The myth that Douglas quit against Tucker

I read and hear this all the time. I think broadcasters during the 90's blew the thought into life. In another thread on Spinks vs Tucker, I read the following:

I think this is unfair and selling Tucker short.

Now, I'm not one of the Tyson fans who build up Tucker to be the next Joe Louis if he fought a higher level of opposition, but I do think he deserves credit for stopping Douglas.

Let's not forget that Buster Douglas was in excellent shape 228 lbs (3lbs less than he was against Tyson) and Douglas was moving around just fine in round 8, 9 and 10 before he got caught. I don't think it was fatigue.

Tucker hit him with several good shots and Douglas just never could recuperate from it. He wasn't knocked senseless into tomorrow, but he went into that vegetative "still on my feet" state that Bruno often experienced.

Watch & judge it for yourself:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R2CeTVjDjM[/ame]

He didn't quit, he got stopped while still on his feet and that's all there is to it.

 

I tend to agree with you on this Chris...Buster got tagged good several times and sort of went into a torpor of sorts...he wes there, yet he wasn 't there, and Tucker just took advantage of it and poured it on.

 

I always thought so too.
But I guess it's subjective judgment - he took a stiff punch and crumbled physically, his defense and resistance seeped away. Whether he crumbled mentally ('quit') to cause that effect is an arguable point.

 

Tyson fans are going to murder me for saying this, but I think Douglas looked to be about as good against Tucker as he was against Tyson. Fast hands, light on his feet, excellent jab; a very good heavyweight. The obvious difference is that Tyson matches up very well with Douglas' style whereas Tucker doesn't - although even there, Douglas was winning that one until he got TKO'd.

Sure, Douglas was more focused in 1990 right after his mother died, but I don't buy that he magically became a one-night All Time Great and then became a mortal human being again. He was very good boxer and looked extraordinary on one night due to several circumstances.

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Boxing insiders will also see the ridiculous beer belly that an out-of-shape Tyson had that night.

 

:deal

 

Yeah I own the fight and Douglas fought hard all night, he even rocked Tucker pretty good at one point in the fight, I think it was a combination of the fact that Douglas had become tired and was getting hit with some pretty stout punches as well, I am totally of the opinion that if he could have done something to survive at that point he would have.. Good win for Tucker..

 

Yes, I think Douglas looked about as good as he did in the Tyson fight in several fights.
He had good overall skills, and a very solid jab. He wasn't outstanding, but a solid professional. It gets exaggerated how different he looked against Tyson - he looked the about the same as he had in other fights but his game plan just happened to work perfectly against a guy who nobody thought he'd stand a chance against. Whether that's styles or Tyson taking him lightly, or both, I couldn't say.

I think Douglas' reputation for quitting comes from an earlier fight - against Mike White ?

 

I would suspect so, yes. I have never seen that one, however.

 

douglas blew this opertunity. He was good enough to win but the presure got to him trying to live up to his fathers expectations. douglas was the beter fighter but he let himself down in this fight with tucker because he did not truly belive in himself. the fight was scheduled for 15 rounds. For some fghters going past 10 rounds can be a mental block. Even though Douglas was in shape this time subconciously he felt that ten rounds was his limit. douglas was in control but must have began to panic when he was in the 10th round. something simular hapened when frank bruno fell apart in round 11 against witherspoon because it was one round further than he had been before.
credit Tucker for staying with it, but he was against a winner who just fell apart. Douglas leading all the way but fell apart because he was afraid he could not keep it up. A lapse of concentration then total mental shut down. sometimes the best man loses, it hapened when douglas faced tyson.

 

no it wasn't that he quit it just that he wanted to win but just didn't seem that arsed especially how he walks off. which meant it seemed like he had a lack of heart....honestly though i think its a bit of bollocks. he showed a good showing but fell apart and it looked like he was ill prepared and notfussed about losing. which i dont think is true, people respond differently to being beaten, and to judge them on hat happens after he fight is ridiculous

 

Douglas leading all the way but fell apart because he was afraid he could not keep it up. A lapse of concentration then total mental shut down.

For some fghters going past 10 rounds can be a mental block. Even though Douglas was in shape this time subconciously he felt that ten rounds was his limit. douglas was in control but must have begun to panic when he was in the 10th round. mentaly he did not want it enough that night.

 

This. Douglas did quit. He had a mental breakdown because he was slowing down and couldnt keep up with Tucker.

 

Yes, this all makes sense too.
When ChrisPontius used the Bruno analogy in the opening post, this crossed my mind.
Whether it's purely mental or physical, or whether it can be classed as "quitting", is up for debate.
But for me it all amounts to the same thing - FOLDING or CRUMBLING when the going gets tough.



:good

 

It was not a quit job but Buster had the lazy tendencies and when he had to work or hustle he did not give it too much effort. He did give it the extra push vs Tyson but you are right Chris he did not quit it just seems to me he resigned his will to win

 

^ Thats the same as quitting.