Mike Tyson has given some fresh comments on the his infamous ear biting incident with Evander Holyfield back in 1997.
“Iron Mike” was disqualified from the fight, which was a rematch against Holyfield, after taking a chunk out of the WBA heavyweight world champion’s right ear.
And though Tyson has always expressed regret for what took place, he recently admitted to ES News that, from a business perspective, biting Holyfield’s ear was “the best thing he ever did.”
“I’ll tell you something that’s really funny, and I don’t mean this in bad taste. But that’s the best thing I ever did, bite his ear.
Not that I wish I bit his ear, but from a business perspective. Yeah, it was.
I never even think about it. However, I think about how much money that I made from taking pictures of biting people that it supersedes the $3m that I lost.
I look at, after three or four years, and think ‘whoa, that’s how much I made?’ That’s what it makes it funny for me. Yes, I bit his ear but I made that back from taking pictures. So I can never beat myself up about it.”
‘The Baddest Man On The Planet‘ felt Holyfield was using his head a bit too much in the contest and decided to take matters into his own hands by tearing off a one-inch piece of ‘The Real Deal’s ear with his teeth.
The incident negatively impacted Tyson’s already tarnished reputation and he had his boxing license revoked. He was also issued with a hefty fine of three million dollars for his troubles.
Time has soothed the once bitter rivalry that existed between the two great heavyweights and the two are now, remarkably, good friends.
The pair actually released a brand of cannabis infused candies recently which are – you guessed it – shaped like ears.
Although the “bite fight,” is now considered a part of boxing folklore, let’s hope the current Tyson atop the heavyweight decision doesn’t repeat history when facing another former undisputed cruiserweight champion next month.