Remembering Billy "Dynamite" Douglas

In this episode of “Remembering a True Champion”, we look at the career of Billy Douglas. While his son Buster might be famous for recording one of the biggest upsets in boxing, in stopping (the then seemingly untouchable) Mike Tyson, his father Billy had a fantastic career in the ring that saw him face some outstanding fighters in a very tough era in the sport.

A recent 4th of July tweet by Top Rank Boxing, posed the question, “Who is your favorite American fighter?”. A quick response from long-time, Top Rank, Hall of Fame matchmaker Bruce Trampler was - ‘Bill “Dynamite” Douglas, Columbus, Ohio. First fighter I managed, great action slugger, father of Buster Douglas’. (Bruce Trampler gave Billy his nickname – “Dynamite”).

Billy fought in an era where you didn’t have to be a world champion to be considered a great fighter, you could have several losses and they didn’t define your career, and you were judged on whom you faced and how you performed against them. “Dynamite” Douglas and his career, checked all these boxes.

And, while to many present-day boxing fans he might be most famous for being Buster’s dad, in reality, he was an outstanding fighter from a great time in middleweight boxing that saw him face off against some very tough and talented fighters in his 13-year, 59-bout, (42-16-1, 32 KO’s) career.

While fighting many of his bouts in the Ohio area, Douglas would also fight as a regular in great fight towns like Philadelphia and New York, as well as stepping through the ropes in South Africa, Japan, England, and Argentina.  

Douglas would turn pro in 1967 at the late(r) age of 27. He would box for 13 years retiring at age 40. Douglas fought in a very tough era, in a very tough division (mostly middleweight) in a time when not every good fighter got a world title shot. And, to be considered one of the best, you were going to have to fight the best, that was simply what was expected of you as a fighter; Douglas would indeed do that. It was clear that when that bell rang, Billy was coming at you and wasn’t taking a backwards step. It was this aggressive and offensive style that would endear himself to fans everywhere.

Douglas would go 5-2 in 1967, after turning pro in the spring of that year. Over the next 2 years, from January 1968 until the end of ’70, Douglas would post a 12-2-2 mark over 16 bouts but started to face some very experienced competition like Cuba’s Pedro Miranda (53 bouts), fellow Ohio fighter Wilbert McClure (32 fights), and vastly experienced, Texas tough guy Willie Warren who had 32 bouts. He also faced world rated, former WBA (America) title holder, and world title challenger Don Fullmer, who had recorded 67 bouts. He also fought world title challenger Tom Bethea and then travelled to England to fight BBB of C and Commonwealth champion Bunny Sterling. The tough road that Douglas travelled spoke to both the era and the fighter.

The next 3 years, ’72 to end of ’74, saw “Dynamite” in the ring 14 times posting a very respectable 11-3. Douglas only dropped fights to Philadelphia stars “Bad” Bennie Briscoe, a legendary tough guy and world title challenger, and Willie “The Worm” Monroe, (both in ‘The Spectrum’ in Philadelphia). And, to Elijah Makhatini in his home in Durban, South Africa. During this time, Douglas also started to build a following in the boxing-crazed town of Philadelphia where he fought 7 times, going 5-2. Philly fight fans loved their all-action brawlers - and Douglas fit the description perfectly. The “City of Brotherly Love” welcomed Billy as an out of town, hometown favorite.

1975-’80 saw him in the ring 20 times posting a strong 13-7. However, he was fighting above his ideal weight as he had now moved into the light heavyweight division, even fighting into the 180+ weight range. During this run, Douglas would face world title challengers Tom Bethea and Lonnie Bennett, along with world champion Victor Galindez. He would also face future legendary light heavyweight champion Matthew Saad Muhammad and future champion Marvin Johnson. After being stopped in the last round by light heavyweight world title challenger Jerry Martin in February of 1980, he would pick up one more win 6 months later before calling it a career.

Billy “Dynamite” Douglas - tough, tenacious, fan-friendly and an outstanding (‘anyone-anywhere-anytime’) resume. While Billy’s aggressive style was indeed his trademark, he also possessed a strong skill set as a boxer who showed very good upper body movement, excellent (counter punch) timing and was a great finisher. As a fight fan, you can’t ask for a lot more.

In an on-line interview, a couple of years ago, Billy’s son Buster speaking to ‘Toe the Line’ TV said,

“My father was a great father and a great man, he helped me become the man I am. As an amateur we traveled all over the place, and I learned a lot from my dad. When I turned pro, he was happy because he thought I could do something in the sport. He fought all over the world, he was always in great shape. He trained all the time. He would do 8 hours of work at his day job and then train after. He was tremendously disciplined; he was my hero”.  

Speaking with MaxBoxing, Douglas manager Trampler recalled his time with his former fighter.

“Sadly, Billy passed from cancer. I saw him at a Chavez Sr. fight years back, before he passed, in Ledyard, Connecticut. He was a great guy, had a great wife, 4 sons. Worked his whole career when he was fighting. A lot of respect for Billy and fond memories of my time working with him”.

Billy “Dynamite” Douglas died in 1999 at the (much too young) age of 59.

Thanks for the memories, Champ!