Mike Tyson’s Ear Incident Explained: What Really Happened During The 1997 Match Against Evander Holyfield

Mike Tyson is one of the most accomplished boxers of all time, but he has also become known for some of his most controversial moments as well. Tyson was the undisputed heavyweight from 1987 to 1990, and out of 58 total fights, Tyson holds 50 wins. Tyson began his career in 1985 and rose quickly 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 his title after spending three years in prison.

There has been a recent resurgence in interest in the boxer following the lead-up to Mike Tyson’s fight with Jake Paul, which will be streamed on Netflix on November 15. The Netflix documentary Countdown: Paul Vs Tyson has shed more light on Tyson’s journey to get back in boxing shape after having retired from the sport nearly 20 years ago. However, this new attention has some boxing fans recalling the bizarre incident in 1997 in which Mike Tyson bit off part of his opponent, Evander Holyfield’s, ear.

Mike Tyson Bit Off A Piece Of Evander Holyfield’s Ear During Their 1997 Boxing Match

“The Bite Fight” Was The Pair’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 officiated by referee Mills Lane and took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Nevada. After Holyfield won the first two rounds, things took a turn when Tyson bit off part of Holyfield’s right ear during the third round.

Holyfield immediately began bleeding from Tyson’s bite, and the referee Lane separated them and delayed the match to allow Holyfield to have his ear checked by a doctor. Lane penalized Tyson, but allowed the match to continue after confirming that Holyfield was OK. But after resuming the match, Tyson bit Holyfield again, the second time on his left ear. After the second bite occurred, Lane stopped the match and disqualified Tyson, making Holyfield the default winner.

What Happened To Mike Tyson After Biting Evander Holyfield’s Ear – Disqualification & 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 accomplishment 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, who also fined him $3 million and legal fees, which was the maximum possible amount at 10% of his purse.

While Tyson’s ban was meant to permanently bar him from the sport, there is still more to the story. In October 1998, the Athletic Commission heard an appeal for the decision and voted to reinstate Mike Tyson’s boxing license. This decision meant that Tyson was then able to return to boxing, and he made his reappearance the following January. For his first fight in 1999, Tyson fought Francois Botha and won in the fifth round.

What Mike Tyson & Evander Holyfield Have Said About The 1997 Ear Incident

The Boxers Seem To Have Forgiven Each Other Following 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 it is not new, but it isn’t right” (via The New York Times). Tyson hoped for forgiveness from the Nevada State Athletic Commission and mentioned other athletes who had also acted inappropriately. Additionally, in his 2008 documentary, Tyson, Mike Tyson claimed that he bit Holyfield because of his annoyance at Holyfield’s headbutting in the first two rounds and in their previous match.

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From Evander Holyfield’s side, it seems 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 on the infamous event, and they both seemed to be happy in the other’s presence. Tyson remarked that it had been nice to watch Holyfield’s career and get to know him, and Holyfield stated that it was “more important for young people around the world to understand that you have conflicts in life,” pointing to the importance of learning to move past them.

In 2022, Tyson and Holyfield even teamed up to release ear-themed cannabis edibles, poking fun at their past altercation. It seems safe to say that the two boxers have put their past behind them and now consider each other friends.

Sources: The New York Times

Mike Tyson

Discover the latest news and filmography for Mike Tyson, known for The Hangover and Tyson.

Birthdate

June 30, 1966

Birthplace

Brooklyn, New York, USA

Professions

Professional Boxer , Actor