Let's play around a bit with history. Tyson gets kod by Douglas, but instead of fighting Holyfield, Frank Bruno s managment get him the first shot. Now Buster still comes in to the ring as he did against Holyfield, as usual, Bruno is fighting fit. How does the fight go? And if Bruno wins, how's becoming undisputed champ affect his ranking in history?
Frank would stand a great chance, and possibly do a Coetzee on buster. There is no way buster would be in the same physical/mental shape he was against Tyson, or even Holyfield.
Let's separate two things that are not the same. James "Buster" Douglas, and Tokyo Douglas are two different boxers. In one second of thinking I can say that Tokyo Douglas is the peak of James "Buster" Douglas. We never watched Tokyo Douglas before or after that night (there are many factors why this is so, which includes Douglas and Tyson). Frank Bruno is a better boxer than James "Buster" Douglas, and Bruno would win.
Bruno by early KO, and I don't think it would alter Brunos ranking that much. As people would just say he beat a fat unmotivated boxer, who wasn't same man who fought Tyson.
I do think he'd be slightly higher rated. Beating McCall for the WBC was one thing but beating the man who beat Tyson, is better looking on the old CV, imo.
I'll go with that. Bruno sends that sledgehammer right over at some point, can't see Buster as he was hanging on long really.
Not trying to be picky, but you could also say Bruno beat the man who beat Lewis. McCall overall probably rates higher than Douglas aswell, I think he had slightly better career overall.
I think under those conditions, Bruno would become world champion. Having the legacy of being a linear claimant would certainly boost his all time status but to what extent would depend on how he followed up after winning it. Would he make a few successful defenses or lose it in his next outing ? I’ve always kinda wanted to see a young Evander vs a young Bruno. Two muscular heavyweights with a ton of heart and the tendency to mix it up.
Good points. It's just that undisputed champ that does it for me Wonder how the rest of his career plays out.?
Think it would have been Holyfield next. Might have been quite a tough old fight for the Real Deal for a bit.
I agree. One of my fantasy fights is a 1987 Bruno vs a 1990 Holyfield. Evander would most likely always win but he’d have a life and death fight. Frank was just as fit but with more size and power. He also had a terrific jab and right cross. Also, while Holy could crack, he wasn’t the puncher that Tyson, Lewis, Smith or Witherspoon was which means he’d have to work harder for the stoppage ( if there is one. )
If you have seen Douglas vs. Mike Williams, Douglas showed what he was capable of in that one too. Douglas was just one of those opponents, if you were lucky, the unmotivated, under trained one would show up, but Douglas had the athletic ability, a lifetime of being around boxing, a great jab, and when in shape and motivated to fight he wouldn't be an easy fight for anybody. Mike Williams found that out. From the way he looked, Douglas didn't seem well trained for the Holyfield fight. It didn't last long enough to find out if he was.
I agree, Buster Douglas, and Tokyo Douglas are two different boxers but their were different versions of Buster. I believe the Douglas who lost to Tucker, the one who beat McCall, etc were much better than even the best Bruno.