Where The Legend Lives
A look at the life of Buster Douglas.
More than 26 years after he stunned the world by knocking out Mike Tyson to become the heavyweight champion of the world, James “Buster” Douglas now resides in Columbus, Ohio, where he became a local legend as he tore through boxing rings on the city’s east side when he was a young kid.
As you look around the gym, a myriad of trophies, accolades, and promo posters that he has collected over the years jumps out. Photographs of Douglas with Muhammad Ali are scattered throughout the shelves that hold the gold trophies. Behind him, murals of Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. have been painted on the walls, towering above as he surveys the room.
Douglas has been training five days a week over the past two years at this gym in the Thompson Recreation Center.
However, the 58-year-old hasn’t been going there in an attempt to resurrect his professional boxing career, which he retired from in 1999 with a record of 38-6-1.
Douglas has instead turned the boxing ring into his office by serving as the coach of the center’s boxing program for young kids and even adults who want to stay in shape. Douglas, who began boxing at Blackburn Recreation Center at the age of 10, has found a rewarding feeling in the Columbus Recreation and Parks boxing program again.
Besides footwork and jabs of a champ, Douglas hopes his students will learn valuable lessons by taking a look at high peaks and deep valleys within his own life. In the immediate aftermath of his victory over Tyson. Douglas had more money and fame than he could have ever imagined he’d obtain.
While still dealing with depression caused by the death of his mother, Douglas lost the first defense of his title to Evander Holyfield on Oct. 25, 1990. With his belt gone, he then gained more than 100 pounds and became plagued by diabetes to the point where he spent three days in a life-threatening coma in 1994.
Coaching and teaching have helped Douglas get fit and reignite his love for the sport that nearly took his life.
