Mike Tyson, the self-styled "baddest man on the planet," was widely considered to be the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Feared by his opponents, he dominated the heavyweight division. He looked invincible, and his air of menace pervaded his every fight.
However, on the night of February 11, 1990, the world of boxing was turned upside down as an unassuming 42-1 underdog, James "Buster" Douglas, stepped into the ring for a shot at the title.
After 10 rounds, the form cart was upturned. A right-left, right-left and Tyson was down. After taking great punishment from Douglas, Tyson scrambled around on the floor, looking for his mouthpiece, not knowing where he was. This devastating event, which prompted the words of fight commentator Sugar Ray Leonard, “Unbelievable”, proved to be the dividing line in the career of one of the sport’s most important figures.
