Tokyo Olympics boxer Youness Baalla bites opponent in Mike Tyson-style move

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Moroccan boxer Youness Baalla attempted to copy Mike Tyson as he looked to bite his opponent at the Olympics.

Baalla was taking on New Zealand opponent David Nyika in the round of 16 heavyweight clash in Tokyo.

And the Morocco fighter seemed to get frustrated as he appeared to aim a bite towards the cheek of his rival.

It brought back memories of when Tyson was disqualified for chomping part of Evander Holyfield's ear off in their controversial clash.

Nyika immediately reacted and complained to the referee, though Baalla was allowed to box on.

Nyika won the contest, and said he though Baalla was aiming a bite at his cheek, telling New Zealand coverage: “I didn’t think he’d get away with it. He tried to bite my cheekbone … he probably just got a mouthful of sweat.

“It’s one down, three to go. Really stoked to get through that one.

"It was always going to be a niggly one. I feel like I haven’t really been in the ring for over a year now. I had my pro debut but it only lasted 20 seconds.

“It’s nice to get back out there against a world-class Olympian.”

Nyika won via unanimous decision to qualify for the quarter-finals, where he will fight Belarus’ Uladzislau Smiahlikau.

BBC commentator Ronald McIntosh was shocked by what he saw in the ring, saying: "Oh my goodness, now that is outrageous. Baalla looking to bite the ear of David Nyika.

"That may have been on the blindside of the referee but that was a clear infringement of the rules, no warning forthcoming."

Though Baalla was not in apologetic mood, taking to social media after the fight to hit out at his haters.

"To all the people coming from New Zealand … with all my respect to this country but you're not showing respect to yourselves (sic),” Baalla wrote on his Instagram story.

"I will not answer any bad DM or comment from you and sorry I have big things waiting for me."

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It's not the first time that a boxer has attempted to use their teeth in a fight.

Tyson bit Holyfield in their second bout in 1997, with Tyson disqualified from the bout.

"I bit him because I wanted to kill him. I was really mad about my head being bumped and everything," Tyson said.

"I really lost consciousness of the whole fight. It took me out of my fight plan and everything."

  • Tokyo 2020 Olympics
  • Boxing
  • Mike Tyson

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