Did Buster Douglas just have Tysons number?

He sharpened his teeth.

 

No in a word.

Tyson had Tyson's number.

 

Buster had Mike’s number.

And his address.

And his social security number.

And his license number.

He owned Mike to the point that Tyson should have paid him property taxes.

 

Totally correct. Plus he whipped Bruno twice.

 

Forgot about Bruno. Thanks!

 

A good big man with mobility against a smaller man with little foot movement, Buster's defense was excellent that night, bombarding Mike from all directions

Mike could never find him but It's almost as tho Buster couldnt miss

 

I meant rematch against someone he lost to. Holy won the 2nd fight from the staredown on.

 

I think the “buster couldn’t miss” part is an overstatement. Even Douglas himself conceded he was having trouble finding Tyson due to his angles.

 

Yes, in terms of the exact combination of his superior size, style and power, I believe Buster had Mike’s number.

Perhaps for one night only since it’s highly questionable that he could replicate and bring the same intangible qualities back into a rematch.

Buster always had the tools but conditioning, focus, will to win, etc. were sorely missing otherwise - not a unique story in boxing - many great talents have gone by the wayside due to lack of the above all so important qualities - conversely, some lesser talents have found their way to the top due to an over abundance of those same intangibles.

Buster def.drew inspiration from his mothers passing to finally have those intangibles in his corner.

I don’t know what we can draw from a 90 odd sec blowout of a fearful Spinks. Mike also saw off Carl Williams in classic Tysonesque fashion in his last fight prior to Tokyo. At the least, Mike’s weight for Tokyo wasn’t indicative of a fighter out of shape and his ability to hang for as long as he did presents as further testimony.

We can focus on Mike’s head space - but were any of Mike’s victims up to Tokyo afforded the same “couch time”? No. Mike absorbed the credit for his wins wholly and solely.

What Mike did against Spinks was 90 odd secs vs almost 10 rds v Douglas. Mike liked to set the tone with first rd domination if not a sensational but less than revealing KO in super quick time or just a few rds later.

That domination was taken away by Douglas in what was really an ATG first rd performance. Mike’s start wasn’t so drastically different but, in opposition, Douglas’ start was and he was already hitting Mike hard before the 1st rd was out.

It’s problematic to suggest Mike wasn’t himself thereafter - he was progressively and methodically being beaten down - new territory- like Mike said, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth and Buster took it to him from the get go and thus we saw a different Mike.

 

Given the fact that your thesis is based on only one fight (which ignores the other rematch where he dominated) it is hard to take your point seriously.

 

You can basically say that all the stars were aligned in his favor that night in Tokyo.

 

yea but it was a felloff mike

 

it would always end in mike losing cause he wasnt the same great Mike that rose to the top

 

Didn’t Tyson score a knockdown in that fight?