Evander Holyfield vs Mike Tyson II: What was the Real Truth Behind "The Bite of the Century"?

[elmersalsa]

On November 9, 1996, the great Evander "The Real Deal" Holyfield stunned the boxing world being a 25 to 1 underdog when he stopped the seemingly invincible great champion "Iron" Mike Tyson by KO in 11 rounds. Holyfield became Heavyweight Champion for the third time and cemented his legacy as a true all time great fighter, no matter the weight class.

But, there had to be a rematch, and Tyson's management team and fans wanted an immediate rematch. Those that followed Tyson, were saying "Could Evander do it again?".

It was one of the most anticipated rematches and events of the history of Heavyweight Championship Boxing. Two great champions going at it for the second time.

The rematch was set on June 28, 1997. Tyson vs Holyfield II. And the fight was almost a replica as the first. Holyfield was stronger on both fights. No question about that. In round 2, Tyson suffered a cut in his left eyelid by a product of a Holyfield headbutt. Tyson complained to referee Mills Lane, but it went deaf ears. In round 3, a desperate Tyson begun to work and was throwing some good combinations to the champion. But, next thing I see, Tyson bits left Holyfield's ear in a clinch. Holyfield jumps up in a fury. He couldn't believe that Tyson but him. Referee Lane took 2 points away for the bite. The ring doctor beckoned the fight to continue. There's too much money at stake.

Then, again Tyson bites Holyfield's right ear and a confused and angry Holyfield jumps up again. The referee stopped the fight and Holyfield wins the fight by disqualification in round 3.

Tyson's supporters claim that Holyfield's "dirty tactics" by using his head in the two fights was the MAIN REASON for Tyson to bite him. Is this a justifiable argument?

Holyfield's supporters claim that Tyson was scared to death and that the ONLY WAY to get out of a fight was to bite.

Would the fight continued, does Tyson had a chance to regain his crown?

Or it would have been the same old ass whupping like the first fight?

Was Holyfield the better fighter?



Could have he beaten Tyson back in the late 80s and early 90s decade when the fights were postponed twice?

Your thoughts on this bizarre fight.

[overhand_right]

The only headbutt I saw in either fight was the flagrant one by Tyson that backfired. I think people need to learn to distinguish a head clash from a headbutt. However, if anyone would like to provide a time code for the actual headbutts I would love to see it. Or if you just want to do a general foul count, start early from fight 1 round 1 and keep an eye on Tyson.

[Onetimeonly]

He knew he couldn't win and he panicked. Tyson was and would always be evanders bitch. if they fought once a year from childhood until now Mike would never win.

[DrDuke]

He knew he couldn't win and he panicked. Tyson was and would always be evanders bitch. if they fought once a year from childhood until now Mike would never win.

Well, he could actually win in 2000-2002, when Holyfield was probably closer to being shot, than Tyson.

[overhand_right]

He knew he couldn't win and he panicked. Tyson was and would always be evanders bitch. if they fought once a year from childhood until now Mike would never win.

Well, he could actually win in 2000-2002, when Holyfield was probably closer to being shot, than Tyson.

When Holyfield was schooling Rahman? Doubt it.

[Onetimeonly]

He knew he couldn't win and he panicked. Tyson was and would always be evanders bitch. if they fought once a year from childhood until now Mike would never win.

Well, he could actually win in 2000-2002, when Holyfield was probably closer to being shot, than Tyson.

No way.

[Boxing Writer]

He knew he couldn't win and he panicked. Tyson was and would always be evanders bitch. if they fought once a year from childhood until now Mike would never win.

Well, he could actually win in 2000-2002, when Holyfield was probably closer to being shot, than Tyson.

Tyson was totally shot post 2000. He looked awful against fat and slow borderline top-30 HW Brian Nielsen (who was older and clearly past his prime himself) in 2001. And he looked awful against Lewis in 2002. Holyfield of that period (2000-2001) clearly beat Joghn Ruiz in the third fight after losing the second (but judges scored third fight a draw) and looked very good while kicking prime Rahman's ass, the same Rahman who knocked out Lennox Lewis just 13 months before Holyfield beat him up.

[Roco]

I have always been fascinated to see how Tyson would have done against Toney if he would have fought him instead of Holyfield at that time.

[overhand_right]

I have always been fascinated to see how Tyson would have done against Toney if he would have fought him instead of Holyfield at that time.

In 1996!? He would have destroyed Toney. So would have Holyfield.

[gilgamesh]

He knew he couldn't win and he panicked. Tyson was and would always be evanders bitch. if they fought once a year from childhood until now Mike would never win.

Beat me to it. The wording I was gonna use was "He knew it was about to be a repeat of the 1st fight, and he wanted none of that sh*t" but yeah we're saying the same thing.

[elmersalsa]

I believe that Tyson was scared of another ass whupping. He saw it coming. He knew that he couldn't beat Evander. The referee told him that if he bites again he was going to be disqualified. So, he did it anyway. It was a way to get out of the fight.

[Roco]

I have always been fascinated to see how Tyson would have done against Toney if he would have fought him instead of Holyfield at that time.

In 1996!? He would have destroyed Toney. So would have Holyfield.

No, I meant if Tyson had replaced holyfield and fought Toney.

[gilgamesh]

In 1996!? He would have destroyed Toney. So would have Holyfield.

No, I meant if Tyson had replaced holyfield and fought Toney.

It would've been about the same I think. Mike would've had his moments, but Toney who still had more left, and patience would've been able to break down Mike over time. If the Danny Williams and McBride fights are any indication Mike just didn't have it in him to put up with a tough fight anymore by that stage. He didn't in 2004 or 2006. Not sure why 2003 would've been any different.

He took out Ettienne within seconds. No way in hell he takes out Toney easy, and to me no way in hell he doesn't mentally fold somewhere along the way.

Wait hell this was 2004 right? So we're talking about the Tyson that's fresh off the Danny Williams loss? Or maybe let's say this is a timeline where he foregoes the Williams fight, and fights Toney instead...yeah he loses.

[BoxBuzz]

I think Joe Rogan just interviewed Evander this week, and this subject was front and center. Check it out. It's a good interview.

[BoxBuzz]

I think Joe Rogan just interviewed Evander this week, and this subject was front and center. Check it out. It's a good interview.