"The Sound and The Fury" Mike Tyson Bites Evander Holyfield

On July1, 1997, the Nevada Athletic Commission suspends Mike Tyson for biting Evander Holyfield on June 28, 1997 during the "The Sounds and The Fury" bill that featured the much anticipated rematch between Tyson and Holyfield.

In the first Tyson-Holyfield fight, seven months earlier, Evander Holyfield, who opened as a 25-to-1 underdog (eventually pulling to 15-to-2), absolutely destroyed Mike Tyson, scoring a TKO over Tyson in round 11.

However, the rematch got most of its notoriety from the strange event that happened between Tyson and Holyfield. In the third round with Tyson on the attacking end of a clinch he rolled over Holyfield's shoulder and bit Evander's ear. With a one-inch piece of Holyfield's ear emerging from his mouth Tyson backed off and spit the bloody apendage onto the ring.

With Holyfield jumping in pain and Tyson reeling in for another attack Judge Mills Lane called a time out to the fight. As Holyfield turned to walk to his corner, Tyson shoved him from behind. Lane sent Tyson to a neutral corner as an enraged Holyfield gestured for Mills Lane to look at his bitten ear which was rapidly bleeding. 

The fight was delayed for several minutes as Lane debated what to do. Lane's original decision was to immediately disqualify Tyson, but after the ringside doctor determined that Holyfield was able to continue despite the massive bite, Lane announced he would be deducting two points from Tyson and the fight would continue. 

Bobby Czyz, who was calling the fight with Steve Albert for Showtime, said, "I wonder how this would have played in Mitch Halpern's eyes," and Albert told Czyz, "Oh my goodness, that's a thought, Bobby." 

As Lane explained the decision to Tyson and his cornermen, Tyson asserted that the injury to Holyfield's ear was the result of a punch. "Bullshit." retorted Lane. The fight was resumed.
 
During another clinch, Tyson bit Holyfield's left ear. Holyfield threw his hands around to get out of the clinch and jumped back. Tyson's second bite just scarred Holyfield's ear. Lane did not stop the fight this time, so the two men continued fighting until time expired. 

The men walked back to their respective corners when the second bite was discovered and the fight was then stopped.

With the fight stopped Tyson went on rampage at Holyfield and his trainer Brooks while they were still in their corner. Mills Lane told Tyson's corner and Tyson's relatives that he was disqualifying Tyson for biting Holyfield. 

Exactly 25 minutes after the brawl ended, announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. read the decision: "Ladies and gentlemen, this bout has been stopped at the end of round number three, the referee in charge, Mills Lane, disqualifies Mike Tyson for biting Evander Holyfield in both ears, the winner by way of disqualification and still the WBA Champion of the world, Evander 'The Real Deal' Holyfield!" 

Holyfield won the WBA's boxing championship, prize, money and trophy because of Tyson's disqualification.

It was believed by many that Tyson was upset that he could not intimidate Holyfield and was himself scared enough that he deliberately got himself disqualified. However, Tyson continued to say it was retaliation for the headbutts.

As a result of biting Holyfield on both ears and other behavior, Tyson's boxing license was revoked by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and he was fined three million dollars plus legal costs. The revocation was not permanent; a little more than a year later on October 18, 1998, the commission voted 4–1 to restore Tyson's boxing license.

Watch the video below of the match where Tyson bit Holyfield's ear:

Lennox Lewis And Evander Holyfield Draw

On March 13, 1999, a heavyweight championship match between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield took place at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.

Evander Holyfield (left) and Lennox Lewis (right) pose for a promotional photo prior to their fight at Madison Square Garden.

The match seemed to be in favor of the taller Lewis as he dominated Holyfield all around the ring for 12 rounds.

However, the match went to the cards and ended up being determined by the judges.

One judge gave the match to Lewis 116-113, one saw it as a draw, and Eugenia Williams, saw it as Holyfield being the winner. Because all three cards differed and one was a draw, the outcome was a draw.

Lennox Lewis (left) and Evander Holyfield (right) went toe-to-toe in a 12 round fight at Madison Square Garden in 1999.

There was an incredible amount of outrage from the decision, with many questioning if the fight had been fixed. Williams, the long judge to have Holyfield as the winner, received an enormous amount of criticism.

Williams mentioned that the photographers were blocking her view and that she couldn’t see the fight properly.

Williams testified in court and admitted she had made a mistake, saying, “I couldn’t judge what I couldn’t see. I couldn’t go to the other side, and I even hit my head on a camera when I tired to get closer.”

Eight months later Lewis and Holyfield planned a rematch to face one another, one where Lewis prevailed as the undisputed winner of this match.

Spreewell Chokes Out Carlesimo

On Dec. 1, 1997, a bad season for the Golden State Warriors turned much worse when Latrell Spreewell choked P.J. Carlesimo during a team practice.

Apparently, the coach was critical of Spreewell's passing during the practice. At the time, the Warriors were 1-13 and looking into trading the already disgruntled star.

Sprewell was suspended for 10 games without pay. The next day, in the wake of a public uproar, the Warriors voided the remainder of his contract, which included $23.7 million over three years, and the NBA suspended him for one year. Sprewell took the case to arbitration, and, as a result, the contract voiding was overturned and the league suspension was reduced to the remaining 68 games of the season. He sought to vacate the arbitration contract under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.

 His case went through all appeals, and was remanded. During his suspension, Sprewell was charged with reckless driving for his role in a 90-mph accident that injured two people, and spent three months under house arrest as part of a no-contest plea.

It was not Spreewell’s first violent incident with the Warriors; in a 1993 practice, Sprewell fought with Byron Houston, who was 50 pounds heavier than Sprewell and had what many teammates describe as having a Mike Tyson-like demeanor and physique. Then in 1995, Sprewell fought with teammate Jerome Kersey and returned to practice carrying a two-by-four, and reportedly threatened to return with a gun.

After the Warriors suspension of Spreewell he was traded to the New York Knicks who he would help lead to the NBA Finals in 1999, making them the first eighth seeded team to reach the finals. He would spend a few years with the Knicks before being traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he would finish his career.

Spreewell would finish his career as one of the NBA’s most prolific scorers totaling 16,712 points, with an average of 18.3 points per game, 3,664 assists, an average of 4.0 assists per game, and 1,294 steals averaging out to be 1.4 steals per game over the span of his career.

Spreewell was a four-time NBA All-Star in 1994-1995, 1997 and 2001. He was also voted to the All-NBA First Team in 1994, as well the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. In his rookie year he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 1993.