Referee Defends Disputed Long Count Over Douglas

Referee Octavio Meyran today defended his handling of the eighth-round count over James (Buster) Douglas in his heavyweight title bout with Mike Tyson.

Meyran said there was no need to refer to the timekeeper in that situation.

“He won the championship fair and square,” Meyran said of Douglas in an interview with the Mexican television network Televisa.

Douglas knocked out Tyson in the 10th round in Tokyo on Sunday in a stunning upset, but promoter Don King and Tyson argued that Douglas was saved by a long count when he was floored in the eighth round.

“Douglas was felled by a punch, and what I did was make the count without looking to the timekeeper outside the ring. With 22 years of experience and 30 world title fights, I think I have the ability to do that,” Meyran said. “I prefer not to depend on someone at the edge of the ring who is only doing a count.”

“The rules don’t say you have to look to the timekeeper. Of course, you can look for his help.”

King withdrew his protest Monday night but again said Meyran made a mistake. Meyran said there was no error.

“At the count of eight, Douglas started to get up and I saw that he knew what was going on. He lifted his head, hit the canvas in a sign of disgust, which told me he was ready to continue the fight,” Mey-ran said

“The time was up and possibly Tyson would have won, but Douglas demonstrated that he was well-prepared in the next round.

“Douglas was well-prepared physically. His punches were always good and he stood up to everything Tyson threw.”