Whatever happened to missing piece of ear from Tyson-Holyfield ‘Bite Fight’? Podcast dives into mystery

A new podcast titled “Lost in Sports” tackles the mystery of what happened to the piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear Mike Tyson chewed off.

Gotham Chopra, the creator of the documentary series “Religion of Sports,” has a launched a new podcast titled “Lost in Sports” that asks: Whatever happened to …?

He found an enduring question in boxing.

Chopra and his colleagues have tried to determine what happened to the portion of Evander Holyfield’s ear that Mike Tyson chewed off and spat onto the canvas in their second meeting, on June 28, 1997 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Here’s what we’ve know about the body part, according to Lost in Sports: It was picked up by an MGM employee and placed on ice. Then it was given to an EMT in the locker room and transported to a hospital, where it was given to a doctor for the purpose of reattaching it.

And then it disappeared, which leads us back to the podcast episode.

“I remember when we were brainstorming … everyone said, ‘I remember that. That s— was crazy. Whatever happened with that?’” Chopra told Boxing Junkie.

Does the podcast solve the mystery? Evidently not. However, that’s not really the purpose of it. Such unforgettable events as the “Bite Fight” are intended to be a pathway into a larger conversation about the people and events that surrounded them.

In this case, host Ben Baskin and his guests use the second Tyson-Holyfield fight to look back on the craziest part of Tyson’s career, during which he fought a constant battle with his formidable demons.

That battle simply came to a head – Holyfield’s – in that unforgettable moment in boxing history.

“We call it ‘sports artifacts,’” said Chopra, referring to the hook for each podcast. “It sort of becomes just a piece of a much bigger story. What happened to Kirk Gibson’s legendary home run ball from the 1988 World Series? [That episode] is less about the ball than what the Dodgers mean to the city of Los Angeles.

“… It’s a story about Mike Tyson, his descent in a larger sense, and the lore that surrounds this sport.”

Chopra was asked specifically about the piece of Holyfield’s ear that was never found. Did he and his team come away with any answers?

“We have an idea,” he said. “The ear was picked up and handed off. And then it basically got lost in history. … So, no. It’s lost in the annals of sports mythology.”

But it’s still a subject that’s interesting to talk about … and listen to.

Whatever happened to missing piece of ear from Tyson-Holyfield ‘Bite Fight’? Podcast dives into mystery

A new podcast titled “Lost in Sports” tackles the mystery of what happened to the piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear Mike Tyson chewed off.

Gotham Chopra, the creator of the documentary series “Religion of Sports,” has a launched a new podcast titled “Lost in Sports” that asks: Whatever happened to …?

He found an enduring question in boxing.

Chopra and his colleagues have tried to determine what happened to the portion of Evander Holyfield’s ear that Mike Tyson chewed off and spat onto the canvas in their second meeting, on June 28, 1997 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Here’s what we’ve know about the body part, according to Lost in Sports: It was picked up by an MGM employee and placed on ice. Then it was given to an EMT in the locker room and transported to a hospital, where it was given to a doctor for the purpose of reattaching it.

And then it disappeared, which leads us back to the podcast episode.

“I remember when we were brainstorming … everyone said, ‘I remember that. That s— was crazy. Whatever happened with that?’” Chopra told Boxing Junkie.

Does the podcast solve the mystery? Evidently not. However, that’s not really the purpose of it. Such unforgettable events as the “Bite Fight” are intended to be a pathway into a larger conversation about the people and events that surrounded them.

In this case, host Ben Baskin and his guests use the second Tyson-Holyfield fight to look back on the craziest part of Tyson’s career, during which he fought a constant battle with his formidable demons.

That battle simply came to a head – Holyfield’s – in that unforgettable moment in boxing history.

“We call it ‘sports artifacts,’” said Chopra, referring to the hook for each podcast. “It sort of becomes just a piece of a much bigger story. What happened to Kirk Gibson’s legendary home run ball from the 1988 World Series? [That episode] is less about the ball than what the Dodgers mean to the city of Los Angeles.

