Why did Tyson lose to Douglas and have his career go downhill at the age of 23?

Question

I just watched the Tyson-Douglas match and Tyson was completely dominated, even though he was 6 yrs younger than Douglas.

I can buy the argument that Tyson was prevented from having longevity because as aged he lost his speed, evasiveness, and became an easy target. But that wouldn't have been an issue at 23.

Is it possible that he just fought poor competition and never would have done anything were he in another era>

Answer 1

THIS THINGS RUINED TYSON:

ROBIN GIVENS
DON KING
JAIL
LOSS OF CUS D'AMATO, ROONEY, ATLAS AND JIM JACOBS
TYSON'S OWN INABILITY TO MAINTAIN GREATNESS.

Answer 2

Mike Tyson would have ranked in the top 5 heavyweights ever had he not lost dedication to his career. Tyson was a very talented fighter who never backed down from a challenge. He would knock anyone who would get in his way out cold. No one could last against Mike Tyson. That's because he took good care of his body and mental state of mind.
Tyson's decline started when he separated from Kevin Rooney. Sure he might have won several fights after Rooney, but he wasn't the same fighter after. He was not moving his head, he was too aggressive, he didn't think, and he didn't train. Then came Douglas, a fighter that he did not train for AT ALL! AT ALL! How can you not train against a fighter with a distinct size advantage?
Make no mistake, Tyson is a great fighter and has been efficient throughout his peak. It's just sad to see that he only enjoyed his prime for 5 years. Some fighters take 10 years to reach their primes. Tyson reached it even before he started his career. The legacy of Mike Tyson shall remain a mystery forever. When you say his name, you will ask: how he could have; what he could have; and, what should have.

Answer 3

Tysons career moved way too fast. They say if you live your whole life in the fast lane eventually your gonna crash, Tyson hit a brick wall. Tyson under trained for the Douglas fight, got too cocky, and lost. Douglas' mother died prior to the Tyson fight which was the reason for that incredible display of heart. Tyson was a guy who was never strong mentally. Not even as a young kid (After reading Teddy Atlas' book and watching Ringside you'll realize this) and being this invincible unbeatable monster was Tysons image. He used intimitadition. Now when people seen that he could be beat and he wasn't invincible, plus being beat by Douglas who wasn't the best of the best, was the end of Tysons image. He actually managed to sort of build his "invincible" image back up before the first fight with Holyfield but he quickly put an end to that.

Answer 4

Tysons original manager and his staff kept tyson under control. They kept him training right and away from the party life. They made him into a perfect machine.When Cus D'Matto died, Don King stepped in and lured him away from the rest of his team. He did this by showing Tyson the good life. He told Tyson you dont need to pay your trainers all that money, your Mike Tyson. They are just taking your money. The fool that Mike Tyson was, he believed Don King and went with him. Just what Don King told Tyson they were doing to him, thats what Don King did. He put a bunch of his family memebers as his corner men and they didnt know what they were doing. Cus D'Matto used to call his punches out by numbers and tyson would throw fast combinations. Tyson asked his corner what to do in that fight and they told him just knock him out. They didnt even have something to keep the swelling off his eye. He did not train well for that fight. Also from the very beginning, Mike Tyson had a confidence problem. He used to cry on Teddy Atlas's shoulder, that he was afraid and that he couldnt do it. Teddy Atlas used to take his fear and turn it into confidence and rage. That is the reason why Tyson declined at such a young age.

Answer 5

It was a combination of Douglas being up for the fight because of the death of his mother and Tyson taking Buster too lightly. A very un professional move on Tyson's part. Mike Tyson is a perfect example of how important a solid trainer is to a boxer. When Rooney left his corner and Mike put "YES"(Don King's men) men in his corner, number one he lost focus during training which resulted in number two, an absence of upper body movement to slip punches and get inside which left his hands free to throw punches in combination.

Answer 6

He was older than 23 when he lost to Douglas, but that wasnt the reason why his career went to shite. It's because Cus D'Amato died and Tyson could'nt shake the demons of his past and his addictions to drugs and women.

Answer 7

The Devil Don King has destroyed many a fighter I hope h rots in hell. Tyson had it all and cus and Teddy were ther for him{Tyson} Mike was a young man who King controlled

Answer 8

Tyson took Douglas too easy and didn't train hard for this fight.

Answer 9

Tyson could have been the greatest heavyweight of all time. Don King ruined him.

Answer 10

There are two phrases that my parents always told me and it fits Tysons situation.one "Money is the root of all evil".Two "A fool and his money will soon part, if they are lucky enough to get together".When mike was poor he was hungry (no pun intented).He worked hard ,when Mike started recieving money HE LOST HIS DAMN MIND.

Answer 11

overconfident, undertrained. douglas motivated for fight of his life. tyson not used to adversity in ring as a pro, and didn't have personal makeup nor the right cornermen to get him thru it once he started getting outboxed