James "Buster" Douglas Signed Everlast Boxing Glove Inscribed "Tyson KO 2-11-90" Certified by Schwartz

Date: February 11, 1990
Location: Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan
Title at stake: Undisputed World Heavyweight Champion

The fight between Mike Tyson and James “Buster” Douglas is considered the biggest upset in boxing history.

At that time, Mike Tyson was at the peak of his dominance. The undisputed world heavyweight champion, undefeated in 37 fights, he was considered virtually unbeatable. Bookmakers gave Douglas odds of 42 to 1, extremely rare odds for a world championship fight.

Douglas, however, arrived in Japan with a special motivation. A few weeks before the fight, his mother had passed away, and he promised his family that he would pull off the feat.

The historic knockout

In the 10th round, Douglas landed a perfect combination:

a jab, followed by an uppercut, then a series of powerful punches.

Tyson collapses to the canvas for the first time in his professional career. Disoriented, he tries to get up, searching for his mouthguard in the ring.

The referee counts to ten.

James “Buster” Douglas becomes the world heavyweight champion, creating one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.

Legacy of the Fight

This fight has gone down in history as one of boxing’s greatest feats. It serves as a reminder that in this sport, even the most dominant champion can be beaten.

For Tyson, this defeat marks the end of his absolute reign over the division. For Douglas, this fight becomes the defining moment of his career.