"Noise and Rage": how Mike Tyson bit off Evander Holyfield's ear

Famous Champions Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield met twice in the ring in battles, one of which became the "fight of the year", the other got the status of the most expensive event in the history of boxing at the time. In connection with this confrontation, a lot of opinions were formed, based on rumors and interpretations of what took place in the ring. And there, under the noise of the MGM Grand arena, the most effective and brutal tactics that were characteristic of the old boxing world, a world we can only know about from rare photos, were conducted. These techniques are illegal, nevertheless judges prefer not to notice them, which can play into the hands of one of the boxers. The article is intended to explain why Mike Tyson bit off his ear in 1997.

How to Stop the Rescher: Evander Holyfield's Response

"In your life there will always be a person who can give you a kick in the ass" - these are the words of the legendary manager and trainer Angelo Dundee, who worked with Muhammad Ali for most of the champion's career. It is noteworthy that in the life of Ali, too, was such a man - Joe Frazier; In the career of the famous modern public Filipino champion Manny Pacquiao as a bone in his throat stuck Mexican technician Juan Manuel Marquez, honed his right cross so that by the fourth battle he managed to knock out the spirit of Manni with a magnificent counter strike. For Tyson, Evander Holyfield became such a bone: a disciplined and cold-blooded fighter who was able to withstand the onslaught of Iron Mike, while using not the most noble method - intentional blows to the head. Thanks to this tricky trick, Evander managed to cut both eyebrows into Tyson in the first fight. In the second fight Holyfield again took advantage of the forbidden reception, for which Mike Tyson bit off the ear of the current champion, or rather, pieces of both shells.

"The Evil Dog" Iron May

Tyson's fate was not always fair to him. Spitfire character champion played into the hands of people who tried to convict him of various sins. Recall at least the case of rape, which cost Mike three years in prison. Contrary to the lack of direct evidence, the judge issued a verdict in favor of the unfortunate girl, who several years later, together with her mother, was accused of fraud and giving false testimony under similar circumstances. Mike Tyson's battles after his release were no longer as convincing for him as he had in years gone by.

Imprisonment, the loss of a loved one in the person of Casa D'Amato, the eternal coach and foster father of the champion, the unholy behavior of Holyfield in the first fight - all this was the reason that Mike Tyson bit off his opponent's ear in the 1997 bout.

The degradation of Tyson's technique after imprisonment

The tactics of the former champion at the time of the first fight with Evander in 1996 was reduced to a power attack, single powerful blows, which were applied from the middle and the short range (the style of the reser). Since Mike was a low heavyweight (178 cm, at the same Holyfield - 189 cm), he had to move a lot on his feet to enter a comfortable position for himself. At the same time, the puncher practically did not strike during such movements, which allowed Evander to instantly impose a clinch, to bum his undersized opponent and to undertake his attacks in times of similar encounters and subsequent struggles.

The victory of Holyfield in the first duel

Physical training Mike did not fit into the format of the 12-round match - Tyson was dangerous only in the first half of the battle. Constant clinching and other elements of the dirty box did not add strength to the former champion, and the abundant dissection that occurred during the clashes on both eyes of Tyson limited the review and became the constant goal of Holyfield. Single power strikes, the only weapon in the Iron Mike's arsenal, were mostly inaccurate and bogged down in the opponent's gloves. The current champion managed to neutralize the threat in the first rounds, and in the end the fight to strengthen its advantage due to better physical condition. All this led to the fact that the first battle between two famous heavyweights ended in the victory of Holyfield by TKO in the 11th round.

Why Mike Tyson bit off Evander's ear in the second fight?

If you abstract from the external cruelty and curiosity of this action, the chosen measure of counteraction to the dirty slugger style of Holyfield looks quite justified. In the second battle, which was called "Noise and Fury," Tyson, during each attempt (and there were only two - due to the short duration of the fight) from the champion to enter the clinch and bodnut rival deprived the last piece of the ear. This continued until the start of the 4th round, which Holyfield simply refused to go out. He was awarded a victory because of the disqualification of Mike, and Iron was able to get out of not the most winning battle for himself with high-raised hands.