Mike Tyson bit both of Holyfield’s ears, with the injury being more severe on the right ear, with 40 seconds left in the third round. Immediately after biting Holyfield’s ear, Tyson spat out a mouthful of blood, believed to be a piece of his opponent’s severed ear.

After this bite, with consultation from the doctors, the referee still allowed the match to continue because Holyfield was strong enough to continue fighting. Tyson was deducted two points but still did not stop misbehaving. When there were 20 seconds left in the third round, the “steel boxer” bit Holyfield’s left ear, but this blow was light and only grazed.

Holyfield’s right ear had a large piece of cartilage torn off. This is a photo of the American boxer after the referee stopped the fight in round three. Tyson was complained by Holyfield’s team for attempted dismantling, and was awarded a loss by the referee.

The act of biting Holyfield’s ear was not a spontaneous moment for Mike Tyson. Before the third round began, this boxer did not wear a tongue guard but was discovered and warned by the referee. When he bit Holyfield’s ear for the first time, Tyson removed the tongue clamp very quickly and many people commented that it was as if he had practiced before.

After biting Holyfield’s ear for the first time, Tyson continued to attack his opponent, despite the puncher four years older than him screaming in pain. When he threatened the second time, seeing Holyfield’s reaction, Tyson shouted loudly: “Come on” to attract attention.

Tyson’s bite was said to be retaliation for the laceration to his right eye when Holyfield headbutted him in the second round, once forcing Tyson into the corner of the ring. However, the referee said this was an unintentional action and Holyfield was not penalized.

Later, in a documentary about Mike Tyson in 2008, the “steel boxer” still said that he bit Holyfield’s ear because he was headbutted.

Many sources believe that biting Holyfield’s ear was an act of “anger” by Mike Tyson, when the conflict between him and manager Don King was high. However, some people think that the incident originated from the first match between the two on January 9, 1996. In that match, Tyson was rated higher, dominated and soon gained the upper hand, but lost.

According to Tyson, Holyfield used a trick when headbutting him in the face, causing him to tear his left eyelid in round six. At the end of round seven, the “steel boxer” was again hit by the same blow and complained to the referee. However, after reviewing the video, the conclusion was that Holyfield did not do it intentionally.

In round 11 of the 1996 match, Tyson was knocked out for the second time and lost. Dissatisfied with the results, the boxer born in 1966 told some friends that he would take revenge.

During a meeting on Fox Sports in 2013, Evander Holyfield admitted that he thought about retaliating against Mike Tyson the first time he was bitten, such as kicking his opponent in the groin. However, the Atlanta native did not do that.