The biting incident that left fans buzzing

Legendary Mike Tyson’s return to the boxing ring after two decades of retirement was nothing short of a spectacle. At 58 years old, the former heavyweight champion faced off against Jake Paul, who is 31 years his junior, in a match at AT&T Stadium in Texas on November 15. Despite ultimately losing via unanimous decision after eight rounds, Tyson impressed many with his endurance and determination.

The fight drew an astonishing 60 million viewers to Netflix, but it wasn’t just the action in the ring that caught people’s attention. Fans noticed Tyson repeatedly biting down on his gloves mid-fight, sparking curiosity and speculation.

Commentators during the fight suggested that Tyson might have been struggling with a mouthguard issue. When asked about it post-fight, Tyson clarified, “I have a habit of biting my glove… I have a biting fixation.” This behavior brought back memories of his infamous 1997 bout with Evander Holyfield, where he bit a chunk out of Holyfield’s ear. Jake Paul even played into these concerns, wearing a $200,000 diamond ear protector at one of their press conferences.

However, Teddy Atlas, who trained Tyson during his teenage years, offered a different perspective on the glove-biting incident. According to Atlas, it was less about a biting fixation and more about maintaining Tyson’s intimidating image. “Mike Tyson biting his thumb through the glove… that’s something that he did in his amateur days, he did in his pro days, and now, of course, he did it again,” Atlas explained.Atlas also mentioned that Tyson’s glove-biting could be a coping mechanism for nerves or uneasiness. “It was more of a thing like a pacifier when a kid’s unsure. You bite down on something. Why? To suppress those feelings, suppress the doubt, the nervousness, the uneasiness, the insecurities. That’s what it is,” he explained.

Atlas reveals the truth behind Tyson’s glove-biting behavior

He suggested that Tyson’s actions were calculated to reinforce his persona as the “baddest man on the planet.” Atlas elaborated, “When people asked Tyson about the biting, he knew what to say. Again, keep that image, keep that myth. It’s important in these kinds of realms that they believe that he’s still the bogeyman.”

Atlas also mentioned that Tyson’s glove-biting could be a coping mechanism for nerves or uneasiness. “It was more of a thing like a pacifier when a kid’s unsure. You bite down on something. Why? To suppress those feelings, suppress the doubt, the nervousness, the uneasiness, the insecurities. That’s what it is,” he explained.

Tyson’s ability to stay relevant and maintain his mystique is undeniable. Whether it’s through his actions in the ring or his words outside it, he continues to captivate audiences and spark conversation.