Mike Tyson is one of the most talented boxers of all time, but he has also become known for some of his most controversial moments. Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight from 1987 to 1990, and from a total of 58 fights, Tyson holds 50 wins. Tyson began his career in 1985 and quickly rose through the professional boxing ranks to become one of the best fighters in the world. However, by the time of the 1997 fight, Tyson had already lost and attempted to regain the title after spending three years in prison.
There has been a recent resurgence of interest in the boxer following the build-up to Mike Tyson’s fight with Jake Paulwhich will stream on Netflix on November 15th. The Netflix documentary Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson shed more light on Tyson’s journey to return to boxing form after retiring from the sport nearly 20 years ago. However, this new attention has caused some boxing fans to remember the bizarre incident in 1997 in which Mike Tyson bit off part of his opponent, Evander Holyfield’s ear.
Mike Tyson bit off a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear during their 1997 boxing match
“The Bite Fight” was the duo’s second match
Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield first fought in November 1996, and after Holyfield won in the eleventh round, the two met for a rematch in June 1997. Holyfield vs. Tyson II was made official by referee Mills Lane and took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Nevada. After Holyfield won the first two rounds things changed when Tyson bit off part of Holyfield’s right ear during the third round.
After the second bite, Lane stopped the fight and disqualified Tyson, making Holyfield the default winner.
Holyfield immediately began bleeding from Tyson’s bite, and referee Lane separated them and delayed the match to allow Holyfield to have his ear examined by a doctor. Lane penalized Tyson, but allowed the match to continue after confirming that Holyfield was fine. But after resuming the match, Tyson bit Holyfield againthe second time in the left ear. After the second bite, Lane stopped the fight and disqualified Tyson, making Holyfield the default winner.
What happened to Mike Tyson after biting Evander Holyfield’s ear – disqualification and punishment explained
Tyson had several consequences for biting Holyfield
After biting Evander Holyfield’s ears, Mike Tyson was disqualified (the first person to achieve this feat in over 50 years) by Lane and had to be escorted out of the arena. He lost his boxing license and was fined. Tyson’s license was revoked by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which also fined him $3 million and attorney fees.which was the maximum possible value of 10% of his grant.
In October 1998, the Athletic Commission heard an appeal of the decision and voted to reinstate Mike Tyson’s boxing license.
While Tyson’s ban was intended to permanently bar him from the sport, there is more to the story. In October 1998, the Athletic Commission heard an appeal of the decision and voted to reinstate Mike Tyson’s boxing license. This decision meant that Tyson could return to boxing and he reappeared the following January. In his first fight in 1999, Tyson faced François Botha and won in the fifth round.
What Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield Said About the 1997 Ear Incident
The boxers appear to have forgiven themselves after the incident
In the days immediately following the match, Mike Tyson apologized for his actions in a public statement saying: “For an athlete in the heat of battle to lose is nothing new, but it is not right” (via The New York Times). Tyson expected forgiveness from the Nevada State Athletic Commission and named other athletes who also acted inappropriately. Furthermore, in his 2008 documentary, TysonMike Tyson stated that he bit Holyfield because of his annoyance with Holyfield’s headbutt in the first two rounds and the previous match.
On Evander Holyfield’s side, It appears that Tyson’s opponent has forgiven him for the incident. The two boxers appeared together on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2009 to discuss their feelings about the infamous event, and the two seemed happy in each other’s presence. Tyson commented that it was good to watch Holyfield’s career and get to know him, and Holyfield stated that it was “It is more important that young people around the world understand that there are conflicts in life”, pointing to the importance of learning to overcome them.
In 2022, Tyson and Holyfield even teamed up to release ear-themed cannabis edibles, poking fun at their previous altercation. It seems safe to say that the two boxers have put their pasts behind them and now consider each other friends.
Sources: The New York Times