City of Columbus

A 1978 graduate of Linden-McKinley High School and Heavyweight Champion of the world in 1990, James “Buster” Douglas brought honor and accolades to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio with his long-shot upset of then unbeaten Mike Tyson. Douglas’s victory is all the more remarkable because he was able to overcome personal difficulties – such as the death of his mother just three weeks before the fight – and persevere into triumph.

James “Buster” Douglas began boxing at age 10, winning local Golden Gloves and Ohio State Fair awards as a teenager. His first professional fight, at the age of 21, was in 1981.