One of boxing’s most anticipated fights, featuring two of the biggest names in the sport, has become one of the most infamous moments in the ring.

Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield fought on June 28, 1997 in Las Vegas, a rematch of their fight a year earlier when Holyfield defeated Tyson to win the WBA heavyweight title in 11 rounds.

Tyson was looking to avenge his 1996 loss to Holyfield, but during the third round of the rematch, Tyson bit off a piece of Holyfield’s ear, spat it out and bit his ear again.

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The fight was stopped and referee Mills Lane disqualified Tyson. A melee ensued in the ring as police attempted to separate the two fighters and members of their camps.

Holyfield was taken to an area hospital for treatment. The shocking moment became one of the most controversial incidents in sports history.

What led to this heartbreaking incident?

File: Referee Mills Lane stops the fight in the third round as Evander Holyfield (right) holds his ear while Mike Tyson (left) looks on June 28, 1997 during their WBA heavyweight championship fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. (JEFF HAYNES

In the early rounds of the fight, Mike Tyson complained about several headbutts from Evander Holyfield that were deemed accidental by Lane.

Holyfield headbutted Tyson again in the second round of the fight, but the referee Voie des Moulins also ruled that the contact was an accident.

Tyson came out for the third round without his mouthpiece, but Lane ordered him to put it back in place. Moments later, Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear.

“What should I do? This is my career. I can’t keep getting hit like this. I have kids to raise and this guy keeps hitting me, trying to mutilate me. I must fight back,” Tyson said in a statement. post-fight interview.

Was Tyson punished for the ear bite?

Following the fight, the Nevada Boxing Commission held a hearing and fined Mike Tyson $3 million, gave him a one-year ban, and lost his boxing license, which ultimately been restored. Tyson later apologized to Holyfield for the incident.

What did Holyfield say about the bite?

Holyfield addressed the controversial moment in the ring, later telling a reporter: “Well, I accepted his apology, but when you look at it, is the person sincere? Only time will tell too. But I don’t think it matters whether “Whether a person apologizes or not, the (Nevada Boxing) Commission still has to do its job.”

Years after that heartbreaking incident, Tyson and Holyfield made amends and even went into business together selling cannabis edibles that pay homage to their 1997 fight.

The two champions launched “Holy Ears”, a THC and Delta-8 infused edible in the shape of bitten ears, launching in November 2022 via “TYSON 2.0,” the boxer’s cannabis company.

Mike Tyson – Jake Paul Fight

The 58-year-old former heavyweight champion returns to the ring to face Jake Paul. Friday, November 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, during a fight broadcast on Netflix.

RELATED: Mike Tyson on age concerns ahead of Jake Paul fight: ‘I’m a different species of human’

Tyson is 31 years older than Paul, but he was told FOX 4 in Dallas in October, he should not be compared to other people his age.

“Other people my age haven’t been training as long as me, haven’t been as consistent as me, and I’m just a different breed of human being,” Tyson told FOX 4 reporter Mike Doocy.