“… It’s a story about Mike Tyson, his descent in a larger sense, and the lore that surrounds this sport.”

Chopra was asked specifically about the piece of Holyfield’s ear that was never found. Did he and his team come away with any answers?

“We have an idea,” he said. “The ear was picked up and handed off. And then it basically got lost in history. … So, no. It’s lost in the annals of sports mythology.”

But it’s still a subject that’s interesting to talk about … and listen to.

Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield exhibition off again

The Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield exhibition targeted for May 29 is off again.

Well, apparently the on-again, off-again Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield exhibition is off again.

A day after Mike Tyson said a third meeting between the rivals would take place on May 29, Tyson’s representatives told TMZ that it isn’t so. The fighter was unaware that the two sides are far from an agreement.

A Tyson handler said the fight will not happen barring “something drastic.”

Holyfield’s representatives said as much in a news release on Monday, which stated that Tyson rejected a guarantee of $25 million for an exhibition on Memorial Day Weekend at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

“The parties have been in intense negotiations for several months and Team Holyfield sincerely believed a deal was imminent, especially after the Hard Rock threw its support behind the project, and there were multiple other offers conveyed to Team Tyson,” the release read.

“However, Team Tyson’s demands recently became untenable, and not what Mike Tyson had originally agreed on in direct conversations with Holyfield.”

Holyfield’s representatives said in the release that a deal could still be struck but it’s “unlikely that this fight will occur as planned.”

“We thought this was a done deal but it quickly fell apart when Tyson’s people declined all offers,” said Kris Lawrence, Holyfield’s manager. “We were negotiating in good faith all along, and it appears we just ended up wasting our time.”

Tyson then announced during an IG Live session with Haute Living on Tuesday that an exhibition with his rival is on for May 29.

“I just want everyone to know the fight is on with me and Holyfield,” Tyson said. “Holyfield’s a humble man. I know that. And he’s a man of God. But I’m God’s man. Listen, I’m going to be successful May 29.”

The meeting would be the third between the two former heavyweight champions. Holyfield knocked out Tyson in 11 rounds in 1996 and Tyson was disqualified in the rematch after twice biting Holyfield’s ear.

Tyson returned to the ring this past November, when he and Roy Jones Jr. engaged in an eight-round exhibition at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The bout ended in an unofficial draw.

Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield exhibition off again

The Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield exhibition targeted for May 29 is off again.

Well, apparently the on-again, off-again Mike Tyson-Evander Holyfield exhibition is off again.

A day after Mike Tyson said a third meeting between the rivals would take place on May 29, Tyson’s representatives told TMZ that it isn’t so. The fighter was unaware that the two sides are far from an agreement.

A Tyson handler said the fight will not happen barring “something drastic.”

Holyfield’s representatives said as much in a news release on Monday, which stated that Tyson rejected a guarantee of $25 million for an exhibition on Memorial Day Weekend at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

“The parties have been in intense negotiations for several months and Team Holyfield sincerely believed a deal was imminent, especially after the Hard Rock threw its support behind the project, and there were multiple other offers conveyed to Team Tyson,” the release read.

“However, Team Tyson’s demands recently became untenable, and not what Mike Tyson had originally agreed on in direct conversations with Holyfield.”

Holyfield’s representatives said in the release that a deal could still be struck but it’s “unlikely that this fight will occur as planned.”

“We thought this was a done deal but it quickly fell apart when Tyson’s people declined all offers,” said Kris Lawrence, Holyfield’s manager. “We were negotiating in good faith all along, and it appears we just ended up wasting our time.”

Tyson then announced during an IG Live session with Haute Living on Tuesday that an exhibition with his rival is on for May 29.

“I just want everyone to know the fight is on with me and Holyfield,” Tyson said. “Holyfield’s a humble man. I know that. And he’s a man of God. But I’m God’s man. Listen, I’m going to be successful May 29.”

The meeting would be the third between the two former heavyweight champions. Holyfield knocked out Tyson in 11 rounds in 1996 and Tyson was disqualified in the rematch after twice biting Holyfield’s ear.

