James “Buster” Douglas: 20 Years After Mike Tyson
Exclusive Interview by Mike “Rubber Warrior” Plunkett
“I tell you, it was just one big whirlwind, after beating Tyson; crazy.” – James “Buster” Douglas
It seems so very long ago, the night James “Buster” Douglas shocked the world by doing the improbable. Leading into that pivotal moment in Tokyo, “Iron” Mike Tyson had dominated the heavyweight division and media spotlight in a way that seemed almost supernatural. Seasoned professionals crumbled quickly at his feet in a manner almost preordained, as though history had scripted each moment well in advance. It was a period where Tyson was not only equated with past greats such as Dempsey, Louis and Marciano, the very notion that he may in fact be their superior became easier to accept with each successive blow-out. But history shows us that boxing has a way of delivering a Zen Lesson when the world least expects it. Enter James “Buster” Douglas.
Considered an afterthought, Douglas, a 42-1 underdog was brought in as a mere tune-up opponent given the agenda to have the 37-0 heavyweight champion face-off with the undefeated Evander Holyfield later that year. To the thinking of many, it would be a brief stop on the Tyson world tour, a quick showcase to wet the appetites of fans around the world. But consensus opinion and popular notions have a way of being checked periodically reminding all that there really is no way to measure the human spirit and desire.
Douglas pounced on Tyson with a precise violence, utilizing a sharp left jab and deft movement while demonstrating a spirited dose of attitude, ending the undefeated streak of the self-proclaimed “baddest man on the planet”, taking the undisputed world heavyweight championship and ultimately altering the course of boxing history. For me, watching it all unfold live, it was one of the greatest, most thrilling moments I have ever witnessed in boxing. Having the opportunity to represent RSR to sit and talk with Buster, a man that on his best night could have rumbled on even terms with any of the greats throughout history, well, it goes without saying it was an honor, and to me a moment commensurate with what I saw go down that night, so long ago in Tokyo.
MP: How did you become involved with boxing? What made you want to become a fighter?
Well my father introduced me to the game. He was a national amateur Golden Gloves champion and a world-class contender in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions.
MP: Word has it that you were an all-round athlete in high school. Is it true that you excelled at basketball to the point that you played for the Coffeyville Community College Red Ravens in Coffeyville, Kansas?
Yes and they were a pretty good team too. I have great memories of Coffeyville.
MP: Back to boxing, you turned pro on May 31st 1981 with a 3rd round TKO of a 6-0 Dan O’Malley at the Mount Vernon Plaza in Columbus. What do you recall of that moment?
It was really a nice day. It was an outdoor event my father promoted. It was for me, the beginning.
MP: By January 1986 you had amassed a record of 20-3-1 before a break-out ten round unanimous decision victory over the world rated Greg Page, the former WBA heavyweight champion. What do you recall of Page as an opponent and did you believe that a world title was in your future?
That was a test because, you know, he had been a world champion in his previous fight and doing well and beating him would catapult my career to becoming a contender and possibly a world champion. Greg Page was a good fighter, great boxer, really slick in the ring and very illusive at times. He was a very good competitor.
MP: After a terrific start you were stopped in the 10th round by then undefeated Tony Tucker for the vacant IBF heavyweight title in May 1987. There were those that said you lacked desire, while it looked to me as though you had been caught by a telling shot that altered the flow of the bout. What actually happened?
I remember it being very hot that day and I became a bit tired. I had worked my way to the door of a world championship. It kind of overwhelmed me and I just came up short that fight. After losing it I became even more determined to become the Heavyweight Champion.
MP: Thirteen months and two wins later you fought on the Tyson/Spinks undercard where you seemed to rise beyond your usual form, completely outclassing and overpowering highly touted contender Mike “Hercules” Williams, at one point dropping him with your left jab. You seemed far more determined than at any time up to that point in your career, ultimately providing the world with a glimpse of what you were capable of. What was different?
After losing my first shot at a world title, losing to Tony Tucker, it made me even more determined and more willing to put in more work. I was very determined and on my way to getting a second shot I knew I had to fight some tough battles to get back to that point and to get ready for the task.
