When you google the name Buster Douglas, the first thing that pops up is the fact that he knocked out Mike Tyson in Tokyo, to pull off one of boxing’s biggest upsets ever to become heavyweight champion of the world.
But an unknown fact about Douglas is that he is a former Sinclair Community College basketball player.
The 51-year-old Douglas visited his old stomping grounds to be honored and presented with his old basketball jersey. He only played one season for the Tartan Pride, but it was a notable one. Douglas averaged 21.2 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Those numbers earned him Ohio Community College Athletic Conference Most Valuable Player and was recognized as a member of the All-District XXII team. The framed number 44 jersey was presented to Douglas by current men’s basketball coach Jeff Price, athletic director Jack Giambrone and former men’s coach, Kevin O’Neill. O’Neill coached Sinclair for 12 seasons, from 1968-1980, and was Douglas’ former coach.
The ceremony was held between the Tartan Pride women’s and men’s game on Saturday, Jan. 14. Before the men’s game, he addressed the team with a motivational speech.
The game was won by Owens Community College 84-70 pushing Sinclair’s record to 11-6 and 0-1 on the year in conference.
Douglas was raised in Columbus where he currently resides with his family. He finished his boxing career with a 38-6-1-1 (wins, losses, draws, no contest) record.
Giambrone said that Douglas’ visit is the first of many future visits from alumni coming back to Sinclair.
“It’s exciting,” Giambrone said. “It’s one of the many steps taken to reach out to alumni and we want them to know that they are always welcome back.”
Douglas will always be remembered for knocking out the baddest man on the planet on Feb. 11, 1990. But for at least one day, he was remembered for being a part of the Sinclair family, and the Sinclair tradition.