'Grisly' Tyson-Holyfield 'Bite Fight' revealed in book

The grisly drama behind boxing legend Mike Tyson's biting off his opponent Evander Holyfield's ear during their infamous 1997 fight has been revealed in a book, authored by a journalist.

According to The Sun, the incident, also known as the Bite Fight, and the dramas being enacted behind the scenes, has been researched and detailed by New York Post sports columnist George Willis in his book 'Twice Bitten', The Sun reports.

Although the pandemonium going on in the ring and the fighting that broke out among rival fans after referee Mills Lane disqualified Tyson for taking a second bite at Holyfield's other ear in the third round was seen by the audience, the report said that the inner details had been revealed by Willis in the book.

In the book, there is a vivid description by paramedic Brian Rogers, who said that Tyson was raging and fuming with anger and still wearing his gloves when he visited both fighters in their locker rooms before Holyfield was taken to a hospital to be stitched up.

Stating that Tyson was screaming and punching the walls, Rogers said that he then decided to let the now-retired boxer to cool off and went to see what was happening to Holyfield, adding that he came in time to hear the deeply religious Holyfield ask his attorney to quieten the room so he could lead everyone in a prayer of forgiveness for Tyson.

Another account, belonging to Dr Julio Garcia, a leading plastic surgeon, stated that although the surgeon had been handed a bag with a piece of Holyfield's ear inside, without the cartilage, the bag disappeared when he left it alone for a moment and was never found.

The report further said that Willis has got Tyson to write the foreword of the book, in which the former Baddest Man on the Planet said that he had reacted badly to the incident and rued that the world never looked at him in the same way again.