Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
Former world heavyweight champions were out in force on Friday night as three-time title holder Mike Tyson met up with former conquerer James ‘Buster’ Douglas to help promote fight nights in Cincinnati. Nate Tubbs, brother of former WBA heavyweight champion Tony, drafted in the pair to help him draw attention to the six-bout card at the Grand Victoria Casino.
44 year-old Tyson and Douglas, 41, met for the first time since 1990, when Douglas became the first man to beat Tyson and made himself a household name in the process. ‘Buster’ would lose the unified titles just eight months later against Evander Holyfield and would subsequently retire for six years, before making an unsuccessful three-year comeback in 1996.
Tyson’s fortunes over the years that followed that night in Tokyo have been much publicised since then, but it shows the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ has mellowed over the years and is willing to give up his time for his former opponents. The Catskill fighter met Nate Tubbs’ brother Tony in 1988, blasting him out in two rounds and Douglas acknowledge how Tyson has turned his life into a positive.
"That was cool. It was a long time coming," Douglas told news.cincinnati.com after the event. "It meant a lot. I respect Mike, and the things that he is doing now are pretty great."
Other boxing stars to attend the event were legendary trainer Emanuel Steward and middleweight superstar Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearns as top of the bill Melissa St Vil defeated Evette Collazo over eight rounds. Daniel Judah, brother of IBF light-welterweight champion Zab was booked to be involved in the main event bout, but the fight was cancelled at the last minute.
WBN Editor
Old heavyweight rivals help promote fight card
Former world heavyweight champions were out in force on Friday night as three-time title holder Mike Tyson met up with former conquerer James ‘Buster’ Douglas to help promote fight nights in Cincinnati. Nate Tubbs, brother of former WBA heavyweight champion Tony, drafted in the pair to help him draw attention to the six-bout card at the Grand Victoria Casino.
44 year-old Tyson and Douglas, 41, met for the first time since 1990, when Douglas became the first man to beat Tyson and made himself a household name in the process. ‘Buster’ would lose the unified titles just eight months later against Evander Holyfield and would subsequently retire for six years, before making an unsuccessful three-year comeback in 1996.
Tyson’s fortunes over the years that followed that night in Tokyo have been much publicised since then, but it shows the ‘Baddest Man on the Planet’ has mellowed over the years and is willing to give up his time for his former opponents. The Catskill fighter met Nate Tubbs’ brother Tony in 1988, blasting him out in two rounds and Douglas acknowledge how Tyson has turned his life into a positive.
"That was cool. It was a long time coming," Douglas told news.cincinnati.com after the event. "It meant a lot. I respect Mike, and the things that he is doing now are pretty great."
Other boxing stars to attend the event were legendary trainer Emanuel Steward and middleweight superstar Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearns as top of the bill Melissa St Vil defeated Evette Collazo over eight rounds. Daniel Judah, brother of IBF light-welterweight champion Zab was booked to be involved in the main event bout, but the fight was cancelled at the last minute.