Question about Tyson vs Douglas

[flyest1]

Was Buster Douglas a mandatory for Tyson? My dad keeps telling me that Holyfield and Ruddock were #1 and #2 at the time. Is this true

[Toney616]

Was Buster Douglas a mandatory for Tyson? My dad keeps telling me that Holyfield and Ruddock were #1 and #2 at the time. Is this true

Im not sure, but I do know that his original opponent for Tokyo was Ruddock. Tyson would claim to be "sick", so that fight was cancelled and Ruddock would be replaced with Douglas. Holyfield got a shot at Douglas right after that, so I think he might of been the no 1 contender for one of Mike's belts.

[Clyde Barrow]

Holyfield was ranked #1 by all 3 bodies whose belts were held by Tyson. Douglas was something like #3 in the WBC and #4 in the WBA.

[flyest1]

Thank you for the replies. I never knew that Ruddock was the original oppenent. Funny how things work out in boxing sometimes especially for an undisputed champ.

Donald Curry held all 3 belts and was suppose to move up and face Mike McCallum. But was advised to stay at 147 and fight Honeyghan. That would've been a better Curry vs McCallum

Zab Judah wanted to fight Shane Mosley. But instead fought another of his #1 contenders Carlos Baldomir

I think Lewis dropped his WBA belt so he wouldn't fight Ruiz. Only to fight Rahman and get knocked out

Now I hear Ruddock was the Original oppenent for Tyson

[Toney616]

I think Lewis dropped his WBA belt so he wouldn't fight Ruiz. Only to fight Rahman and get knocked out

I think Lewis dropped his WBA belt to fight Grant instead, he also dropped his IBF belt to avoid fighting Byrd. Byrd would of been a bad match up for him at that point in his career

Off topic: The fab 4 wanted nothing to do with McCallum or Nunn

[flyest1]

I think Lewis dropped his WBA belt to fight Grant instead, he also dropped his IBF belt to avoid fighting Byrd. Byrd would of been a bad match up for him at that point in his career

Off topic: The fab 4 wanted nothing to do with McCallum or Nunn

Thanks for that info. You might be right about Byrd vs Lewis at that time

You're right about Nunn and McCallum being avoided. Jones Jr also avoided Nunn

[Toney616]

Thanks for that info. You might be right about Byrd vs Lewis at that time

If you watch Byrd-Holyfield, Merchant and Foreman talk about it. Manny steward also said it would of been a bad match up for Lewis, whose conditioning at that stage of his career was questionable

You're right about Nunn and McCallum being avoided. Jones Jr also avoided Nunn

That would of been a great fight, it should of happened in 97

[frankenfrank]

I think Lewis dropped his WBA belt to fight Grant instead, he also dropped his IBF belt to avoid fighting Byrd. Byrd would of been a bad match up for him at that point in his career

Off topic: The fab 4 wanted nothing to do with McCallum or Nunn

McCallum about (fighting) Hagler : "he is a middleweight , I am a junior middleweight".

[frankenfrank]

Was Buster Douglas a mandatory for Tyson? My dad keeps telling me that Holyfield and Ruddock were #1 and #2 at the time. Is this true

James Douglas came of a winning streak which consisted of a stoppage of Mike Williams and decisions over Berbick and McCall. he definitely deserved that title shot as he proved again in the fight itself.

[Toney616]

McCallum about (fighting) Hagler : "he is a middleweight , I am a junior middleweight".