Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
WBN Editor
Ex-champ speaks out on ear bite years on
Evander Holyfield has spoken candidly about his controversial
second fight with Mike Tyson, fifteen years on from when ‘The Real Deal’ had
the top of his ear bitten off by the former undisputed champion.
The 49 year-old, who is still keen on returning to the ring
as he approaches his landmark 50th birthday, spoke about the incident in a
documentary about him entitled ‘Legends’ and held nothing back when asked how
he felt when Tyson gnawed at him in 1997.
“I was ticked off. Anything that I could have done, I was
getting ready to do it,” said Holyfield in the interview.
“My first thought was ‘I am getting ready to chew his ear
off!’ because I actually thought he was going to headbutt me or throw an elbow
as this is what Tyson does.
“When this happened and he bit me on my ear, I jumped up and
I turned around and he pushed me, then I could see that he feels like this is
the only way he could win. That I will run in there and he could catch me with
a shot. But I am going to come back and be calm, cool and collected and still
get him.
“I stood off though and caught him with more shots and then
he bit my other ear and then I got mad and was getting ready to kick him right
in the balls. I got my feet back ready to do it and something said ‘don’t do
that’ and in my head I knew I had to forgive him.”
The two warriors have since become friends since the
shocking act earned Tyson a disqualification from the MGM Grand bout and were
pictured at the WBC convention last year sharing a joke.
Four-time world heavyweight champion Holyfield, is still
training to return to the ring after a thirteen month absence and is awaiting
the call to fight for the 58th time in glittering career spanning an amazing 28
years.