Tyson and Holyfield have friendly reunion in supermarket

Former nemeses Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield met up in a Chicago supermarket and went toe-to-toe — almost 16 years since the last time they last met in a grisly boxing match in which Tyson bit off a piece of Holyfield's ear — but this time the two former boxing champs only chewed the fat.

The reunited pair were at Jewel-Osco on Chicago's South Side where Holyfield was signing autographs and promoting his new Real Deal barbecue sauce. This time the two foes were all hugs and smiles as they posed for photos together.

It brought back memories of a bygone era (ear-a?) when a Tyson or Holyfield fight was a must-see sporting event.

"I just wanted to see Evander, man," said a beaming Tyson.  "I love Evander.  I'm forever linked with him for the rest of my life."

"I think he was letting people know that he was wrong and what happened, happened," said Holyfield. "He appreciates that I forgave him.  He's forgiven himself. That's how you make adjustments in life."

Friendly words from 46-year-old Tyson — a fighter who once called himself "The Baddest Man On The Planet" — and a once-bitter Holyfield, 50, who didn't reconcile until 2009 on Oprah Winfrey's show — 12 years after the gory 1997 fight.

Tyson was already baring his soul on a two-day stop in Chicago during a tour of his one-man show after a run on Broadway.  In it, Tyson documents his rise and fall throughout his life and boxing career.

"The show is good," said Holyfield, who saw it in Las Vegas.  "The show is his way of coming back."

It was good to see the pair together letting bygones be bygones. You can bet Holyfield was careful not to drip any of his BBQ sauce on any body parts.