Holyfield fought dirty, and was never warned not even once over two fights about excessive headbutting. tyson lost his cool
I can't believe it's been 16 years since "Bite Night" in June '97!!! Man, how time flies! I saw both Tyson-Holyfield fights with my dad on PPV, and by the time of the rematch, I just graduated high school and was preparing for college. Man, what a trip down memory lane! Regarding your questions...
1) I don't think Tyson pre-planned to bite Holyfield. Having been embarrassed in the first fight, Tyson was looking to demolish Holyfield in order to salvage his own legacy as "the baddest man on the planet." After two rounds of Holyfield jabbing away at Tyson while also slyly headbutting him, Tyson snapped out of frustration. It's true that Holyfield was not once warned for headbutting in the two fights, and when you review the tape of the rematch, you can clearly see that Holyfield was frequently headbutting Tyson. Frustration had set in for Tyson...the only thing that puzzles me is that Tyson was clearly having his best round of the fight when he started biting - he actually rocked Holyfield with some hard shots in round 3.
2) Holyfield "solved" Tyson by not fearing Iron Mike (as many before him had). Also, Holyfield has one of the best chins in the heavyweight division of all-time, and he did have a good game plan of outboxing Tyson...as well as sneaking him headbutts to throw off Tyson's focus. He was a master of psychological warfare in these two fights.
3) I was watching the fight live...I was pulling for Tyson in the rematch, and I remember being in disbelief with the famous bite. When Tyson brawled with Holyfield's corner, I thought the fighting would spill over into the audience (remember, Bowe-Golotta took place the prior summer)
4) The bite was far more damaging to boxing. Kim's death was a true tragedy, but he was a relative unknown in the U.S. and Mancini was never the star in boxing that Tyson was. Iron Mike was never the same after the second Holyfield fight - he was suspended for a year, never had another big win in his career, and was utterly embarrassed by Lennox Lewis and Kevin McBride - a loser who wouldn't have lasted 2 minutes with the Mike Tyson of 1988. Boxing lost it's biggest star after the bite.
I was so hyped up for this fight...I remember it quite well!
2)
1) The constant head butt's Tyson was receiving is what sparked ''his moment of insanity''. The referee was not auctioning them, this led Tyson to believe he was on his own - and retribution was swift.
2) Holyfield wasn't scared of Tyson - Simple as that.
3) At first I thought it was outrageous... My brain wouldn't accept what my eyes were relaying... I went to bed stunned that night, still not fully accepting what I just witnessed.
4) Neither events enhanced boxing.... The anti-boxing brigade feasted on both unfortunate episodes.
the bite was pre planned pryor to the start of (what turned out to be) the final round.
the two sparred as amateurs and evander knew tyson couldn't get passed his jab.
i didn't see the fight till the following morning. i thought tyson's actions were completely out of order.
any and every death is a blow for boxing, and ammunition for those who want it banned.
On 28 June 1997,THE MOST INFAMOUS BOXING FIGHT OFF ALL TIME.. took place..when Mike Tyson at the time the most recognisable man on the planet took on WBA heavyweight champ Evander Holyfield..
This was the most anticipated boxing fight ever celebrites like Tom Cruise,Michael Jackson,Michael Jordan among others..with 1.99 million ppv buys in the US and with over 400 million people around the world were watching the fight live..in the fight Tyson in a fit of rage bit Holyfield's ear...bring shame on himself and this great sport
Q)Was Tyson's bite pre-planned..as he was heading for defeat..or was it a retaliation for the constant headbutts?
Q)How was Holyfield able to 'solve' Tyson..when over 40 fighters coudent?
Q)If you were watching the fight live...what did you think of Tyson's actions..first the bite then fighting with Holyfield's entourage?
Q)which was more damaging for boxing:Tyson's bite or Duk ko kim's death?
remember this was a very hyped fight..with Sports illustrated featuring Tyson on its cover as its promotions for the fight...and then the a second cover for the bite.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/9593/index.htm
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/9594/index.htm
