Mike Tyson, one of the most feared heavyweights in boxing history, was known for his incredible power and lightning-fast reflexes. Yet, there was one opponent who managed to stop Tyson without ever throwing a punch — and it wasn’t due to any physical injury or defeat in the ring. This opponent’s impact on Tyson’s career was psychological, leaving an indelible mark on the boxer’s psyche and reputation.

The fight in question wasn’t a typical bout with a memorable knockout or dramatic finish. Instead, it was the moment Tyson faced off against the “Unstoppable Big Man,” a fighter whose mere presence and persona overshadowed everything Tyson had encountered in his career.

This showdown took place on February 11, 1990, when Tyson, then the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, entered the ring to face James “Buster” Douglas in what would become one of the most shocking upsets in boxing history. Tyson, widely regarded as invincible at the time, was a 42-to-1 favorite to win. However, Douglas, a giant of a man standing at 6’4″ and weighing in at 246 pounds, had something Tyson had never encountered: an unshakable mental strength and an unexpected strategy.

Tyson started strong, as expected, but Douglas managed to weather the storm. In the later rounds, it became clear that Tyson’s usual ferocity was not enough to break Douglas’s resolve. In the 10th round, the unthinkable happened: Tyson, who had never been knocked out, was downed by a powerful right hook from Douglas. The world watched in disbelief as Tyson, who had been seen as nearly untouchable, was counted out, suffering a stunning defeat.

Douglas’s victory over Tyson was more than just a physical defeat; it was the psychological blow that would define Tyson’s career. Tyson, who had once intimidated his opponents with his sheer presence, was no longer the unbeatable force he once was. The loss shattered Tyson’s confidence, and the effects were evident in his subsequent fights. Tyson, who had previously never been out of control in a fight, struggled to regain his dominance after that loss, and he never quite returned to the form that had made him a feared champion.

Though Tyson would go on to continue fighting, his career would never be the same. Douglas, on the other hand, would go down in history as the man who stopped Tyson — not with physical force, but with an unrelenting willpower that forever changed the course of Tyson’s boxing legacy.

Tyson’s loss to Buster Douglas remains one of the most shocking upsets in sports history, a reminder that in boxing, and in life, the greatest challenges are often faced not in the ring, but within one’s own mind.