02/11/1990 - WBA WBC IBF

On February 11, 1990, James “Buster” Douglas stunned the sporting world by defeating Mike Tyson via 10th-round knockout at the Tokyo Dome to win the WBA, WBC, and IBF heavyweight titles. Entering the fight as a 42–1 underdog, Douglas toppled the undefeated and seemingly invincible Tyson in what remains one of the greatest upsets in boxing history.

Despite the scale of the victory, The Ring magazine title was not at stake that night. This was because The Ring had formally stopped awarding world championships in 1989, following widespread criticism of its championship policy and editorial practices during the 1970s and 1980s. Under new editor Steve Farhood, the magazine suspended the awarding of titles in its January 1990 issue, announcing it would not recognize champions until a more credible system was implemented. As a result, when Douglas dethroned Tyson, no Ring heavyweight champion existed — the title had been left vacant since Tyson’s reign began in 1988.

James “Buster” Douglas (born April 7, 1960) is an American former professional boxer who competed between 1981 and 1999. He reigned as the undisputed world heavyweight champion in 1990 after defeating Tyson. After eight months as champion, he lost the belts to Evander Holyfield in his only title defense. Douglas retired after the loss, returned to boxing in 1996, and retired for good in 1999.