MIKE TYSON - TYSON & HOLYFIELD PATCH UP DECADE-LONG FEUD ON OPRAH

TYSON & HOLYFIELD PATCH UP DECADE-LONG FEUD ON OPRAH

Boxing greats MIKE TYSON and EVANDER HOLYFIELD shook hands and ended their decade-long feud on U.S. TV on Friday (16Oct09), after an ear-biting boxing bout in 1997 turned the fighters into mortal enemies.
The former friends became foes after Tyson chewed off a piece of Holyfield's ear during a heavyweight title fight, and the pair have rarely spoken since.
During an appearance on U.S. talk show Oprah on Monday (12Oct09), Tyson confessed he'd never had the opportunity to properly apologise to his ring rival, admitting that his public comments after the fight were not sincere.
After seeing the interview with Oprah Winfrey, Holyfield contacted the talk show host and offered to sit down with Tyson on her programme - the reunion took place on Friday.
After shaking hands on the show, Holyfield revealed the ear bite wasn't as horrific as it was reported, explaining, "It was just shocking. It wasn't really as bad as they'd made it out to be."
And the fighter told Winfrey that he'd forgiven Tyson years ago and had "moved on".
But Tyson revealed he'd never felt that forgiveness, stating, "He never says a word; the guy doesn't talk... I feel like I'm having a face-off every time I meet the guy... I've said hi, but I never talked to him since 98."
Tyson went on to explain why he ripped off a piece of his rival's ear: "I have great respect for him and I wanted to beat him so bad... by beating him I really would have conquered the giant."
The pair shook hands and agreed to let bygones be bygones after Tyson told Holyfield, "It's been a pleasure passing through life being acquainted with you."
Holyfield added he hoped their reunion on Oprah would serve as a lesson for feuding youths: "It's important for the young people around the world to understand that you have conflicts in life... One thing I wanted with Tyson and I (getting together)... (is to) tell the kids that we can come together and we know you can come together."