“He Was Just as Weak”: 34 Years After Devastating Loss, Former Trainer-Turned-Foe Reveals What Cost Mike Tyson the Buster Douglas Fight

Young men age with time but their idols remain youthful and everlasting! One such behemoth in boxing is Mike Tyson. However, even titans have a tendency to fall when faced with adversity. Something similar happened on the fateful night of 11 February 1990 when ‘Iron’ Mike took on Buster James Douglas.

The Tokyo Dome in Japan was full of Mike’s fans anticipating a beatdown while people across the globe were glued to the TV screen. However, what happened next has been written in the books as the greatest upset in boxing history. The massive underdog, Douglas, managed to solve the unsolvable Mike Tyson. Thirty-four years have passed since then, and a reporter probed Mike’s estranged trainer, Teddy Atlas, about his thoughts on the matter in an interview shared on YouTube today!

Teddy Atlas ropes in Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson

In the interview with Vlad TV, the reporter brought up Mike’s first upset loss and questioned Atlas about his thoughts. Having followed the incident previously, Atlas put words to his thoughts. “I was documented in this – I just felt that the first time someone stands up to him, he’s going to have a problem,” said Atlas. 

It’s worth mentioning that the reporter had praised Tyson’s ability to knockout opponents quickly and swiftly. So, Atlas claimed, “As great as he was in those areas, he was just as weak in the areas of resolve [to find] a way when his talent wasn’t enough.” He later added that all the great fighters could find a way to win, emphasizing Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, and Sugar Ray Robinson. “Ali found the way! Joe Louis found the way! Sugar Ray Robinson found the way,” said Atlas. However, what did Mike say about his loss?

Mike Tyson: “I didn’t think I was going to lose”

In 2013, Mike Tyson released his TV Special Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth, where he shed light on the fight and what went wrong for him. “I was not training properly. I was beating everybody even though I was not training,” said Tyson. He even revealed that he was supposed to follow “abstinence” but couldn’t even pronounce it; following it was a different story.

Also Read: “I Could Never Be a Proper Father or Husband”: Debunking Big Rumor About Cus D’Amato, Teddy Atlas Explains Why Mike Tyson’s Father Figure Never Got Married

He later added, “I didn’t think I was going to lose, but I don’t know how I thought I could have won.” However, the former heavyweight champion believes he knocked out Douglas during the fight and should have won. “But, to be honest, I actually knocked Buster Douglas out in the eighth round. It was a thirteen-second count…Un-f*cking-lucky number,” said Tyson.

Decades after the fight shook the world, Teddy Atlas has given his verdict on why Mike Tyson lost the fight. Do you agree with Atlas’ assessment? Or do you lean towards what Mike had to say about the loss?

Watch This Story: Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas: 10 Facts You Didn’t Know About the Biggest Upset in Boxing