‘Disgusting tactics here from Mike Tyson!’ That’s how the commentary begins in this video showing the night that Tyson lost control against Evander Holyfield and famously bit off a piece of his ear… It was ‘The Bite Fight’.
It was June 28, 1997. A bout where the WBA Heavyweight Championship was up for grabs. It was a match-up between two titans of boxing so excitement, understandably, reached fever pitch. But it was a dirty fight from the off…
Everyone remembers Tyson biting Holyfield’s ear and getting two points deducted. And then going on to take another mouthful of Holyfield and having the fight stopped. But it’s not often reported that Tyson was the victim of lots of sly but deliberate headbutts from Holyfield in the first few rounds.
After referee Mills Lane stopped the bout, all Hell broke loose. Tyson took to punching everyone who’d entered the ring post-fight to get at Holyfield again. He later lost his licence.
It was a dark day for the sport, but an event worth revisiting…
