WOW. Just watched it on ESPN Classic, February 11, 1990. I don't recall ever seeing it before. What a shocking outcome and what a performance by Douglas throughout to defeat Tyson who was still in his prime and undefeated. Douglas knocked Tyson out in the 10th round but he thoroughly dominated throughout. There was ONE exception: Tyson severely rocked Douglas with a wicked uppercut which occurred I believe in the 8th. But Douglas amazingly recovered from that lethal blow to win it. Douglas was obviously in amazing shape; the announcer theorized before the fight that this may not have been the case for Tyson who may have been a bit nonchalant after dominating everyone he had faced up to that point. GREAT fight!! The odds? Tyson was a 42-1 favorite so this has to go down as one of the greatest upsets in boxing history.
FYI Douglas lost the crown 8 months later to Evander Holyfield in a 3rd round knockout.
[Edited on 8/6/2017 by robslob]
Douglas tearfully recalling his mom after the fight was very moving -- she had recently passed away
As you said, Douglas dominated -- but that still didn't stop promoter Don King, who was also Tyson's manager, from trying to keep Douglas from claiming the title -- by claiming there was a long count
I remember watching it live, back when the cost of living was a bit lower and I could still affoRd HBO, it was definitely a shocker...........Peace.......joe
