Fifteen years ago today, Mike Tyson famously famously took a chunk of Evander Holyfield’s ear during their fight in Las Vegas. Holyfield was awarded the winner after Tyson was disqualified for the biting incident. (V.J. Lovero/SI)
GALLERY: Biting in Sports | Rare Photos of Mike Tyson
SI VAULT: Tyson drags his sport to new depths (7.7.97)
My friend and I went to an Allman Brothers concert the night of the fight. We ordered it on Pay Per View, and had the VCR set to record should we not get home in time after the show.
On the way home, we got a call from my friend’s brother, who had also ordered the fight.
Him: “Did you see the fight?”
Us: “Not yet. What happened?”
Him: “Well, I’ll just say that it was very ‘interesting,’ and ended in the third round.”
From the SI article above:
With less than a minute left in the round, and with no apparent provocation, Tyson got Holyfield in a clinch, rolled his head up and above Holyfield’s shoulder and spit out his mouthpiece. What happened next was amazing, assuming you could believe your eyes. Tyson’s mouth reached Holyfield’s right ear and with a savagery that went well beyond what even his promoter could market, Tyson crunched down hard with his teeth and took a chunk right off. It was no saving grace that Tyson spit it out.
Someone posted the entire fight to YouTube:
The fight, er…the bite, was sick and twisted and bizarre. But, watch the aftermath. The entourages rushing the ring…Tyson’s manager going on the defensive…
Wild stuff.
