*How close in Percentage-Terms was Tyson to PEAK/BEST when he KTFO by Bummy Douglas?*

That statement applies way more to Douglas. Douglas fought a great fight that night, but part of what made Douglas look so great was that Tyson wasnt doing very much and its not entirely because of what Douglas was doing.

Douglas had shown on multiple occassions to fold up like a cheap suit when things werent going his way and against mediocre opposition.

 

We will never know. Douglas never stopped setting tyson up for punches to hit him with. Buster never slowed down enough to let tyson into the fight. The more things worked out for douglas the beter he got. They both had a lot in comon in that respect.

I accept this. But there was no quit in douglas that night though. When he was floored he got up. He knew he had tysons number and buster wasnt going to let things slip away from him this time like he did when things got sticky against tucker.

 

Douglas didn't look too sure of himself when he got up from the knockdown either.

 

Here's something I think that's important that's usually not talked about. We like to harp on the percentages or the idea of a fighter being passed prime to almost validate or excuse losses as fans. Perhaps even award hypothetical wins or find a way to discredit. I know this isn't everyone, but I'm speaking generally. To me what's key is that Douglas whitewashed Tyson. He battered him for 10 rounds, and won virtually every round besides the round he got knocked down in. And a lot gets made of that round due to the whole long count issue brought up by Don King, but Douglas was visibly fine. He shook his glove like he was frustrated, and he even confirmed this claim. He took his time and used the count to his advantage and came back in the next round to knock Tyson from pillar to post, and then out.

I don't think it's asinine to think that Tokyo Douglas would beat any version of Tyson. As for the poll, I guess I'd vote 80%. For all the talk that gets stated about his weight and lackadaisical training camp, Tyson said in his recent documentary that he was physically alright but mentally unprepared. It's been defended to death far more than Frazier against Foreman, Foreman against Ali & Young, Holyfield against Lewis. Even Dempsey against Tunney. And all those were probably worse versions than Tyson was against Douglas.

Tyson was a phenom. A rare breed of explosion, power, speed, technique, combinations, and chin. He often looked extraordinary, and then there are times where he looks like he's been taken out of a fight early. And that may confuse people. Lastly, for all the exaggerated faults in technique or declined skills, you can point out similar specific instances in earlier Tyson faults that seem to get completely dismissed because he looked stellar or ferocious during the knockout.

 

Good post.
Tokyo Douglas, I have said would have either defeated or been competetive with any HW who ever boxed--including any version of Tyson as you wrote.

 

Douglas was a great fighter who underperformed in a lot of his fights. I imagine a lot of people knew this and felt "if buster can put it all together he would be something" and in Tokyo he did. In fights he won he always looked good. Hed had quite a journey when you think about it.

 

I think douglas changed the habit of a lifetime right there. before that fight buster would have felt "its too damn hard to carry on" but this time he knew he owed it to himself.

 

Well I think, given what Douglas ended up as, at least for a while, we can infer that he has serious metabolic disorders. Probably including food allergies and addictions. I recall reading that he became a 400 pound diabetic and was found in a coma once.

In tennis, Novak Djokovic had previously been labeled as "mentally weak" by the talking heads who don't inderstand these things. Sure always seemed to me that he had/has asthma. When he saw a holistic practitioner, and was taken off wheat and gluten, his breathing and stamina and "mental" outlook greatly improved. Won 42 in a row, since giving up wheat.

Many people have many food sensitivities. This can affect one's stamina and many other things. Easy for ignorant people to just label everything as "mental."

In that one fight in Tokyo he did NOT have stamina issues. Maybe he was eating rice there instead of wheat?

Of course, Douglas' great performance was due to many factors, including honoring his mother.

 

He also might have been saved by the bell.

 

So was Tyson several times.

 

Really? What rounds?

 

If a fighter doesnt offer much resistance a fighter like Douglas could look great. Tyson was not fighting up to his capabilities, and Tyson's lack of preparation was apart of it. If Douglas was say Tucker and came into the fight undefeated, maybe some of these comments would be vaild, but the thought that Douglas only performed up to his abilities one night in his entire career, is as bad as saying Tyson was fully prepared or could never beat Douglas.
People excuse Douglas for not coming into shape against Holyfield, not being focused against the likes of Mike White, Jesse Ferguson and Tony Tucker, but he would always beat Tyson. Its a f-ing joke really. Douglas' lack of preparation against Holyfield was far more embarrasing than Tyson's, getting stopped in two rounds. Tyson took a beating out of pride for his titles, Douglas went down like a *****, so his excuse is valid.

 

Nah, i dont think so. Douglas would have wilted after a few rounds when he realised things werent going his way. He only got braver and brave when he realised Tyson was throwing one predicatble punch at a time

 

James Buster Douglas is just like his brother Carl Douglas.
Both one hit wonders.
:rasta

 

If tyson was throwing one punch at a time it was because douglas was making tyson throw one punch at a time. when a fighter is geting picked off he wont use all his tools. A frustrated fighter wont perform any beter than a scared fighter regardless of how bad or great his trainer is, even jack blackburn could not save joe louis against max schmeling.