Evander Holyfield vs Mike Tyson II (aka the Sound and the Fury or The Bite Fight) was a boxing fight that took place on 28th June 1997. It was a rematch of Mike Tyson vs Evander Holyfield which took place on 9th November 1996 and, due to the shock of the initial bout and the highly controversial rematch, both are considered two of the most iconic fights in boxing history.
Finally
The first fight was held at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, with Mike Tyson the favourite, as he was defending his WBA title for the first time. However, it was the underdog Holyfield who won the fight via an 11th-round TKO.
The Bite Fight
The rematch is remembered for Tyson’s bite of Holyfield’s ear in Round 3, leading to his disqualification. He subsequently lost his boxing license, although it was reinstated a year later.
“It’s tough for me to watch, it’s tough for you to watch, but you watch it and joke about it. I have to watch it with disgust, disdain, it’s my humiliation […] That was just striking out in pure hatred. For that one moment I just forgot he was a human being.”
Mike Tyson, 4th November 1997
“Truly, I think I’ll be banned for the rest of my life. I truly think everyone hates me, I truly believe that. Because no one gets punished more than I am. But I understand. I’m a big boy and I believe big boys have big ordeals to be dealt with.”