Under the hot lights of the MGM Grand Garden Arena, a heavyweight rematch destined for glory instead unravelled into infamy. In what was supposed to be a battle of redemption, Mike Tyson’s challenge for Evander Holyfield’s WBA heavyweight crown turned into one of boxing’s darkest nights—forever remembered as “The Bite Fight.”

This wasn’t just a championship contest—it was the continuation of a rivalry ignited seven months earlier. In their first encounter, Holyfield stunned the world by stopping Tyson in the 11th. The sequel, however, would be less about strategy and more about scandal.

From the opening bell, the “Real Deal” proved that his previous victory was no fluke. Holyfield’s sharp counters and inside control earned him all three opening rounds on the judges’ scorecards. Tyson, though explosive, struggled to break through the champion’s armour. A second-round clash of heads—ruled accidental by veteran referee Mills Lane—opened a cut above Tyson’s right eye and further stoked his frustration.

As round three commenced, so did the unravelling. Tyson, seething and desperate, used his teeth instead of his fists. In a shocking act that stunned the crowd of over 18,000, he sank his teeth into Holyfield’s right ear, tearing off a piece and spitting it onto the canvas. The fight was paused. Remarkably, Lane allowed the bout to continue after deducting two points—but Tyson wasn’t finished. Moments later, in another clinch, he bit Holyfield’s other ear. That second act of madness sealed his fate.

The bell ended the round, but not the chaos. Tyson lunged at Holyfield again, forcing security to intervene. Moments later, the official announcement rang out: “Disqualified—Mike Tyson!”

Holyfield remained the WBA heavyweight champion, while Tyson’s license was revoked and a $3 million fine levied. The aftermath reverberated beyond the ring—an ear fragment reportedly lost in transit, a shocked audience, and the end of Tyson’s partnership with promoter Don King.

Once billed as The Sound and the Fury, this fight would instead go down as boxing’s ultimate meltdown. With over $100 million in pay-per-view revenue, it became the sport’s most lucrative—and notorious—event. In the end, the only thing more powerful than Holyfield’s right hand was Tyson’s inability to control his demons.