just finished this terrific book about Buster Douglas's historic KO of Iron Mike.
I can't recommend it highly enough, you think you know the story but the in depth detail of both fighter's lives and families, the detail of the HBO commentary crew (Sugar Ray Leonard, Lampley and Merchant) and anything and anyone else associated with this fight makes a thouroughly compelling read.
In fact, its a great read about boxing overall - with many, many fighters featured.
I started it just before Vegas, finished it on the flight back, almost cried like a baby with the way he describes Buster's emotion and his corner's emotion and all those involved in Team Douglas when Tyson doesn't make the count. Its quite emotional, even for non fight fans I'd say. John Russell, Buster's trainer, and the relationship they had, and how Russell was screaming during the fight at Tyson....mind boggling. Goose bump stuff.
One little thing that stood out which thought funny was Ross Greenburg reeming out his HBO production team for cheering so loudly during those early rounds when it became evident that something remarkable was gonna happen. The stadium was fairly silent (Japanese fans, slow to warm up) so the noise of the astonished gasps of amazement from the crew as Buster methodically broke Tyson down was audible through the commentary team's mikes.
Tyson comes across as a complete psycho, basically. I know he's tried to re-invent himself and has suffered tragedy recently but those early years he was in fact a monster. Hence the public's obssession, I guess....
Ok, onwards and upwards/Cloughie
(P.S. I should be a professional book reviewer after coming out with that feed of sheeyite)
