Evander Holyfield vs Mike Tyson

Evander Holyfield vs Mike Tyson

Text byDan Rafael

Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, both former undisputed heavyweight champions, Hall of Famers and legends, are linked forever because of their two memorable fights. There was the 1996 classic in which Holyfield pulled one of the biggest upsets in boxing history by knocking out Tyson in the 11th-round of a terrific battle to take his WBA belt. Then there was the immediate rematch, another enormous event, in which Tyson was disqualified in the third round for biting off a chunk of Holyfield’s ear in a grotesque scene that shocked the world. Their showdowns, both mega pay-per-view events at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, however, happened years after they were first scheduled to fight. They had circled each for ages before the massively hyped fight was finally set for Nov. 8, 1991 at famed Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Tyson had won four fights in a row since losing the undisputed title via earthshaking upset loss to Buster Douglas, who in turn lost the crown in his first defense by knockout to mandatory challenger Holyfield, who then outpointed George Foreman in a pay-per-view blockbuster his first defense. The hype for the long-awaited Holyfield-Tyson fight was as big as it gets. But Tyson, who was awaiting the start of his infamous rape trial, tore cartilage in his rib while training to fight Holyfield and the bout was postponed. Little did anyone know at the time just how long the fight would be put off. As it turned out, Tyson was convicted of raping a beauty pageant contestant and served three years in prison, ending the chances of facing Holyfield for years. While Tyson was incarcerated Holyfield would go on to participate in several major fights, including his epic trilogy with Riddick Bowe. But it got to a point where after Bowe knocked him out in their third bout many thought Holyfield was finished. When Tyson exited prison in 1995, he resumed his career and reeled off four wins in a row, including drilling Bruce Seldon in the first round to win the WBA title he had once held. That set the stage at last for the huge first fight with Holyfield, which took place five years and one day after they were first scheduled to fight for the championship in 1991.

Evander Holyfield vs Mike Tyson
Original
1991
Shevins
18,5″ x 14″
Colored pencil on paper

This artwork appears on the cover of the December 1991 edition of The Ring Magazine.