Opportunity Sqaundered ?

James "Buster" Douglas (born April 7, 1960 in Columbus, Ohio) is a former undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion, who scored the biggest upset in the history of the sport by knocking out Mike Tyson on February 11th 1990 in Tokyo, Japan.

The upset was so great because Tyson was at that point considered the pound-for-pound best boxer on the planet and was seemingly invincible due to his utter domination of the division.


Douglas had the physical qualities to become a great champion but lack of motivation and determination kept him from ever being considered a great heavyweight; the only other championship stage he was on was in 1987 when he fought Tony Tucker for the vacant IBF Championsip in a fight which many thought Douglas was beating the undefeated Tucker until he got tired and seemingly gave up, almost everyone assumed that the fight was going to be another quick Mike Tyson KO.

Douglas surprised the world by dominating the fight from the beginning, using his 12" reach advantage to perfection, seemingly hitting Tyson at will with jabs and right hands and getting out of range when Tyson launched his own punches as Tyson no longer bobbed and weaved and slipped his way in but rather set his feet and went for the big punch standing straight up and often lunging in.


After 1 minute and 5 seconds of round 10, a devastating uppercut followed by a left-right-left combination from Douglas floored Tyson for the first time in his boxing career. When Tyson failed to climb to his feet in time, with his mouthpiece hanging halfway out of his mouth as it was knocked out when he fell, the fight was over, and Douglas had shocked the world becoming the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion of the world.

The public reaction was encapsulated by the cover of Sports Illustrated Magazine, with the headline "Rocky Lives!", an allusion to the fictional boxing hero who, against all odds, went the distance against the champion.

Douglas would have only one title defense. Later that year (1990) an overweight and underprepared Douglas was knocked out in the 3rd round by Evander Holyfield and decided to retire from boxing following his defeat. He did little for the next several years, living off his wealth (he received a reported 24.6 million for the Holyfield fight) and gaining weight to nearly 400 pounds.

something about us Aries and boxing - I too was involved in boxing for awhile. My trainer actually wanted me to fight in the ring against other women - I declined. The process of learning the moves and the physical exertion that my body was able to endure was satisfaction enough for me. I have never hit another human and have no intentions of doing so now or in the future.

GA - sounds a bit like Mr. Douglas' ego was badly bruised. His self esteem dropped to an all time low and the added weight was his security for not getting back into the boxing ring along with the "ring of life."

My handsome waiter last night at dinner was graced with the name, Tyson - of course we joked about him being "mike tyson" he says he enjoys biting ears for fun! 😉 a cutie he was!

Hmmm...But why would his self-esteem take a downswing all of a sudden FB ?...I think Aries folks constantly grapple with the problem of motivating themselves to achieve lasting success. In my opinion, we relish treating life as a sequence of discrete exciting endevours which may provide short bursts of unlimited fun but in the end may not connect fully enough to yield a streamlined successful stint.

In fact I have observed that Caps excel at that and discipline is the mantra behind their material success.

I cannot answer why his self-esteem would take a sudden downsizing but that is what appears to have happened. He lost his fight...and, if he felt that he identified himself by that experience (winning/losing) and he looks at his loss as a failure, then his ego has been bruised and only he can bring himself back up and out. Some people choose to begin again and others simply give up.

To me personally, it is not important that I create a streamline successful stint. What is important to me is that I enjoy everything that I do and I want to taste it all! So, in order to acheive this goal - I put myself in many opportunities to experience many different things. Us Aries are very equipped to handle this - for we are beings of "new beginnings." Our soul thrives on the new experiences, the challenges of learning - we are not a sign that will or can do the same thing for a long period of time.

I know many a Cap that have been doing the same job, - most of them are in the building field....gutters, homes, etc. They do not seem to be very happy - they stay because they fear change, they stay because they feel that this is what was handed to them and they just have to do it. (at least this is what they have voiced to me).

As I see it, it takes all of us with our own individual thoughts to create the experiences on this planet...

GA, what is your moon sign? Mine is Cap. - 00!

"I think its because we are impulsive and have a hard time achieving staying power."

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being "impulsive" at all. Infact, it is an awesome quality to have - it is greatly needed to get things off the ground, ideas out in the open.

solitas - hard time achieving staying power? by whose standards? when the mission is accomplished, it is over. Onto the next adventure! Do you notice the weather...it is impulsive, it just happens - it stays as long as it needs to and then, poof! gone. New moment.

In your above statement, you are speaking for yourself - I have staying power. When something is in my heart and I want to do it - it gets done. Always has and always will.

What is the meaning of discipline? is it following your bliss? finishing what you started? being true to yourself?

Just asking.....

Personally, I think the most important life lesson an Aries as well as all signs it to learn to love oneself. The rest is then, very easy 😉

"In your above statement, you are speaking for yourself - I have staying power. When something is in my heart and I want to do it - it gets done. Always has and always will."

Solitas....the above statement (regarding staying power) was meant to mean that this may be your individual quest and not directed to all Ariens.

see how you air peeps ignite our flames?

warm

warmer

HOT!