Of this heated rivalry, we remember most Mike Tyson's bite on Evander Holyfield's ear. However, this is only a symbol of their immense rivalry; and if the two men reconciled a few years ago, knowing who is the best of the two remains a heated debate among fans of the noble art.
Iron Mike, a precocious knockout machine who has had a sulphurous career, including a stint in prison, is no longer in the news. Holyfield, one of the best of his generation, to this day the only one to have unified the heavy-lightweight and heavyweight belts. Nicknamed The Real Deal, Evander Holyfield is also controversial after accusations of doping when he changed categories. The long-awaited clash between Tyson and Holyfield, the two heavyweight giants of the 90s, finally began in 1996. Mike is out of prison, while Holyfield is coming off a titanic trilogy against another rival, Riddick Bowe.
In fact, both could have faced Lennox Lewis, the third big name of the time, but would only fight him after their war. Indeed, the two men were determined to settle their account in the ring after years of distant rivalries. This highly anticipated boxing summit represents both the most challenging sporting event and the most lucrative one possible. The first Holyfield versus Tyson fight of 1996 was extremely competitive, and while Iron Mike was the favorite, The Real Deal won by technical knockout in the 11th round. In everyone's eyes, it's the fight of the year, and everyone is looking forward to the rematch the following year. Tyson is more vengeful than ever and the tension between the two fighters is at its highest.
For the rematch, Mike is once again the favorite. The first rounds are to his advantage, and Holyfield discreetly and viciously throws several headbutts. In the third round, an excited Tyson bites his opponent's ear for the first time, resulting in a penalty, but the fight continues after a break. Tyson bites Holyfield's ear again and is disqualified. The tension is at its peak and Mike is furious and wants to go after his rival again despite the fight being stopped. The security of the hall tries to calm the situation, but incidents in the public will take place in the following hours. Tyson will be suspended for one year and ordered to pay 10% of his salary for the fight, making it one of the largest penalties in the history of boxing. This double victory will give a new impetus to the career of Holyfield while that of Mike Tyson will decline. The two champions would reconcile nearly 15 years later. In 2020, both have resumed boxing in exhibition fights without sporting stakes, and negotiations for a trilogy are on the table...
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