With about 40 seconds left in the third round, Tyson rolled his head to Evander’s shoulder. I simply remember Evander jumping back and into the air, and touching his right ear with his glove. The announcers said it appeared that Tyson had bitten Holyfield’s ear, since blood was gushing from it. Referee Mills Lane took a look at the ear, with a piece missing from it, and wanted to immediately call the fight, Evander the winner by disqualification. Nevada athletic commissioner Marc Ratner consulted with Lane, and Mills decided instead to take a 2 point deduction from Tyson, and allow the bout to go on.
To the amazement of the millions watching the horror show live, Tyson reached in to Evander’s left shoulder and bit his left ear just before the third round ended. Holyfield jumped back in pain again and yelled “He bit my other ear!” When the round ended right after, the champ went back to his corner fuming.
Evander’s cornermen pointed to Lane his other ear, and that it had been bitten too. Mills immediately called the debacle off, and went to Tyson’s corner the bad news. The protested, but Mills uttered a well placed curse word to shut them up.
Tyson immediately went into a rage and tried to charge Evander in his corner, and immediately the ring was filled with Las Vegas police officers. Tyson appeared to be demon possessed, and was held back in restraint by his cornermen as he leered in almost a psychotic glare. What was supposed to have been a great rematch, turned out to be a circus affair, and a disappointment to me.
The ‘Iron’ Mike persona had always been a myth to me, and this solidified it. No real champ had ever acted in such a cowardly and pathetic manner, and befittingly was banned from boxing by the Las Vegas State Athletic Commission after the whole mess. I personally wished he would go away for good.
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