This Day In Sports: Tyson Was Hungry In A Rematch Against Holyfield
June 28, 2010 1:00 PM ET
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Tyson really sunk his teeth into this match.
June 28, 1997: It was one of the most anticipated rematches in boxing: Tyson vs. Holyfield II, aka "The Sound and the Fury." When the two boxers, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, fought eight months earlier, Holyfield won a knockout victory. This time, the outcome was much different in a way no one expected. After all, who expects one fighter to bite off the other's ear?
But that's just what happened. Holyfield won the first two rounds, frustrating Tyson. In the third round, Tyson came out of his corner without his mouthpiece on, but referee Mills Lane ordered him back into his corner to put it in. With 40 seconds left in the round, though, Tyson got Holyfield in a clinch, spit out his mouthpiece and bit off a chunk of Holyfield's right ear.
The fight was delayed while Lane lectured Tyson and penalized him with a two-point deduction. He told Tyson, "one more like that and you're gone." When the fight resumed, Tyson got hit with a right from Holyfield. Then they got into another clinch and Tyson - to everyone's shock - bit off an even bigger piece of Holyfield's left ear. Tyson went into a rage and the fight spilled out into the stands into the lobby. Inside, the PA announcer read the decision: "Referee Mills Lane has disqualified Mike Tyson for biting Evander Holyfield on both of his ears."
Holyfield was taken to Valley Hospital Medical Center and underwent surgery by a plastic surgeon to repair his ear while Tyson was immediately suspended.
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