Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson are best known for their two headline-heavyweight bouts in the 1990s—particularly the 1997 rematch that ended with Tyson’s disqualification for biting Holyfield’s ear. However, the roots of their rivalry stretch back to the early 1980s, long before either of them held a world title. And boy, is their shared history a storied one!

In an interview on the David Anderson Show from 2019, Holyfield shared that their first interaction came when Tyson was just a teenage prospect coming up under Cus D’Amato. “What people don’t understand is that Mike and I—we known each other ever since Mike was seventeen, and I was twenty-one,” he said, recalling how early their paths crossed. But there was one moment in particular that stood out for

Holyfield reflected on the physical intensity of their first sparring session, saying, “The thing people don’t realise is that when you’re twenty-one, a seventeen-year-old kid—you don’t care how big he is.” He went on to describe the moment that stayed with him: “He said, ‘I don’t wanna hurt you’ and I said, ‘who?’”

Rather than back down, Holyfield explained how he immediately responded with maturity and composure. “I let him know, I’m a grown man, you ain’t got the license to be doing nothin’ to me,” he said. The two sparred, and Holyfield claims the session set the tone for their dynamic. “And so we sparred, and upon the sparring, I got the best. From that point on, me and Mike had an understanding that it gon’ take more than you punching hard.”

Holyfield and Tyson wouldn’t officially fight until 1996, when Holyfield – then seen by many as past his prime – won by TKO in the 11th round. “I beat him twice,” Holyfield stated plainly. The second bout, which took place in June 1997, ended in chaos after Tyson bit Holyfield’s right ear and was disqualified. He also attempted to bite the left ear, managing only a partial nibble.

Holyfield reflects on the bite 28 years later

When asked directly why he believed Tyson bit him during their rematch, Holyfield said, “Because he wanted to get out. When I wanted to get out, I used to bite my brothers and sisters.” The exchange continued as the interviewer asked whether that made it easier to forgive Tyson: “The Bible says he who is without sin, you know,” Holyfield responded.

Holyfield also confirmed the details of the infamous incident: “No, he bit me twice. That let me know he really wanted to get out of there.” And when asked for clarification—“So he bit both ears?”—Holyfield added, “He tried. He got this one, and he got only a nibble of the other one.”

Though both fighters have since buried the hatchet publicly, Holyfield’s account provides insight into the psychological and physical undertones that shaped one of boxing’s most controversial rivalries. From a teenage sparring session to two of the most talked-about bouts in heavyweight history, their story remains one of intensity, respect, and unresolved tension that only the ring could hold.