Mike Tyson said that biting Evander Holyfield’s ear off was the ‘best thing’ he’s ever done – and Carl Froch has expressed hopes that Iron Mike will give the same treatment to Jake Paul when they finally meet in the ring this winter

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight in November

Mike Tyson and Jake Paul fight in November

Mike Tyson has said that biting off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear was ‘the best thing I ever did’, while Carl Froch noted if Jake Paul suffered the same fate in the boxing ring it would be ‘legendary’.

Tyson infamously took a chunk out of Holyfield’s upper ear during their 1997 rematch for the WBA heavyweight title, after The Real Deal stripped Iron Mike of his strap in their initial fight around six months prior. He would be disqualified from the contest for his actions, but Tyson seemingly doesn’t regret the illegal move.

He said: “People just want to take pictures of me biting their ears. These crazy people black, white people and celebrities want me to bite their ears. Listen, that was the best thing I ever did….the best thing I ever did.”

Tyson was set to face YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul on July 20, but the fight was postponed after the 57-year-old Mike suffered a health scare. The boxer insisted that he is in good health despite an ulcer flare-up, calling for the contest to go ahead at a later date.

 

And on Friday (June 7), it was confirmed that the bout will now take place on November 15 at the AT&T Arena in Arlington, Texas. Fellow boxer Carl Froch hopes to see history repeat itself when the two finally go toe to toe, admitting it would be ‘legendary’ if Tyson is able to take a chunk out of 27-year-old Paul’s ear later this year.

He also said that he gave Andre Ward’s ear a ‘little nibble’ during their fight in 2011. Speaking to Best Anonymous Casinos, Froch said: ” Mike Tyson is a bit of a livewire and you can only frustrate him for so long before he does something about it.

Tyson took a chunk out of Holyfield's ear in 1997
Tyson took a chunk out of Holyfield’s ear in 1997
“I felt like biting Andre Ward’s ear off, I gave it a little nibble – I apologised after the fight because I was so frustrated, but I would’ve never ripped it out or taken a chunk out like Tyson did because I’m not a lunatic. I was like; ‘Stop holding me’, because you can’t do anything.

“I was like; ‘Stop holding me’, because you can’t do anything. So I get where Tyson’s coming from – it’s just instinctive. If Tyson bites Jake Paul’s ear off that would be legendary!”

 

The detached part of Holyfield’s ear went missing in transit to the hospital, so doctors were unable to reattach it. After a 90-minute surgical procedure, medics closed the wound with stitches – but were unable to restore it fully without the missing piece.