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Mike Tyson vs. Buster Douglas rematch debate resumed after WBC reaction

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2 months ago

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Tyson vs Douglas 2

Thirty-six years after one of heavyweight boxing’s most contentious nights, the debate over Mike Tyson’s first defeat resurfaced when WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán was asked why an immediate rematch with James “Buster” Douglas was not ordered in 1990.

The fan question alluded to the controversial eighth-round knockdown in Tokyo and suggested that the WBC could knock Douglas out of shape if he refused to fight Tyson again.

Sulaimán replied: “It was about 36 years ago. I remember Holyfield was the mandatory challenger and then he fought Douglas. I’m sorry I don’t have the details right now, but I’ll look into it.”

One low response reopened a familiar argument and, more importantly, shifted the focus back to what the WBC could realistically do once the result was official.

Long count vs. knockdown debate

Tyson dropped Douglas slow in the eighth round of an undisputed title fight in February 1990 at the Tokyo Dome. The number given by referee Octavio Meyran has been debated for decades, and footage shows Douglas lying on the ground for more than 10 seconds before the bell ended the round.

The referee’s count is discretionary, although traditionally he follows the ten-second standard.

World Boxing News has previously analyzed this incident and its fallout in our coverage of the eighth-round controversy and Meyran’s subsequent explanation in his referee’s statement.

As for the rematch question, the main issue isn’t whether fans think the count was leisurely. The issue is whether the WBC was justified in stepping in and changing the next move after the fight was signed.

Why Holyfield was next

At the time, Evander Holyfield was the mandatory challenger for the WBC title. When Douglas stopped Tyson in the tenth round, the WBC regulations directly indicated a mandatory defense.

Douglas then fought Holyfield and lost the title later in 1990, which matches Sulaimán’s recollection of this sequence.

Any rematch clause would be a contractual matter between the fighters and the promoters. The WBC’s job is to maintain order in the championship, and mandates are rarely bypassed without a formal revocation or official ruling changing the outcome of the fight.

A Don King production

Could the WBC have ordered a rematch?

In scarce cases, sanctioning authorities may take action after stern controversy. However, such situations usually require a formal protest process and a clear violation that warrants intervention.

Without a successful appeal or official change of result, Douglas remained champion on paper. In such a scenario, getting rid of him for Tyson’s fight with another contender for the vacant belt would involve the risk of legal consequences and undermining the WBC ranking structure.

Sulaimán’s response suggests that the WBC viewed Holyfield’s mandatory status as a controlling factor at the time and hinted that it would look into the finer details behind the scenes.

Some have long argued that the WBC could have delayed Holyfield’s mandatory commitment and ordered a rematch, although that would have required bending its own championship structure.

Why is this question still being asked

The Tyson-Douglas rematch debate endures because it combines two things that boxing fans rarely accept quietly: contentious judging and a title structure that moves on without looking back.

Sulaimán’s answer does not rewrite history. This highlights the likely reason why the WBC did not force an immediate rematch with Tyson.

As history shows, Holyfield was next in line and, without a formal repeal of the Tokyo decision, the mandatory route remained unchanged.

More than three decades later, the Tokyo count – and the rematch that never materialized – remains one of heavyweight boxing’s most enduring, unresolved debates.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

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Boxing

Adam Smith reveals Ben Whittaker’s summer fight plan

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47 minutes ago

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April 24, 2026

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Image: Adam Smith reveals Ben Whittaker summer fight plan

Ben Whittaker’s next few months are already taking shape following his quick knockout victory in Liverpool, and Adam Smith outlines a busy summer schedule that should finally see the delicate heavyweight fighter face stronger tests

Smith said Whittaker is expected to return to the United States in overdue June on the Jaron “Boots” Ennis card, then return to the UK in the summer for a major date in his hometown of Birmingham.


Whittaker stopped Brian Suarez in two rounds last weekend and performed brilliantly throughout, adding another early finish to the stretch that helped rebuild attention around him after his first fight with Liam Cameron ended in a draw.

Smith said the June outing would support expose Whittaker to a wider audience ahead of a bigger national night later in the year.

“He will fight at the end of June in America at the Boots Ennis gala. That’s good. Show him to a global audience. Then he will come back here in overdue summer, maybe early September and fight in Birmingham in a huge fight,” Adam Smith said in an interview with Sport Boxing.

Smith also named British opponents who could be next, naming Lyndon Arthur, Brad Rea and Craig Richards as possible options once Whittaker returns home.

