LAS VEGAS, June 29: The Evander Holyfield-Mike Tyson rematch for the World Boxing Association heavyweight title ended in a senstational style last night when Tyson was disqualified after three rounds for twice biting the champion's ears.

Holyfield was taken to the hospital following the bizarre turn of events and his trainer, Don Turner, said the champion was to undergo plastic surgery to reattach a section of the top of his right ear, which amazingly was recovered from the canvas after the shocking, aborted bout.

``I saw him bite his ear off,'' Turner said. ``It was the most incredible thing that I've seen in all my years of boxing.''

``I think (Tyson) should be suspended. I think he should be taken for some kind of (mental) evaluation. I think he should be fined a huge amount of money, maybe his whole purse.''

The Nevada State Athletic Commission said it was withholding Tyson's 30 million dollars purse for the fight and would hold a meeting on July 1 to decide whether to fine him or take more serious action.

Holyfield's co-trainer, Tony Brooks, called for Tyson's boxing license. ``They should take it away for life. It was nothing but desperation.''Added Turner: ``It's a shame that things like this happen in boxing. I'm a guy that was a bad guy but I never did anything like that. That was very unprofessional. I'm just mystified by it.''

Following one the most incredible and surrealistic sights in boxing history, a melee erupted in the ring after referee mills lane stopped the fight before the start of the fourth round.

Dozens of police officers and security guards poured into the ring to keep both sides apart as Tyson, who complained bitterly that he had been head-butted, had to be restrained from going after Holyfield's corner.As both fighters later left the ring, Holyfield was cheered, Tyson booed roundly.

After about 10 minutes, the official result was announced to a chorus of boos - Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield twice.

The trouble started in the second round when a cut opened up over Tyson's right eye following a clash of heads, which the referee ruled ``an unintentional head butt.''

``He butted me in first round and then he butted me again in second round,'' complained an agitated Tyson after the bout.

``He kept going down and coming up ... And no one warned him or took any points from him. What am I to do? this is my career. I can't continue getting butted like that,'' Tyson said, pointing to gash over his right eye. ``I got to retaliate.'' And retialiate he did.

Tyson, who had lost the first two rounds, came out fighting mad in the third and hit Holyfield with several left hooks.

But with 33 seconds left in the round, the two came together and a furious Holyfield jumped away from a clinch in the middle of the ring howling in pain and clutching his right ear as he walked to his corner with blood pouring the ear.

When it was over, both fighters accused each other of being scared.``I truly believe fear itself causes people to do the easy thing,'' Holyfield said. ``The quickest thing was to get out. If you think you can whup me, do it with the gloves on. You had a chance to fight. Why did you bite?''

``He has a cut on his ear and he didn't want to fight,'' Tyson said.

``Regardless of what I did, he had been butting for two fights. I addressed it in the ring.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.