'd still lose.

 

Looks at his sparring videos vs McCall for example he always comes out with energy on his toes leading with a strong hard jab and slip and launching his combos and then out again and back in but in the Douglas fight watch it with no sound he's just stood there in one spot with no energy no movement and he never tried to box with Douglas he was trying to land one shot for the most part.
He looked like **** Tyson at his best would have boxed with Douglas and then took him out.

 

Sparring is nothing like fighting someone for real who has superior skills than McCall. Douglas made Tyson pay like no other from the opening bell, he was no stationary target at all.

 

Tyson was a bee's dick off stopping Douglas, and there was plenty of controversy in that. That is not
"destroyed" in any sane sense of the word. Douglas may have dominated most of the bout but the fact is he was almost taken out.

 

Tyson wasn't close to doing fcuk all, you're talking out of your ass if you think that knockdown and count was controversial. I'll say it again, Tyson was destroyed in that fight end of.....

 

Douglas was dropped for a 9 count.

If this constitutes Tyson being "destroyed" then you have serious issues.

For sure Douglas schooled him in a fantastic display for most of the fight but the fact remains he was dropped quite solidly.

 

He took the count to 9 himself you plank, it's called being professional. He DESTROYED Mike Tyson........

 

This.

People go on and on about the BADDEST MAN ON THE PLANET having an off night, surely the baddest man on earth could have had an off night and still beat Douglas.

Off night or not, Douglas didn't just beat Mike he totally dominated him, boxed him went toe to toe with him, man handled him, backed him up forever, and sparked him out big time.

Douglas had no fear of the man, and he even said in one of the pressers that he was not scared, because all he saw was a small guy with a lisp.

Loved watching mike over the years but Douglas had his number.