Mike Tyson Hangs out With Ex Rival, 27 Years After Controversial Ear-Biting Incident

• Mike Tyson reunited with Evander Holyfield 27 years after an infamous incident
• Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield in 1997 during a match
• The two appear to have buried the hatchet as they sat side-by-side recently

Legendary retired boxer Mike Tyson recently delighted fans after sharing a photo alongside his past nemesis Evander Holyfield.

The pair posed for a photo, 27 years since an infamous bout that saw ‘Iron Mike’ bite his opponent’s ear.

On Tuesday, February 6, Tyson shared a photo of himself and Holyfield with the caption, 'We've come a long way since the bite fight'.

The duo, regarded as two of the best heavyweight boxers of all time, seem to have buried the hatchet and placed their rivalry aside over the years.

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In 2022, they decided to cash in on the 1997 incident by coming up with edibles in the shape of an ear. Images of the two holding their product went viral on November 14 2022.

What happened in 1997?

To understand the intensity of the rivalry between Mike Tyson and Holyfield, one has to go back to 1996.

At the time, Holyfield had upset the odds by beating Iron Mike in the 11th round in Las Vegas, and a year later, in 1997, Tyson was presented with a chance to avenge his defeat.

The fight was an intense one, with Tyson, then a young and erratic character, growing increasingly frustrated with the repeated head clashes, according to Marca.

He eventually let his emotions get the best of him as he bit his opponent’s ear, prompting referee Mills Lane to dock him two points. Incredibly, Tyson went for Holyfield’s ear again, prompting his disqualification and unsavoury scenes in the ring as both boxers’ respective teams stormed the ring.

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Despite retiring from the sport, Tyson remains a key figure in the boxing world and briefly got back in the ring in 2020 for an exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr.

When Muhammad Ali punished his opponent

Mike Tyson is not the only one with memorable moments in boxing.

As Sports Brief reported, Muhammad Ali also treated fans to an entertaining scene during a bout with Ernie Terrell in 1967.

At the time, Alli demanded his opponent refer to him by name and could be heard asking severally during the fight, “What’s my name?”