They are the most famous bites in sports history.
On June 28, 1997, Mike Tyson brought boxing to an all-time low, and that’s saying something, during his fight with Evander Holyfield. Once, then incredibly twice, Tyson took a bite out of Holyfield’s ear.
In an entertaining new book published by Triumph, George Willis examines the fight, the careers of the respective boxers, and the aftermath.
Here is my Q/A with Willis.
What was behind the idea to do the book?
I was watching a January 2011 press conference for the May 2011 fight between Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley when Showtime CEO Matt Blank talked about previous PPV fights on Showtime and mentioned the Bite Fight. He paused to say, “That would make a great book one day.” I thought it would, too.
What was your recollection when you realized what happened?
I had just started working at the NY Post and was on vacation watching the fight on PPV. I think I was the first in the room to say, “I think he bit him on the ear.” It was stunning to watch the developments from the disqualification to Tyson going berserk in the ring. I couldn’t believe it was happening.
Was it the weirdest fight of all time?
It was probably the weirdest finish in boxing history, considering the magnitude of the fight. But when interviewing people, many also mentioned “The Fan Man” fight as being equally bizarre.
How much cooperation did you get from Tyson, Holyfield?
I interviewed Mike four or five times and twice attended his Undisputed Truth one-man show. He also wrote the foreword for the book. I interviewed Holyfield once for three hours in a Las Vegas hotel suite.
Besides Tyson and Holyfield, there were so many other interesting characters. Who stood out for you?
Mills Lane was a compelling figure, agreeing to referee the fight on short notice and then having to quickly make some tough decisions about whether or not to disqualify Tyson after the first bite. His journey from collegiate boxing champion, to district court judge to boxing referee all came together in the two minutes he had to sort out something that never happened before. But there are other characters who stand out for various reason: including Holyfield two trainers Don Turner and Tommy Brooks, the plastic surgeon who repaired Holyfield’s ear Dr. Julio Garcia, and of course Don King.
If you had the chance, what would you have liked to asked referee Mills Lane?
I visited with Mills Lane, who suffered a stroke in 2002, and though he doesn’t speak he still has a friendly smile and strong hand shake. I would ask Mills why he gave Tyson a second chance and didn’t disqualify him after the first bite?
What is the lasting legacy of that fight?
The legacy of this fight is that it was Tyson’s darkest moment where he disgraced himself and the sport he loved. It also heightened fans distrust of boxing and assurance they would receive their money’s worth when they purchased a PPV fight. But it also serves as an example of how a person can overcome his/her past.