MP: After the Williams win you easily out-boxed former WBC heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick and then later outclassed the iron-tough Oliver McCall, a future WBC titlist and a man still fighting professionally today. At this point was Mike Tyson in your sights?
Yes. I knew I was getting closer to getting a shot with Mike, and by that time Mike was just larger than life. The reputation that he had was just huge. But I was steady on course in my own way of getting a shot at the title and I felt very comfortable going into that fight.
MP: February 11th, 1990, Tokyo, Japan; James ”Buster” Douglas, a 42-1 underdog made boxing history. You out-boxed, outfought and outfoxed the 37-0 “Iron” Mike Tyson, then a seemingly indestructible fighter. You had been dismissed as a mere tune-up foe but in the bout you again seemed to fight beyond yourself, at one point rising from a knockdown to take Tyson to the brink. Tell us about that moment, how it felt walking to the ring and just after the first bell.
That whole period going into the fight, training was going great and I had some great sparring partners and my running was superb, I felt strong going into the fight and very determined. Even though I had been given literally no chance of beating Mike, I felt very positive and very strong going into it, and that a lot of people were going to be amazed. People were going to be amazed that the rounds were going to continue to come. One round, two rounds, three rounds, four rounds and all of a sudden everyone would see that they have a fight. This was something a lot of people weren’t expecting and there was going to be some rounds.
MP: As the rounds progressed you were experiencing success timing Tyson with your superior left jab and short chopping right hand, did it occur to you that you were doing the unthinkable?
Yeah (laughs), it sure did. I started thinking about it too much and in the 8th round I was thinking about it too much and kind of forgot about the fight. I took a moment to reflect and that’s when I got caught with that punch.
MP: You lost your mother some three weeks before the Tyson bout. Did losing her somehow galvanize you?
Yeah, it was amazing, that whole time that I was preparing for that fight it seemed like everything in my life was just going awry. Unfortunately my mother died a couple of weeks before the fight. It was just one thing after another, but the main thing that I realized was that I must have been on the right path because I had no other reason for anything else to go wrong. So much had be going wrong so fast in my life that I figured that this was definitely my time because I was able to see above it and see through all of it.
MP: After becoming the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion, and receiving a hero’s welcome upon your return home to Columbus, what changed for you?
There was a lot of change. As hard as I worked to obtain the title things seemed to be going awry just as fast. It was a wild and amazing time. It will be something I will always remember.
MP: You lost the heavyweight championship to Evander Holyfield eight months later. Something happened between you winning it and the moment you entered the ring to face Holyfield. Was the spotlight you were cast in as the Heavyweight Champion more of a burden than a blessing?
You know, I’d like to state this; finally everything just came down on me at one time leading up to that title fight against Evander. If there was one thing that I would want to change in my life it would be the way that situation went. Here it was; people that I was very close to going into my first defense were very distant. We had all become very distant going into that title defense. We weren’t even communicating, between my manager John Johnson and my uncle J.D. McCauley. There was just so much going on that we all lost connection with one another during that training period for Evander. I tell you, it was just one big whirlwind, after beating Tyson; crazy.
MP: In the years after walking away from the sport you gained weight and had essentially vanished. In 1994 it was reported that you fell into a diabetic coma. Would it be safe to say that the disappointment of losing the heavyweight title and the dispersion cast upon you by the media played a part in getting you to that desperate point?
Well that was a part of it but like I said there were a lot of things going on in my life at that time. Losing my mom and one thing after another, as amazing as it was in victory, and later in defeat, it was just a whirlwind and I never really regained control of my life and it really showed in that fight.
MP: In June 1996 you made a surprising comeback. Slimmed down and refocused, you went 8-1 over the next couple of years before quietly vanishing from the sport, was the desire gone? What prompted you to walk away?
I got back into life as well as fighting and I was still kind of undecided on exactly where I was and what I wanted, I just decided that was it and moved on with my life in another direction.
MP: In the years since boxing you made your big screen debut in the movie Pluto’s Plight. How did acting compare to prizefighting?
How would I compare it? Well, the mental preparation, getting into character and then like with fighting, you had your own trailer to warm up in or get dressed in. That was fun.
