Was it complete King bull**** or did Buster Douglas get a few extra seconds when Tyson uppercutted him down?
The referee picked up the count wrongly from the timekeeper, so Buster got a few extra seconds. Buster correctly rose at "Nine" from the referee (as Tunney did many years ago). Tyson got a long count too in the same fight, so no big deal here. Woller
People talk about long counts when they feel like it. Nearly every count is a long count. Its the referees count, not a real time count. The whole idea is so that the fighter can monitor the ref and not have to guess when his ten seconds are up.
It is completely irrelevant. The count is not 10 seconds it is the period that it takes the reff to count to 10. Dosn't matter whether it takes him 9 seconds or 11 seconds. That is the period that the fighter is alowed to get up.
A referee is supposed to count to 10 in 10 seconds. We'll never know whether Buster would have gotten up in time if Meyran had counted properly. I have my doubts. That count was real slow in my opinion, and Octavio should have known it. Nevertheless, many refs count too slow, and bottom line is the fighter is only required to rise before the ref counts to 10, which Buster barely did. The fighter only has to go by the referee and has no obligation to know what a true 10 second count is. Which is why I think Jersey Joe Walcott screwed up worse by not ever giving Liston a count in Ali II. Liston never heard ten, so I don't know how the hell Walcott could have stopped that fight. Also, Ali never went to the neutral corner, so the count should have been totally suspended anyway. Just goes to show that just because you can fight doesn't mean you have the first clue about refereeing.
Buster knew what was going on as soon as he hit the deck, evidenced by his pounding the canvas in anger with himself. The knockdown was the only flaw in what was a picture perfect performance from him that night. It wouldnt have mattered what version of Mike Tyson showed up that night, nothing could have stopped Buster. The perfect fighter that night, as the physical, mental and spiritual all came together as one.
Buster was fully aware of the count.. he would have arose after 5 seconds if the referee had gotten to nine quickly.. He just did what any pro would, he followed the referrees actions, The quarrell is between Meyran and the timekeeper.. It was crossed wiresn i think.. Mike was almost a doomed fighter that night anyhow.. he was too tired and ill prepared.
Yeah, Buster thumped the mat in frustration at about 2 or 3. He got knocked down, but really did not seem dazed from it...more annoyed at himself for a lack of concentration. I will say that Douglas got laced with a few more heavy uppercuts on the way in during round 9...but he was able to keep on his feet.
I tried to convince myself that both Tyson and Buster were counted the same, but I feel that Berbick was given a lot of help to stay in that ring. He only just got up on a slow 9 count, most referee's would have waved their hands in the air and hugged Berbick.