THE BITE by Mike Tyson which removed a chunk of Evander Holyfield's ear was twice as strong as the average person's, according to an expert on the mechanics of biting.

WBA heavyweight challenger Tyson, who has been universally condemned for the incident which stunned the world of sport, used force equivalent to a weight of more than 20kg, according to American Tom Korioth.

Most people biting with their front teeth use the equivalent force of 10kg in weight, Korioth wrote in the London-based New Scientist magazine.

The expert, who studied video-tape of the fight in Las Vegas last Sunday, said: "Tyson was shearing and tearing, which is most alligator- like.

"Most of the ear is cartilage, and you need a lot of power to bite through it," he added.

Research by Korioth at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis found that the biting motion was not just up and down. There was also a shearing action created by the jaw bones bending.

He said everyone had nine pairs of jaw muscles to bite with - all of which would have been used by Tyson.

Holyfield said last night that a lifetime ban for Tyson would not be an excessive punishment when the Nevada State Athletic Commission conducts a special hearing next Wednesday.

Holyfield, however, said he would not rule out a future fight against Tyson, but stated his main goal is unifying the heavyweight championship and a Tyson rematch would come "not right away."

"If time permits and two years down the road Mike has proven himself fighting, why not? I would never say never," Holyfield said.

Meanwhile in the Philippines, an argument over the Las Vegas fight has led to the fatal shooting of 23-year-old government employee by an uncle in the northern city of Cabanatuan. In another incident, a fan bit his neighbour's ear.

. Steve Collins has told Craig Cummings he will think "he has run into a brick wall" when the American fireman tries to take his WBO super- middleweight title in Glasgow on Saturday.