Do you believe in the power of motivation in sports? Well, Douglas was breaking with his wife around the time he faced Tyson and like Bob Beamon who at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics the day after being left by his wife stunned everyone by jumping 8.90 meters (long jump discipline ) Douglas had a great motivation to win the fight. Beating him would have been hard even for Holy imo.
Youre right. Double strong motivation for him that night. https://www.sportscasting.com/buste...hers-death-right-before-the-mike-tyson-fight/
Tokyo Douglas would be a very decent match for anyone, a big, strong, guy with a good jab, though let's not forget that he came within a hair's breath of losing to an at least 50% shot, and unfit, Tyson, so it'd be wrong to portray him as ATG material or whatever. overall I'd make Holy a narrow favourite.
This is the fight we all hoped for. Douglas, big, quick, punching hard and with exquisite timing would drag every inch of the mongrel out of Holyfield. Evander wins but it would have been a Heavyweight war for the ages, up there with Holyfield's wars with Bowe, just sub Manilla.
Any version of Douglas struggles with people who will box him or move and outspeed him I would say Holyfield beats any version
Douglas belongs on the top ten list of heavyweight s of the 90s for that win alone. He was by himself, without his mother, in total focus and superb dedication ready for his big moment. If anything he was doing it for his mom. Tyson was busy banging chicks and full of nonsense, no more head movement, one punch at a time, headhunting etc. Basically buster ate his way into the Holyfield fight, looking for a cash out. He didn't take it serious but he took the money lol. Later on in his life he went into a diabetic coma! That he eventually came out of, weighing above 330 or 370 or something. Btw, in Tyson's corner they didn't even have an enswell. They used a rubber glove inflated with water for crying out loud, not taking buster as seriously. And I think Douglas got the weight back down due to boxing again.
The same thing would have happened Evander would have won, it just might have lasted a little longer. Evander was a superior fighter and you would have to really earn a win against him.
It was a battle of the jabs, Page wasn't moving, Douglas struggled with light fighters who had good feet/movement
Douglas underestimated Holyfield had wong game plan and believed he could ko Holy as he had just kod Unbetable Tyson. And who can blame him. I believe if Douglas was callenger and fighting long term champ Holyfield from 1992 he would aproach it diferently and who knows maybe win it. Lets remember that old Holmes did quite well aginst Holyfield and I believe Douglas on his Best night with good game plan could couse an upset.
Douglas really disappointed and shocked me when he showed up after the Tyson beat down with man boobs and embarrassingly out of shape. He looked better than ever against Tyson and celebrated too much afterwards not unlike Fat Andy. Sad.