Smith believes that in the long term, bigger domestic fights with Joshua Buatsi and Anthony Yard should come within the next year if Whittaker continues to win.

“Buatsis and Yards need to be delivered within the next 6-12 months.”

Whittaker has had a lot of notoriety since turning pro, but the activity and matchmaking are looking more grave now. The next two fights should tell more than the first ten.

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Last updated: 24/04/2026 at 17:38

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Oscar De La Hoya admits that he would consider returning on one condition

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3 hours ago

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April 24, 2026

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Oscar De La Hoya admits he would consider comeback under one condition

Six-division world champion and Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya hasn’t fought since 2008, but revealed he would be willing to return for one fighter.

De La Hoya is a newfangled pound-for-pound legend, being one of only two six-division champions in the history of the sport – joined by Filipino fan favorite Manny Pacquiao, who has reached eighth in this ultra-elite club.

While De La Hoya has moved on to promote the sport, “Pac Man” recently returned to the pro ranks, challenging Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight world title last July in an attempt to break his own record as boxing’s oldest 147-pound ruler.

Pacquiao could only get a draw in that fight, but now he’s ready for an even bigger fight – at least financially – after signing a contract for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, who defeated him in 2015 in the “Fight of the Century.”

Time will tell whether this fight will have an impact on Mayweather’s renowned 50-0 record or not. “TBE” apparently wants to change his contract to an exhibition fight despite signing a contract for sanctioned competition.

If that fight takes place in September, Mayweather will come out on top again, De La Hoya said Fighting the noise that he would also be willing to have a rematch with Mayweather.

“I am a fighter. I will always be a fighter. If Mayweather beats Pacquiao, Floyd, you owe me a rematch! Let’s go!”

Mayweather defeated De La Hoya by split decision to win the WBC super lightweight title in 2007, and De La Hoya still maintains he deserved to win the fight.

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The Day Wilder vs. Joshua fight died after eight years of failure

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4 hours ago

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April 24, 2026

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Wilder vs Joshua WBN

Today is April 24, 2026, and after eight arduous years of trying, the Deontay Wilder vs. Anthony Joshua fight is off the table for good, ending one of boxing’s longest-running failed negotiations.

The last window closes

Both sides had one good opportunity to get the job done and promoter Eddie Hearn now closed it down tough. The Matchroom boss has outlined the level of opponent Joshua’s next fight will be aimed at, and it won’t be thrilling for those still hoping for Wilder.

Hearn initially branded Wilder a ‘warm-up’ for Joshua after the ‘Bronze Bomber’ sent Derek Chisora ​​to the points. However, less than a few weeks later, that position appears to have evaporated.

Instead, Joshua will now likely face lower-level opponents outside the top 15 to shake off the ring rust. It is unclear whether these instructions are coming directly from Saudi Arabia or not, but the former two-time heavyweight champion is not expected to enter a potential fight with Tyson Fury this fall after beating the YouTuber over the course of five one-sided rounds.

The Path of Fury takes priority

Joshua, who recorded wins over the likes of Otto Wallin and Jermaine Franklin before suffering a devastating stoppage defeat to Daniel Dubois, is currently in advanced talks with Fury following his performance on Saturday after “The Gypsy King” defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov.

Once negotiations are finalized and the fight is secured, British fans can look forward to the most crucial heavyweight battle in the British Isles since Frank Bruno vs. Lennox Lewis.

To achieve that, Joshua needs to fight a transition fight, and that means he won’t take any chances against Wilder, despite the American’s dwindling strength.

Wilder will now be forced to leave, and given his current form, he may struggle to maintain his current position until any Fury series ends.

Joshua vs. Fury could stretch into two or even three fights, while Wilder will turn 41 in October, which puts him firmly on the wrong side of the age divide.

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How it all started

The attention for the former WBC ruler could instead turn to Andy Ruiz Jr., who – as WBN reported exclusively in 2020 – was once lined up for a massive pay-per-view clash with Wilder after the Fury trilogy.

It never materialized, but it remains one of the few remaining realistic options that still holds real intrigue.

The plan began with Shelly Finkel’s phone call to WBN in June 2018. It will end in a whimper as Joshua and Hearn choose their next move ahead of the Fury fight.

How it ended

Eight years later, it has only come close to reaching significance once, in 2023, and even then the Day of Reckoning plan fell through.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

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