An Olympic boxer competing in the men’s heavyweight competition at Tokyo 2020 has been disqualified after attempting to bite an opponent’s ear during a bout.
The incident occurred during round three of five. Morocco’s Youness Baalla attempted to bite the ear of New Zealand boxer David Nyika whilst in a hold.
However, Nyika managed to get out of the way and fought to a dominant victory.
He won the bout 5-0 and thus progressed to the next round. Baalla was disqualified afterwards for what the boxing task force described as unsportsmanlike behaviour.
The incident went unnoticed by officials during the fight, and was only brought to attention after the action had concluded.
Fortunately for Nyika – unlike when Mike Tyson bit off part of Evander Holyfield’s ear back in 1997 – Baalla didn’t get “a full mouthful” of his opponent’s ear.
Nyika explained: “He didn’t get a full mouthful. Luckily he had his mouthguard in and I was a bit sweaty.
“I don’t remember what I said to him but I gave him a little bit of cheek.
“I have been bitten once on the chest before at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, but come on man, this is the Olympics.”
The New Zealand boxer will now progress to the quarter-finals of the heavyweight competition, where he will take on Belarus’s Uladzislau Smiahlikau.
Team GB’s mixed boxing fortunes
Team GB‘s Cheavon Clarke, meanwhile, was knocked out in the last 16 of the competition. He was defeated 4-1 by Brazil’s Abner Teixeira.
Clarke won 30-27 on one of the judges’ scorecards. However, the bout was scored in favour of the Brazilian by the other four judges.
Earlier in the day, Caroline Dubois defeated Kosovo’s Donjeta Sadiku 5-0 in the women’s light heavyweight.
Three other British boxers will be in Olympic boxing action overnight. Lauren Price takes part in the last 16 of the women’s middleweight competition, before Ben Whittaker completes his last 16 fight in the men’s light heavyweight.
Finally, in the second session of the day, Karriss Artingstall will take part in the quarter-final of the women’s featherweight.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