Tyson returned to the ring this past November, when he and Roy Jones Jr. engaged in an eight-round exhibition at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The bout ended in an unofficial draw.

Mike Tyson says exhibition with Evander Holyfield is on for May 29

Mike Tyson says an exhibition with Evander Holyfield is on for May 29.

Mike Tyson said what Evander Holyfield evidently wanted to hear.

Iron Mike announced during an IG Live session with Haute Living Tuesday that an exhibition with his rival is on for Saturday, May 29. Tyson’s comments come a day after Holyfield’s representatives issued a statement saying talks were stalled.

“I just want everyone to know the fight is on with me and Holyfield,” Tyson said. “Holyfield’s a humble man. I know that. And he’s a man of God. But I’m God’s man.

“Listen, I’m going to be successful May 29.”

Team Holyfield hasn’t responded to the latest development.

On Monday, Holyfield’s handlers issued a news release stating that Tyson rejected a guarantee of $25 million for an exhibition on Memorial Day Weekend at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

“The parties have been in intense negotiations for several months and Team Holyfield sincerely believed a deal was imminent, especially after the Hard Rock threw its support behind the project, and there were multiple other offers conveyed to Team Tyson,” the release read.

“However, Team Tyson’s demands recently became untenable, and not what Mike Tyson had originally agreed on in direct conversations with Holyfield.”

Holyfield’s representatives said Monday that a deal could still be struck but it’s “unlikely that this fight will occur as planned.”

“We thought this was a done deal but it quickly fell apart when Tyson’s people declined all offers,” said Kris Lawrence, Holyfield’s manager. “We were negotiating in good faith all along, and it appears we just ended up wasting our time.”

Tyson didn’t discuss details during the IG Live session or explain what it will take to get the deal finalized.

The meeting would be the third between the two former heavyweight champions. Holyfield knocked out Tyson in 11 rounds in 1996 and Tyson was disqualified in the rematch after twice biting Holyfield’s ear.

Tyson returned to the ring this past November, when he and Roy Jones Jr. engaged in an eight-round exhibition at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The bout ended in an unofficial draw.

[lawrence-related id=18805]

 

Mike Tyson says exhibition with Evander Holyfield is on for May 29

Mike Tyson says an exhibition with Evander Holyfield is on for May 29.

Mike Tyson said what Evander Holyfield evidently wanted to hear.

Iron Mike announced during an IG Live session with Haute Living Tuesday that an exhibition with his rival is on for Saturday, May 29. Tyson’s comments come a day after Holyfield’s representatives issued a statement saying talks were stalled.

“I just want everyone to know the fight is on with me and Holyfield,” Tyson said. “Holyfield’s a humble man. I know that. And he’s a man of God. But I’m God’s man.

“Listen, I’m going to be successful May 29.”

Team Holyfield hasn’t responded to the latest development.

On Monday, Holyfield’s handlers issued a news release stating that Tyson rejected a guarantee of $25 million for an exhibition on Memorial Day Weekend at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

“The parties have been in intense negotiations for several months and Team Holyfield sincerely believed a deal was imminent, especially after the Hard Rock threw its support behind the project, and there were multiple other offers conveyed to Team Tyson,” the release read.

“However, Team Tyson’s demands recently became untenable, and not what Mike Tyson had originally agreed on in direct conversations with Holyfield.”

Holyfield’s representatives said Monday that a deal could still be struck but it’s “unlikely that this fight will occur as planned.”

“We thought this was a done deal but it quickly fell apart when Tyson’s people declined all offers,” said Kris Lawrence, Holyfield’s manager. “We were negotiating in good faith all along, and it appears we just ended up wasting our time.”

Tyson didn’t discuss details during the IG Live session or explain what it will take to get the deal finalized.

The meeting would be the third between the two former heavyweight champions. Holyfield knocked out Tyson in 11 rounds in 1996 and Tyson was disqualified in the rematch after twice biting Holyfield’s ear.

Tyson returned to the ring this past November, when he and Roy Jones Jr. engaged in an eight-round exhibition at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The bout ended in an unofficial draw.

[lawrence-related id=18805]