I saw Ali’s Phantom Punch and Tyson biting an ear off – history’s not in Tyson Fury’s favour in Usyk rematch
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TYSON FURY, a boxing historian, is aware the record book shows he has less than an even-money shot at regaining his world title from Oleksandr Usyk. Fellow heavyweights Floyd Patterson, Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis achieved it in fights straight after being dethroned.
![[Tyson Fury is set to do battle with Oleksandr Usyk once again on Saturday night]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/tyson-fury-oleksandr-usyk-exchange-902683902.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
But Patterson was also among the failures — along with Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, Deontay Wilder and Jack Dempsey. Movie sequels are rarely as good as the originals but where the world heavyweight title is concerned, some of the return battles have been sensational.
![[Muhammad Ali famously took on Sonny Liston]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/action-vs-sonny-liston-l-708915461.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
If Fury and Usyk provide the same edge-of-the-seat excitement — and controversy — when they meet again, it will captivate fans. It’s not difficult to pick out the most scandalous, outrageous and unforgettable clash since the first champion John L Sullivan laced on his gloves 135 years ago.
![[Mike Tyson's rematch with Evander Holyfield went down in infamy]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/bit-ear-third-round-wba-755845599.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Evander Holyfield defied the odds in 1996 and stopped Tyson in 11 rounds to lift the WBA belt. They met again in the same Las Vegas ring seven months later in the hideous Bite Fight. That nauseating image of Tyson chewing an inch of flesh out of Holyfield’s right ear, and spitting it on the canvas, is still fresh in my mind.
Disqualified by referee Mills Lane, Mike claimed he did it in frustration because Holyfield had been head-butting him. BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS. It cost him a $3million fine and 12-month ban — and he never ruled the division again.
