The Legend of Buster Douglas

It was billed as Tyson Is Back,
Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas was an historic boxing match
at the Tokyo Dome, 1990. Undefeated Iron Mikey
Tyson – Baddest Man on the Planet, heavyweight champ – said yep to a scrap with some upcomer, name o’ Buster Douglas:
unheard-of, unlucky. Downtrod. Underdog.

Mike Tyson was, back then, at the height of his might.
WBC, WBA, and IBF titles amongst the many he held
In 1990 Tyse was lethal in the ring,
He’d done a 90-second knockout on Carl Williams, left on the mat struggling
The Buster Douglas fight, for Tyse, was just a contract-filler, a warm-up bout
Before he knocked contender Evander THE FUCK OUT

With 40 victories and a psychopathic psyche, Iron Mikey was likely to knock Buster down in the first round.
It was only because of six unlikely wins Buster’s manager managed to get his boy a shot at greatness on a Japanese stage.
Still, he was a journeyman, a filler. Buster was bound to go down. Shit, even sports reporters were already bored. They filed their write-up before the first bell of the fight, predictable title, Tokyo KO by Iron Mike.

They expected nothing less than Tyson’s 41st knockout
What they didn’t guess was Buster’s mother would die just before the fight, so Buster arrived in Tokyo
head down, frowning brow, nothing to lose, all dedicated, feet on the ground, jumping rope, saying no to dope, injecting only hope
He’d use the inspirit-i-on, him like the hit hurt when he lost his mum

Tyson prepped for the fight far from any gymnasium,
in his hotel fucking geishas and nosing coke all night
Bathing in champagne, smoking crack cocaine,
Next night: Ding ding! On with his 41st fight.
Tyse expended maybe 25 per cent energy on the chump he’d been signed up to fight, gave the guy a token of his prowess, a slice, nothin like his best
When Buster didn’t go down in the first round, people still didn’t second guess or regret their bets
Tyson was top. He’d never lost. He would fuck Buster up yet

But Buster musta mustered somethin
He danced and paced and got all up in Iron Mike’s face
A jab quick and accurate, combos immaculate, feet skipping light
When Tyson tried to get inside, Douglas had him tied
against the ropes, tiring Tyse, draining and enraging Iron Mike
Buster Douglas hooked Tyson’s ugly mug from side to side. 1-2 combos, uppercuts. Agile, alive.
Tyse whacked him back but the bro wouldn’t go down in one round, let alone three, four, five.

Tyson struggled in the breaks between rounds to revive
Unable to get prepared by going back in time. Couldn’t undo the missed training from last night with rags and water and ice
Tyson never this surprised, Tyson’s trainer praying, in the 30 second breaks, Tyse with sweat in his eyes.
Tyson not so iron.
“...don't just sit there and look at him, Mike! Fight!”

Buster slapped the rubber outta Tyson’s mouth
And Iron Mike – confused, childlike – scrambled for it on the ground. Still, Buster Douglas wouldn’t throw a dirty sucker punch. He let the champ get his mouthguard in, clear his head, get responsive so no one could say it wasn’t honest
when he knocked that monster unconscious.

Commentators watched in shock. Tyson was sat on the world’s top til – with five hooks in the right spot– Buster Douglas knocked him off. It was

The biggest upset in heavyweight history. The killing of a king.
Post-fight, interviewed live, face full of mikes, James ‘Buster’ Douglas was told no one thought he could win the fight
You actually bothered, Buster – why?
“Because of my mother, God bless her heart” –that’s the new champ’s actual reply.
And we all know the rest of Tyson’s life
So it’s one to nothing (a unanimous decision) for the good guy.