The Bite Fight - The Fight

The Fight

The fight began with Holyfield dominating Tyson. Holyfield won the first two rounds. At 2:19 of the first round, an overhand right from Holyfield stunned Tyson, but Tyson fought back immediately pushing Holyfield backwards. At 0:32 of round two, Holyfield ducked under a right from Tyson, in doing so, head butting Tyson and opening a large cut over his right eye, though trainer Ritchie Giachetti believed the cut happened in the first round. Tyson had repeatedly complained about head-butting in the first bout between the two. But Mills Lane when reviewing replays, correctly said that the headbutts were unintentional and unpunishable.

As the third round was about to begin, Tyson came out of his corner without his mouthpiece. Lane ordered Tyson back to his corner to insert it. Tyson inserted his mouthpiece, got back into position and the match resumed. Tyson began the third round with a furious attack. With forty seconds remaining in the round Holyfield got Tyson in a clinch, and Tyson rolled his head above Holyfield's shoulder and bit Holyfield on his right ear, avulsing a one-inch piece of cartilage from the top of the ear, and spitting out the piece of ear on the ring floor. As Holyfield shrieked in pain and jumped in circles, he managed to push Tyson away at which Lane called for a time-out. As Holyfield turned to walk to his corner, Tyson shoved him from behind. Lane sent Tyson to a neutral corner as an enraged Holyfield gestured for Mills Lane to look at his bitten ear which was rapidly bleeding and unfix-able. The fight was delayed for several minutes as Lane debated what to do. Lane's original decision was to immediately disqualify Tyson, but after the ringside doctor determined that Holyfield was able to continue despite the massive bite, Lane announced he would be deducting two points from Tyson and the fight would continue. Bobby Czyz, who was calling the fight with Steve Albert for Showtime, said, "I wonder how this would have played in Mitch Halpern's eyes," and Albert told Czyz, "Oh my goodness, that's a thought, Bobby." As Lane explained the decision to Tyson and his cornermen, Tyson asserted that the injury to Holyfield's ear was the result of a punch. "Bullshit... If you do that again I will disqualify you." retorted Lane. The fight was resumed.

During another clinch, Tyson bit Holyfield's left ear. Holyfield threw his hands around to get out of the clinch and jumped back. Tyson's second bite just scarred Holyfield's ear. Lane did not stop the fight this time, so the two men continued fighting until time expired. The men walked back to their respective corners when the second bite was discovered and the fight was then stopped.

After the fight was stopped, Tyson went on rampage at Holyfield and his trainer Brooks while they were still in their corner. Mills Lane told Tyson's corner and Tyson's relatives that he was disqualifying Tyson for biting Holyfield. To protect Holyfield security surrounded him in his corner and Tyson took swings at the people in his way, but was taken back to his corner by security. Then they interviewed Mills Lane who was the center of controversy by Mike Tyson's close friends and families attending the event. A frustrated Mills Lane said he knew the butts were unintentional through his experience and told Tyson to not bite anymore & Tyson asked for his disqualification by disobeying the order. Holyfield left the ring seconds after the interview which gave the fans and audience the hint that the fight was over.

Reporters then interviewed Mike Tyson's instructor who was extremely ranting badly about Lane's choice. The instructor said "They will have to explain that. I do not agree with it but it is what it is...all I know is Mike Tyson has a cut in his eye."

Exactly 25 minutes after the brawl ended announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. read the decision: "Referee Mills Lane has disqualified Mike Tyson for biting Evander Holyfield on both of his ears. The winning cause is disqualification and the WBA Champion is Evander 'The Real Deal' Holyfield!" Holyfield won the WBA's boxing championship, prize, money and trophy because of Tyson's disqualification.

It was believed by many that Tyson was upset that he could not intimidate Holyfield and was himself too scared enough that he deliberately got himself disqualified. However the next week it was confirmed to be retaliation for the headbutts.

Later, during interviews Tyson was walking back to his locker room when a fan from the stadium tossed a bottle of water in his direction. Tyson, his instructor and a pain manager climbed over a temporary railing and up into the stands, made obscene gestures to the crowd, and made their way up the side of a stairway. He had to be restrained and he was led off. When interviewed about his championship and the incident with Tyson, Holyfield kindly said he already forgave Tyson for biting him since he has 100% faith in God and Jesus. However, nonetheless Tyson was sentenced with a permanent suspension from boxing and his license cancelled forever. Tyson was also fined $3,000,000 and had to serve long hours of community service. After one year of sorrow, after an appeal in court Mike Tyson was given back his job as a boxer and his license was official again. When Tyson and Holyfield retired from boxing they befriended each other and are now close friends today.