To Forgive Is Divine

Tyson patches up with Holyfield CHICAGO - The long-running feud between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield is over – if the very public display of reconciliation is to be believed. The former boxing champions made peace in a live episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, on Friday 15 October. Tyson was quick to praise his former rival: “This is a beautiful guy. I just want you to know it’s just been a pleasure being acquainted with you.” Tyson also took the opportunity to shake hands with Holyfield several times. They last met in their world title fight in Las Vegas on June 28, 1997. Tyson came to the ring without his gumshield in the third round of the fight and bit Holyfield’s right ear, tearing off a piece. He was disqualified and banned from boxing in the United States. The duo developed a feud and had not spoken to each other since until the show on Friday night. Holyfield, who required surgery to repair his ear, took discussion of the incident in good stride. When Winfrey asked if he was still missing part of the ear, he said: “Just a little bit.” Tyson admitted on the show that his initial apology to Holyfield was insincere but did not offer another. Holyfield said he had bitten his siblings during childhood fights. “I’m the person who bit every brother in my family.” On a serious note, Holyfield said his meeting with Tyson was to show young people that making peace was always a way out of a spiral of violence. Tyson’s troubled childhood did not stop him from becoming the youngest ever world champion at 20, come rain or shine!