By David Jordan Jr
There are many moments in life that we remember exactly what we were doing and where we were doing them. Many people know where they were when President Kennedy and Dr. King were assassinated, people remember what they were doing when they found out Michael Jackson died. February 11, 1990 is a day that one of the greatest upsets in the history of sports occurred. 25 years ago today, James “Buster” Douglas knocked out then Heavyweight Champion of the World, “Iron” Mike Tyson, a.k.a. Kid Dynamite. A 42-1 odd underdog, Douglas was cast as a character for the perfect story for a dream come true. Mike Tyson, the “baddest man on the planet,” had been running the Heavyweight division from the time he became the youngest to ever win the heavyweight championship in 1986 until that unforeseen night in Tokyo, Japan. This was a time when Mike Tyson was not only the top boxer in the world, he was one of the most famous individuals in the world period; sports, entertainment, politics, Mike Tyson was at the top along with two other famous Mikes, Michael Jackson and Michael Jordan (See Notorious B.I.G. references 7 years later in the single “Victory”). Tyson was visible everywhere not only due to his boxing prowess, but also do to his high profile marriage to actress Robin Givens. He held the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles and an undefeated record. The majority of Tyson’s fights lasted one round, 3 rounds tops with occasional bouts that lasted longer; thus creating this mythic, invincible figure. Many opponents that fought Tyson were defeated mentally before even entering the ring. Tyson’s menacing prowess, the walk from the locker room to the ring with Public Enemy’s “Welcome To The Terror Dome” scared many opponents and elevated the mystique of Mike Tyson. Enter Buster Douglas. 
A heavyweight fighter, and a multiple sport athlete, Douglas’s boxing career was that of somebody fighting and seeking to reach the top, not necessarily knowing how or when the big break would come. After a series of wins he earned his shot for his one shining moment; a match with Tyson for the heavyweight championship of the world. 23 days prior to his bout with Tyson, Douglas’s mother passed, something that could destroy the spirit of a person, yet it fueled the fire within Douglas to win the fight. The Tyson camp saw this fight as a bout to pass time until the next major fight, which was to be with Evander Holyfield (they would eventually meet 6 years later) thus the preparation and focus wasn’t as tight as it had been in previous fights. Factor in the fact that Mike Tyson’s original fight camp consisting of the Cus D’Mato’s staff had been essentially dismantled by Don King for his own reasons of selfishness, the blueprint for disaster for Mike Tyson had been coordinated unknowingly.
Buster Douglas had nothing to lose going into the fight in the Tokyo Dome and fought with that mentality the entire fight. Douglas laid everything out and when he took Tyson’s best shot and was knocked to the canvas in the 8th round, he got back up to fight, something nobody had ever done in the career of Mike Tyson up until that point. Two rounds later in the 10th, Douglas hit Mike Tyson with an uppercut, followed with a combination of rights and lefts that sent the champ to the floor in a daze.
One world crashed, another world ascended with the fury of punches thrown and landed by James “Buster” Douglas.
When asked after the fight how he won, Douglas replied by simply saying “My Mother.” The confidence which Douglas displayed on February 11, 1990 was the total opposite of the confusion and uncertainty that was visible on the face of Mike Tyson. The culmination of both of these elements resulted in the greatest upset in the history of sports and the downward spiral of the career of Mike Tyson. When the stars align perfectly, when you are prepared for the opportunity you are seeking, moments for greatness present themselves. Buster Douglas was ready for his one shining moment and for one night, he was the greatest fighter in the world.
