What If Mike Tyson Beat Buster Douglas? | 36

Alternate Routes

The boxing and social media worlds will collide on Nov. 15 when 58-year-old former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, takes on 27-year-old influencer-turned-boxer Logan Paul in one of the most highly anticipated fights in recent memory. A large portion of the audience will be YouTubers who have only heard about Tyson because he bit off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear…or maybe they saw him in The Hangover. But “Iron Mike” was once the baddest man on the planet, an undisputed undefeated fighting machine. But that all changed in 1990 when he faced journeyman James “Buster” Douglas in what was supposed to be a tune up before Tyson faced Evander Holyfield. Douglas, a 42-to-1 underdog, shocked the world and took away the title, and Tyson’s world spiraled out of control. But what would’ve happened if Tyson had defeated Douglas and faced Holyfield in the Fight of the Century? Would Tyson’s status as champ have helped him through his legal troubles? Would the UFC still have gone mainstream? And how would the careers of Schwartzenegger, Stallone and The Rock have been different? Find out on Alternate Routes.

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