![]() I talked to my mother about a week before she passed and she was so excited. ![]() However, the tragic passing of his mother, who was only 47 years of age, galvanized his warrior spirit during a torturous training camp.ĭouglas said, “I wanted it more than ever. The Douglas performance, which would be light-years ahead of anything he had produced in his career, was largely due to diligent physical preparation. ![]() He went into seclusion in Japan, trained hard, and all the distractions with Robin Givens, or whatever her name is, were behind him.” “And contrary to what’s been said about Tyson’s poor conditioning, you don’t take an ass-whipping like that for 30 minutes unless you’re in great shape. We thought we could make him quit in seven or eight rounds but, to be honest, he proved me wrong and took his beating like a man. Johnson said, “I love Mike but a lot of opponents were scared to death of him and Buster wasn’t. Still, despite the odds, John Johnson, Douglas’ manager, was equally confident ahead of what was perceived to be yet another easy night’s work for Tyson, who had built up a formidable record of 37-0 (33 knockouts). ![]() He won the WBC title from Trevor Berbick in 1986, unified the following year by taking down James “Bonecrusher” Smith and Tony Tucker, for WBA and IBF belts respectively, and made the division his own private slaughterhouse. Mike Tyson at 20 years old was, and remains, the youngest heavyweight titleholder in boxing history. At 231 pounds I was quick with my hands and the movement was there.” “I was excited and very confident that I could beat Tyson, so I got myself in great condition and weight-wise I was perfect. “I’d lost a championship fight to Tony Tucker a few years earlier and this was another opportunity for me to reach my goal. Other partners include Franklin University and MCS-T.O.U.C.H., a program that helps formerly incarcerated men and women gain life skills and find jobs.“My manager called in late ’89 and told me the fight was on,” said Douglas, who still resides in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. Officials said Wednesday they hope to serve an additional 400 students with life skills coaching and mentoring services. Hottinger said they give long-overdue recognition to Douglas, as well as serving to inspire all Ohioans who face tough odds.Īmong the effort’s goals is to raise enough money for the Brightway Center, a Steubenville-based nonprofit serving at-risk youth, to expand its operations to central Ohio. It’s among several official actions that governments are taking to mark the anniversary. Jay Hottinger, a Newark Republican, said a bill establishing a “James ‘Buster’ Douglas 42-to-1 Odds Day” is moving through the statehouse. ESPN plans to air the documentary and send some of its personalities to participate in a celebratory gala in February. The Tyson-Douglas contest gained new attention with the release of an ESPN documentary, also titled “42 to 1,” in December. “I went into the fight only to win,” Douglas said Wednesday, “never knowing it would come out to be something as spectacular as it has been over the years.” He lost the title to Evander Holyfield that October. Douglas prevailed in a stunning upset over a man feared for his prowess in the ring and considered the best boxer in the world at the time. James “Buster” Douglas, a Columbus native, met Tyson, the reigning undisputed world heavyweight champion, in the ring in Tokyo on Feb. He said the bout proved “nothing is impossible if you possess iron will and great determination.” “The reason we’re still here today talking about Buster’s 42-1 upset fight with Mike Tyson is because it transcended sports,” said two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, a backer of the effort. COLUMBUS, Ohio - Buster Douglas will mark the 30th anniversary of his upset boxing victory over Mike Tyson with a campaign aimed at inspiring others who face long odds.ĭouglas, 59, joined organizers at the Ohio Statehouse Wednesday to announce a series of “42 to 1” events framed around his unlikely 1990 victory to raise funds for workforce development, diversity and self-help programs for at-risk youth.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |