1990 Tokio Douglas vs 2019 Madison Square Garden Andy Ruiz Jr

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The mobile Tokyo Douglas with that pinpoint jab would outpoint the MSG Ruiz who has plodder feet but fast powerful hands. Ruiz would have his own moments, but he isn't winning a fight against a disciplined Douglas.

 

Night night, Andy

 

Tokyo Douglas would put a whoopin on fat Andy.

 

I’ll go with Douglas by decision. I think he’d box intelligently rather than try to over power Ruiz which was the big mistake Joshua made in that first fight.

 

Depends on the venue.

 

Oh, hell yes.

 

Douglas take a clear decision, but he'd be in for a tough night. He'd need to be on his toes and focused from start to finish. If nothing else, Andy is tough and can crack. If you give him plenty of room to breathe and let up, he'll be all over you the same way he's all over the buffet line.

 

Douglas kicks ass

 

Tokyo Douglas is the most insulting nickname in sports history. The implication is that Buster Douglas sucked and was only good one fight.

 

Cryin

 

Douglas beat a young Tyson for crying out loud.

Yes ok Tyson wasn't at his best but still Douglas did a number on him.

There's no way an obese concrete feet Ruiz is beating that version of Douglas.

Douglas wins a wide UD.

 

Douglas never remotely gave the inclination he could beat Mike Tyson, neither before nor after, hence the odds. Tokyo Douglas is indeed very fitting.

 

The idea that Buster Douglas almost magically improved by so many leaps and bounds for just one single fight is not as likely an explanation as he was just terribly under-rated, his performances were under-rated, as was his opposition, he had no following, he was not well marketed - and he improved gradually.

Combined with Tyson's chances becoming inflated by his well-earned reputation morphing into a mythical aura of actual invincibility. "42-1 odds" is meaningless. It was just one casino in Las Vegas that put those odds up because no one expected much action on Douglas anyway. They could have said "6-1" or "100-1". They have no bearing on real chances. Consider Douglas was legitimately a "top 10" or even "top 5" contender to Tyson's crown in early 1990 - as most people do - and Tyson had never fought him before, it's clear to see the odds don't represent real chances going in, even before the result. Douglas beating Tyson was surprising and DRAMATIC. But that doesn't prove it was so way out of step with Douglas's form.

Perception is not reality. And perceptions in 1990 were not the same as they'd be today. In 2025, Buster Douglas would have a following on forums like this, and worldwide exposure, even if not a box-office draw, and negative commentators don't have a monopoly. They'd be better analysis, as bad as people think the internet is, it beats the likes of Howard Coseell or Larry Merchant etc., and a few magazines having a monopoly. Fans and analysts of all types engage daily, instead of being mostly isolated. Mike Tyson's repuation wouldn't be bigger than it was back then, because he reached the apex already, and there would still be a clear perceived gap between him and Douglas based on record - but not to the extent back then.

 

If 1990 were transposed to 2025, people would be saying that Douglas beats Joe Louis.. and George Foreman.. and Joe Frazier.. on and on it goes.

Come to think of it, some people do claim that today.