• Boxing

Tyson returns Holyfield's ear in advert

ESPN staff
November 22, 2013
Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield's ear in Las Vegas © Getty Images
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Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield have made amends after their infamous 1997 title fight on screen in a new Footlocker advert featuring the pair which plays on the notorious incident.

Tyson was disqualified from that bout after biting Holyfield's ear - an image which was seen around the world, and which cemented his reputation as a severely troubled boxer and led to a public outcry across the world.

The advert is the next in a series of moves from a reformed Tyson to make amends, and he has even rekindled his former friendship with Holyfield in the last few years following the bitter fall-out of their 1997 fight.

The advert shows NBA player Kyrie Irving day dreaming that "all is right with the world", before seeing Tyson arriving at Holyfield's door and handing him a small box.

Tyson says: "I'm sorry, Evander. It's your ear.

"I kept that in formaldehyde."

The pair then hug, in an advert which also features former NBA and NFL champions Dennis Rodman and Brett Farve respectively poking fun at themselves.

The Footlocker ad is another example of the pair making light of the incident, with Holyfield recently promoting his Real Deal BBQ sauce by referring to the fight on Twitter.

He tweeted: "'My realdealbbqsauce.com will make you take a bite out of someone's ear! Ask Mike Tyson - Luv ya bro!'

To which Tyson replied: Holyfield's ear would've been much better with his new BBQ sauce.'

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