Should Buster Douglas have taken a couple of easy title defenses first?

Douglas was never going to beat Holyfield in shape or not.

However an in shape and motivated Buster had a more than realistic chance of beating possible opponents like Foreman, Ruddock, Witherspoon, Mercer and Morrison. Even a Tyson rematch was winnable with all the **** going on with Mike outside the ring plus his diminishing skills and dedication to training.
So yeah I believe Douglas could have made even more money from his title reign than he actually did by going straight in with Holyfield.

 

I suspect that Holyfield would always have beaten Douglas, because he was training for the Douglas of Tokyo, and he came up with a masterful plan. It is just a shame that he didn't have a target in front of him worthy of his preparation!

 

Nope.

Why risk $24 million ?

 

James Braddock had a similar dilemma.

No low risk title defense that would really sell, and big money purses to be had against men who would probably beat him.

 

Anyone would have beaten him. That is anyone with a little desire and determination and a speck of athletic ability. Buster didn't want nor could he handle the pressure of being a boxer period. He couldn't cope with being Dynamite Douglas's. His dad was a Philly fighter who would fight for nothing. Bus wasn't wired that way.

He got a good payday and layed down. Nice guy though.

I'll never forget driving back from the closed circuit with my uncle in silence. Depressed about what we just saw. Finally my uncle says " its like saying people can't change" that was Buster Douglas legacy

 

I think if Douglas had the same mindset he had in Toyko and the same physical condition Holyfield would have been dominated to the point of embarrassment. He may have lasted the distance. Only because of his heart. He had nothing to deal with that jab. "Paintjob" would have been thrown around. As in Bus boxed his ears off.

 

Juding by his shape and lack of effort, he was better off cashing out.