Tan explained the reason he chose this moment in sports history his blog:
If you follow boxing, or sports in general, you're well aware of the shocker that took place in the heavyweight division 20 years ago. “Iron” Mike Tyson was as close to a sure bet as we had ever seen in the ring. He was an undefeated and indestructible superhero who would annihilate everyone who stood in his path. NO ONE gave his opponent, James “Buster” Douglas an ounce of hope that fateful night in Tokyo. When something impossible happens in front of your eyes, it's something you'll remember forever. Mike Tyson's defeat changed not only the landscape of the division, but the rest of his life as well. That's why I decided to capture this historic event for my contribution to Gallery1988’s "The Greatest Moments in Sports History."Eric Tan’s "The Final Battle" screen print is a 24" x 36" signed and numbered 3 color screen print, is limited to just 100 pieces and retails for $70 each.
The Manga look was influenced by the fight taking place in Tokyo. I was definitely inspired by video games like Street Fighter when it came to the action. I highlighted their trademark moves (a la Ryu's Fireball or Guile's Sonic Boom) with Tyson's uppercut and Douglas' jab.
