June 28, 1997, still stands in sports history as the night boxing went completely out. Evander Holyfield entered the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to defend his WBA heavyweight title against Mike Tyson. No one expected an ordinary boxing match, but no one could have predicted an ending that left the whole world in total disbelief.
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The clash took place seven months after Holyfield caused a stir, stopping Tyson in the 11th round to capture the belt. Tyson entered the second meeting seeking revenge and eager to reclaim his throne. Instead, the night descends into pure madness.
Holyfield took control early in the fight, using a sharp jab and quick combinations. He even rocked Tyson with a hard right towards the end of the first round, proving that the champion was fully prepared to repeat his previous victory.
The real trouble started in the second round. An accidental head shot from Holyfield opened a nasty gash above Tyson's right eye. Tyson was angry, he cried bitterly to the referee Mills Lane that he was being played badly on purpose, repeating the complaints he had after their first fight. Lane accidentally decided to clash, but Tyson's frustration was already overwhelming.
The Drop is Complete in the Third Round
It's all gone in the third round. With less than a minute on the clock, the fighters were tied up in the clinic. Tyson just leaned on Holyfield's shoulder and bit a piece on the champion's right ear. Holyfield jumped in pain, writhing in pain as blood poured down his neck.
Lane temporarily stopped the action, meeting with the officials around doctor Flip Homansky, and decided to take two points out of Tyson instead of stopping immediately.
Compassion did not last long. Seconds after the fight started, they clashed again, and Tyson tied Holyfield's left ear. Although Lane did not immediately notice this second bite, the truth became apparent after the round ended. Lane had seen enough and officially disqualified Tyson, handing Holyfield the win.
Postwar Chaos and the Lasting Legacy
The withdrawal caused complete chaos. Tyson lost control, charging towards Holyfield's corner while corners, security, and police swarmed the ring to prevent a full-on brawl.
Tyson later claimed that he bit Holyfield in retaliation for his impunity. Holyfield argued that Tyson looked for the easy way out because he knew he was losing again.
The financial numbers were historic, pulling in an estimated $180 million in pay-per-view and ticket sales, but the penalties for the athletes were severe. The Nevada Athletic Commission fined Tyson $3 million and revoked his boxing license, although he won a reinstatement a year later.
Decades have passed, the bad blood has dried up, and the two legends are actually best friends today. However, on every anniversary, the sports world looks back on the incredible spectacle known as The Bite Fight.
Last updated on 2026/06/28 at 2:34 AM
