When Buster Douglas STOLE VICTORY from Mike… Tyson Was in a Rage!

Since the peak of Iron Mike's career, generations of heavyweight boxers have come and gone. However, none of them managed to overshadow Tyson. In fact, despite his losses to Holyfield and Lewis, they couldn't even surpass the controversial Mike in terms of popularity and fame. Today, we'll recall Tyson's first defeat, when he lost to James "Buster" Douglas due to an unbelievable time count...

Douglas wasn't a top-tier fighter. He had been knocked out three times before. Buster Douglas was 29 years old. Prior to the fight with Tyson, Buster was considered an average heavyweight - thirty fights, four losses, three of them by knockout. He had only one shot at a title.

In 1987, when Iron Mike's rise was just beginning, Douglas faced IBF champion Tony Tucker and lost by a technical knockout in the tenth round.

Buster embarked on a six-fight winning streak, defeating former champion Trevor Berbick and future champion Oliver McCall along the way.

Two significant victories earned Douglas another title shot, this time against the monster Tyson. But everyone was convinced: Buster was an easy meal for Mike.

Before the fight, the contender was ranked only seventh in The Ring's heavyweight rankings - no one took him seriously.

In general, Douglas was highly motivated and entered the fight with a decent record - 35 fights and 29 wins. However, the contender's psychological state raised questions. Prior to the bout, Douglas' mother had passed away from a stroke, and his pregnant wife had been diagnosed with a malignant tumor. The boxer himself had been hospitalized due to a severe bout of flu just ten days before the fight.