Tyson /King did ask for a immediate re match but Douglas and his handlers bailed because they knew lightning never strikes twice......they claimed they got disrespected and conned Steve Wynn into a mega fight with the then lightly regarded, as a Heavy, Evander Holyfield. All the stars lined up for Douglas on that night in Tokyo again st a unmotivated and disinterested Tyson......who still almost KO'ed him. Never ever would Douglas have those same stars aligned again, period. The Holyfield Douglas would not last two rounds against Tyson. After prison Douglas was scheduled to meet Tyson but in a warm up he got obliterated quick by Saverese and that was that..........and a stoned coked out shot Tyson waxed Saverese in a little more than 90 sec. Douglas's dad did not get sick........he got the f knocked out by Saverese that was the end of Busters ambitions. Anyway, Tyson would have send Busters head flying into the cheap seats right after Tokyo or after prison, would not make a difference.
Douglas was inactive for six years, then made a comeback. He put together a bit of a winning streak, and there was a bit of a head of stem for a rematch with Tyson, then he lost to Lou Savarese. Douglas retired shortly after, so Tyson fought Savarese instead.
Douglas fought twice more, in 1999, against non-descript opposition, and scored 2 first round knockouts. Hardly preparation for even the 1999 version of Mike Tyson, but Douglas didn't totally pack it in after the Savarese loss. And Buster's dad, Billy Douglas, must've been at least a little sick at that time. He passed away from cancer in October of 1999.
Plenty in his preparation did tho, as well as that of Douglas. It's freely accepted that Tyson was in woeful condition and his corner was a disgrace. Douglas mostly due to circumstance was in fantastic mental and physical condition. Buster's mom wasn't going to pass away again. We saw exactly what Buster turned up next fight. Tyson had received his wake up call - he was very much in shape and determined against Ruddock x 2.
Tyson was in good physical condition. He took a beating for 10 rounds and was attempting to fight back for the entire fight, even landed a knockdown punch in the 8th round while getting hammered. His physical condition was not the problem. He was 220 pounds and fit and absorbed punishment and kept coming. The whole idea that Douglas having his mom die was a good thing is a bit ridiculous. It's a good story ... but Douglas won the fight with boxing brains and physical equipment, not just some Hollywood-style inspiration to honour his mother. The irony of it too, considering that every little outside-the-ring event that Tyson encountered is considered a detriment. If someone close to Tyson died 2 weeks before the fight we can be sure it would be filed among the large pile of excuses for why he lost. The double standards surrounding Tyson's wins and losses in this regard stand out like a sore thumb his whole career. Almost every time he wins, the circumstances/reasons/excuses of his opponents are (correctly, usually) considered of little significance .... but when he loses, the circumstances/reasons/excuses for him are made paramount. There's something unfair and illogical about that but fans don't care about being reasonable, fair or logical. The Tyson of the Ruddock fights would have lost to Douglas too. Ruddock was wide open trying to take Tyson out with big swinging left uppercuts. Douglas brought a full boxing game plan to the fight and took Tyson apart. We'll never agree on this. Many see as I do. Many see it as you do. have a good day !
Well yes we disagree on Tyson's shape and preparation. It's well documented and there were many rumblings prior. Super Greg Page put him on his arse in sparring so there's certainly that too. His corner was diabolical and it's right there to see. Douglas most certainly channeled his mothers death into something supremely positive. He had never been this focused or determined. After boxing very well he basically quit against Tucker. There are umpteen other fights where he showed up in woeful condition most certainly including against Holyfield. Douglas was 231 for Tyson. The fight prior he was 242 and the fight after against Holyfield he was 246. It's right there in front of our eyes it really is. He struggled to be motivated at the best of times let alone after reaching the summit. His climb was over. The Douglas that took on Holyfield had no chance of putting on another clinic he simply would not have had the puff. As it was Tyson almost got him in his one fleeting moment. Who knows what might have happened if there was time left in the round. While we might not agree i appreciate where you are trying to come from. I do think you are at one end of the spectrum tho.
