Happy 20th to Buster’s KO of Tyson!

I know this might be a bit off the usual Surf Ohio subject, but I just have to wish a Happy 20th Anniversary to boxing’s former World Heavyweight Champ, James “Buster” Douglas, in recognition of his 10th round KO of Mike Tyson in Tokyo on February 11, 1990.
Bucking mere 42-1 odds, the death of his mother just weeks before, and battling the flu, Buster, one of Columbus’ own did what nearly no one thought possible - the kid from nowhere cut the infamous “Iron Mike” Tyson down in the ring, fair and square, and, in doing so, showed Tyson’s handler, Don King for what he was (Google the story on King and the fight- you’ll see what I mean).
Soon after his triumphant return from Tokyo, I was pleasantly surprised to be called to meet Buster and to design and create shirts commemorating the famous fight. Published here are scans of the original 3-color front and the 1-color back design of those shirts from the archives of Kaplan Graphics, Inc., the company I co-owned at the time (detailed on this site – click on “About”).

I’m pleased to say that Ryan Vesler, CEO of Homage Clothing, and I have been invited by the Champ and his original managers to put an exclusively licensed new shirt package together for Buster, one that will ultimately be sold through www.homageclothing.com. We look forward to adding Buster’s new Homage shirt soon to those of many other sports icons like Larry Bird, Bruce Lee and one of my faves, Archie Griffin.
(Here’s the newly obligatory blog disclaimer – Homage Clothing is licensed to reproduce and sell vintage-retro Surf Ohio designs. So there.)

Not sure if we’ll repro my 1990  art or create a new-but-retro take on what was one of THE biggest upsets in the history of sports.  But we’ll do the Champ proud, I promise.  

If you’re too young to recall this fight, find the HBO Pay-Per-View broadcast and watch it.  I imagine it will be on TV somewhere this week.    It was like Rocky, only it was for real.  And the acting is better.

Buster’s knockout of Tyson in the 10th was truly the Punch Heard Round the World.  I was at Victory’s Bar in the Brewery District that night, and will never forget it.  When the deejay cut the music and shouted out that Buster had KO’d “Iron Mike,” there was joyous bedlam and dancing in the streets.   Where were YOU when Buster won the belt?