MP: Tell us about Buster’s Backyard Bar-B-Q.
Oh, I believe that’s definitely great. It was a co-operative with Tony Reynolds. I was just getting back into life. It’s helped with my lifestyle tremendously with my eating and living habits. It’s filled with easy, flavorful recipes.
MP: Thank you for sharing of yourself Buster. Is there anything you would like to say to your fans?
I would like to say Merry Christmas to everyone and that 2011 is going to be a great year for everybody, and let’s hope for happiness for everyone; love and peace.
James Buster Douglas
Nickname: “Buster”
Division Heavyweight
Professional Record: 38-8-1 25 KO’s
Date Opponent Location Result
1981-05-31 Dan O’Malley Columbus, US W TKO 3
1981-07-23 Mike Lear Columbus, US W UD 4
1981-09-27 Mike Rodgers Columbus, US W TKO 3
1981-10-14 Abdul Muhaymin Indianapolis, US W TKO 5
1981-10-23 Jesse Clark Toledo, US W KO 3
1981-11-06 David Bey Pittsburgh, US L TKO 2
1981-12-23 Don Johnson Canton, US W TKO 3
1982-01-23 Hubert Adams McConnellsville, US W KO 1
1982-02-13 Donny Townsend Erie, US W UD 6
1982-02-15 Marvin Earle Kalamazoo, US W TKO 2
1982-04-08 Rick Enis Indianapolis, US W UD 6
1982-04-24 Mel Daniels Johnstown, US W TKO 1
1982-10-16 Steffen Tangstad Chicago, US D PTS 8
1982-11-20 Tim Johnson Columbus, US W KO 1
1983-03-09 Jesse Clark Niles, US W KO 2
1983-03-29 Leroy Diggs Atlantic City, US W TKO 7
1983-04-16 Jesse Clark Muskegon, US W KO 2
1983-04-28 Henry Porter Atlantic City, US W TKO 2
1983-07-05 Dave Johnson Atlantic City, US W MD 10
1983-09-28 Eugene Cato Atlantic City, US W TKO 1
1983-12-17 Mike White Atlantic City, US L TKO 9
1984-07-09 David Starkey Columbus, US NC NC 1
1984-11-09 Randall Cobb Las Vegas, US W MD 10
1985-03-27 Dion Simpson Atlantic City, US W KO 1
1985-05-09 Jesse Ferguson Atlantic City, US L MD 10
1986-01-17 Greg Page Atlanta, US W UD 10
1986-04-19 David Jaco Las Vegas, US W UD 8
1986-09-06 Dee Collier Las Vegas, US W UD 10
1987-05-30 Tony Tucker Las Vegas, US L TKO 10
vacant IBF Heavyweight Title
1987-11-19 Donnie Long Columbus, US W KO 2
1988-02-24 Percell Davis Duluth, US W RTD 9
1988-04-16 Jerry Halstead Las Vegas, US W TKO 9
1988-06-27 Mike Williams Atlantic City, US W TKO 7
1989-02-25 Trevor Berbick Las Vegas, US W UD 10
1989-07-21 Oliver McCall Atlantic City, US W UD 10
1990-02-11 Mike Tyson JP W KO 10
WBC Heavyweight Title
WBA World Heavyweight Title
IBF Heavyweight Title
1990-10-25 Evander Holyfield Las Vegas, US L KO 3
WBC Heavyweight Title
WBA World Heavyweight Title
IBF Heavyweight Title
1996-06-22 Tony LaRosa Atlantic City, US W RTD 3
1997-01-10 Rocky Pepeli Uncasville, US W UD 10
1997-02-12 Dicky Ryan New York, US W UD 10
1997-03-30 Brian Scott Uncasville, US W KO 6
1997-05-13 Louis Monaco Biloxi, US W DQ 1
1997-07-13 Quinn Navarre Biloxi, US W TKO 4
1998-06-25 Lou Savarese Mashantucket, US L KO 1
vacant International Boxing Association Heavyweight Title
1998-12-12 Warren Williams Boise, US W KO 1
1999-02-19 Andre Crowder Burlington, US W TKO 1