How good was Tokyo Douglas

Great post.

 

This was just a normal pastime for Mike ahead of most of his title fights. He still won fights in worse shape than he was for Douglas.

Check out the debacle that was the camp Tyson had before fighting Tucker. A unification fight. So bad it was nearly called off. Jacobs had to talk him into going back into camp after Tyson took two weeks off to party. He was telling people he had retired.

 

What fights would you put forward as the best examples Chok?

 

Tucker and Bruno.

 

I disagree. Tyson clearly didn't look the same after '88. He started becoming a headhunter, and became more stationary and used head movement less and less This was all to evident against Bruno who had WAY more success than he should've. Not to mention their were reports that he was slacking off in training, looked lethargic (I could easily find this for you if you'd like) prior to facing Douglas. He was also dropped by a washed Greg Page who "hadn't looked that good in years" which I'm sure you already know about and was getting worked over by an aging Trevor Berbick in sparring, a man he'd walked through like a hot knife in butter just three to four years prior.

 

So you agree that Tyson was winning fights like or worse than he was against Douglas?

Tyson was badly prepared for Tucker. And badly prepared for Bruno.

He was probably as bad or worse prepared for Tucker than he was for Douglas . And that was right at the start of his title run.

I think Tyson admitted to being in shape for Biggs, Spinks and Tubbs though. I think those camps went well.

 

Mike was way better for Tucker. Crappy against Bruno though.

 

On that night he performed like a great fighter and would have beaten his fair share of HW Champs. Too many Tyson apologists cry he wasnt in shape. Well it's his job to be in shape. In shape or not Douglas beats him on that night.

 

Although Douglas was a talented guy, with speed, footwork, snap, long arms, coming off solid wins over Berbick and McCall, and got into fantastic shape for Tyson, let's face it, Tyson helped make Douglas look twice as good as he was by coming into the fight woefully unprepared, unmotivated, engaging in crash diet, living the night life, getting beat up by sparring partners - they all said they kicked his ass - including Page, Berbick, and McCall, which they had not done before, and basically badly underestimating Douglas, whom he thought was a quitter with no heart, and thought he would hit one time and it would be over. He nearly was right. Sometimes "easy" tune up fights are the worst ones, because the fighter does not prepare as he would for a guy he truly respects. We all saw the real Douglas in his next fight against a guy who got into top shape, which is what would have happened with Tyson if he had been as sharp as he was for the Carl Williams fight. Too many easy knockouts lulled Tyson into a complacency and overconfidence. Even the Tyson that beat Ruddock would have knocked out Tokyo Douglas.

 

Just because someone recognizes that Tyson wasn't in the best shape of his career , clearly had outside problems at this time of his life, and neglected to train, instead choosing to indulge on japanese hookers (his fault entirely), does not make them "Tyson apologists". If you know me you'd know, I am absolutely no fan of Tyson by any stretch of the imagination.

 

I think your being over sensitive here and or maybe i used a poor choice of words describing it. I stand by the rest

 

Tyson fans are a crazy bunch to say the least. On the other end of the spectrum, are his detractors who are quick to label anyone who says anything that may be in the slightest way to his defense, apologists and fanboys.

 

I'm not sensitive at all. Just pointing out, that it's shortsighted to think that anyone who points out issues in Tyson's life, and his lack of dedication against Douglas is only capable of being an apologist. No harm done either way. You remain one of my favorite posters here.

 

This was Douglas at his absolute best mentally and physically and Tyson obviously not at his best which he was a few years prior. But as others have said, even Tyson not at his best was still steamrolling contenders. Tokyo Douglas was a snapshot of what could of been for Douglas if he was focused mentally and physically, but it wasnt meant to be.