Biting of Holyfield leaves its mark on boxing world

Steve Carp

Monday, June 30, 1997 | 4:28 a.m.

If you're anticipating a third fight between Evander Holyfield and Mike Tyson, don't hold your breath. The odds of it snowing in Las Vegas this weekend are probably better than Holyfield-Tyson III ever taking place.

"At this time, we do not believe Mike Tyson deserves the privilege of being in the same ring with Evander Holyfield," said Jim Thomas, Holyfield's legal general counsel in the aftermath of one of the most bizarre endings to any sporting event.

Tyson was disqualified by substitute referee Mills Lane for biting Holyfield on both ears -- he literally took a chunk of his right ear -- during the third round of their scheduled 12-round World Boxing Association heavyweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Saturday.

Tyson, who had complained during and after the fight that Holyfield had been deliberately head-butting him from the opening bell, said he was responding to what he claimed were Holyfield's dirty and deliberate tactics.

"He butted me in the first round and in the second round again," Tyson said immediately after the fight. "He kept going down and coming up on me.

"This is my career. I have children to raise. I have to retaliate. He butted me. Look at me. I have one eye. Look at me. My kids will be scared of me."

Holyfield said after the fight he was shocked by what happened.

"When he bit me the first time, I couldn't believe it," he said. "He caught me with a good shot and bit my ear and spit it out. Look at the bite. I'm missing part of my ear.

"Mills Lane told him one more time and he's gone. He continued to foul and Mills Lane saw it as intentional. They have rules and regulations for this."

For his actions, Tyson was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and his $30 million purse is being withheld pending a disciplinary hearing within the next 30 days. An emergency meeting has been set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at Las Vegas City Hall to set up the hearing.

Neither Tyson, who remained in Las Vegas Sunday, nor Holyfield, who flew home to Atlanta late Sunday morning, were available for comment. Promoter Don King, who has been conspicuous by his absence since the controversial finish, also was unavailable for comment Sunday.

Mike Marley, King's spokesman, said he wasn't sure if King would attend Tuesday's meeting. But he added King will be represented in some fashion.

Holyfield, who had his right ear repaired with a reported eight stitches at Valley Hospital late Saturday night (he did not get the approximate one-inch sized piece of his ear reattached), was still in considerable pain Sunday morning and was given medication.

Thomas and trainer Don Turner both said Holyfield, whose record improved to 34-3 with the DQ win, plans to continue his career in the ring. It just won't be against Tyson.

"We'll sit down like we always do and calmly figure out what to do," Thomas said.

Turner, who didn't know exactly which direction Holyfield would go, said a likely return to the ring could come as early as November.

"I don't know who he should fight," Turner said. "I just train him."

But everyone in Holyfield's camp agrees Tyson won't be a prospect.

"They should take away his (Tyson's) license," said Tommy Turner, one of Holyfield's cornermen. "He should be banned for life. He's a coward."

There has been talk of Holyfield filing criminal charges against Tyson although Thomas wasn't prepared to commit to that.

"I believe the actions of Mike Tyson were tortious actions," he said. "Whether Evander Holyfield decides to pursue that, we'll have to see.

"Right now, we have not considered filing criminal charges. Evander wants to see what the State Athletic Commission does Tuesday."

Thomas said Holyfield was upset because he didn't get the chance to finish Tyson off.

"He got angry because this was so out of bounds and it was so disrespectful of the sport he loves," Thomas said. "It's a tremendous disappointment.

"There were a lot of people who put a lot of effort into this who are injured. A lot of people paid good money to watch this thing and they were injured, too. It's a sad thing."

In the end, each fighter questioned the other's courage. Turner said he heard Anthony Pitts, a member of Tyson's camp, yell at Holyfield in the ring after the fight was stopped that Holyfield was a coward.

Tyson added: "He's not tough. I'm ready to fight him right now."

Holyfield said: "I can't understand the biting and he was trying to break my arm. Those are illegal tactics. He fouled in every way. There was no courage there whatsoever."

NSAC executive director Marc Ratner said Saturday's conclusion culminated a tough weekend for the city, the state and the sport.

"I'm very depressed," he said. "I'm an unabashed supporter of the sport. It was supposed to be a celebration of boxing and, instead, we had a negative week with all the controversy.

"I'm very concerned about the hit Las Vegas' image took as well as the MGM. It's tremendously disappointing."