Improbable Dreams Still Part of the Picture for Douglas : Boxing: Despite near-fatal bout with diabetes three weeks ago, former champion goes so far as to think of rematch with Tyson.

On Feb. 11, 1990, James “Buster” Douglas realized the improbable dream of becoming the heavyweight champion of the world.

His knockout of Mike Tyson--in a fight held in Tokyo because there were no takers for the expected mismatch in the United States--was perhaps the biggest upset in boxing history.

The cheers quickly faded after his disgraceful loss to Evander Holyfield eight months later.

Still, Douglas is at peace and satisfied with his life, despite a near-fatal bout with diabetes three weeks ago.

He’s even thinking about a rematch with Tyson.

Larry Nallie, Douglas’ business manager and friend, has been approached by a Tyson lawyer who has proposed a rematch when Tyson is released next year from prison, where he serving a sentence for rape.

“Maybe the end of next year, beginning of the following year,” Douglas said. “It’s something I’ve thought about considerably.”

For now, his major concern is his fight against diabetes. Weighing 310 pounds and wearing dreadlocks, the 34-year-old concentrates on following his doctor’s orders.

Four times a day, Douglas sticks a pin in his finger to draw and test his own blood. Twice a day, he administers his own insulin shots. Before spending eight days in a hospital, he said he was a zombie because of the chemical imbalance inside him.

“I thank God every day when I get up,” said Douglas, relaxing recently in a Harley-Davidson T-shirt. “I asked for one thing and it’s like my cup runneth over. I made a few mistakes along the way, but I still thank him for the blessings he bestowed upon me.”

Douglas, who splits his time between a home in his native Colubmus and a mansion on Marco Island, Fla., says he still has a large chunk of the $24.1 million he was paid for getting knocked out by Holyfield in the third round of his only title defense on Oct. 25, 1990. That was his last fight.

The loss heaped scorn on Douglas, roundly criticized for not trying harder to get up.

More devastating to him than all that criticism, however, was the death of his mother. Lula Pearl Douglas died two weeks before he stunned Tyson with a 10th-round knockout. He said he was depressed for a year over her death.

That’s why Douglas prefers to count his blessings.

“Even the problems I have now could be worse. But I wouldn’t trade them for anything in the world,” he said. “I have three beautiful sons and a beautiful wife. I’m doing some things I like and changing some things I don’t. And believe it or not, I face challenges every day.”

Douglas keeps busy. He manages two fighters, looks over his business interests, coaches in a midnight basketball league, gives time and money to charity, makes personal appearances, and answers his mail.

He also oversees the foundation he founded and named for his mother. He has named a community center in Columbus in her honor, and is planning other development in the city.

His best times, he says, are spent with his sons: LaMar, 16, who lives with his mother; 3-year-old Cardae; and Arthur, who just had his first birthday.

Boxing remains a part of him. He still watches bouts on TV and measures himself against the fighters.

He still believes he might have at least one fight left. He walks 3 1/2 miles a day and -- partly because of the diabetes -- has begun carefully watching his diet. He works out in the gym with the fighters he manages with his father, Bill, a former professional boxer himself.

With the proper training, he said, he could get down to 235 or 245 pounds. After all, he said he weighed 300 pounds before beginning training for the Holyfield fight. He was at 280 when he went to Las Vegas a month before the fight and said he trained hard to get to the 247 he weighed for the fight. He weighed 232 against Tyson.

Douglas blamed those in his own camp for what he called his “miserable” conditioning. He said everyone told him what he wanted to hear and no one made him get in shape. He since has cut all ties with his former manager, John Johnson, and trainer, J.D. McAuley.

“I remember (Holyfield manager) Lou Duva saying, ‘How could they bring him in here like that? They should have canceled the fight!’ He was right. We should have,” Douglas said.

Why would a man who is financially secure and surrounded by comfort and loved ones return to the ring?

Four years ago, he said, he envisioned a career that would put him in the ranks of Frazier, Ali, Marciano and Dempsey.

He says he would go back to boxing because of his regret over what might have been.

“We had a beautiful situation. We had the championship of the world and we didn’t owe anybody,” he said. “And we lost it. We could have had it as long as we wanted it. Instead, we said, ‘Here, you can have it back.”’