-
-
Los Angeles police briefly detained former boxing champion Mike Tyson after a fracas with a photographer at the city's international airport.
The ex-world heavyweight champion allegedly punched the photographer, who fell and was being treated in hospital for a cut to his forehead, police said.
Both men want to press charges of battery against each other.
Tyson's lawyer suggested photographers had tried to follow his client, who was with his wife and baby, into a toilet.
The boxer, who became the youngest world heavyweight champion at the age of 20, has led a troubled life.
He served three years in prison for a 1992 **** conviction and spent 24 hours in an Arizona jail in 2007 after pleading guilty to ******* possession and driving under the influence.
In 1997, he was disqualified from a heavyweight title fight when he bit off part of his opponent Evander Holyfield's right ear.
'Self-defence'
Photographer Tony Echevarria, 50, told police that Tyson had struck him once during the incident on Wednesday.
I've heard people were following him into the men's room and trying to take his picture there
After treatment for his cut, airport police said, the photographer was also cautioned and both he and the ex-boxer were released "on su****ion of misdemeanour battery".
Californian sentencing guidelines for the offence range from a fine to a custodial sentence.
Tyson's spokeswoman, Tammy Brook, said he had been passing through Los Angeles on his way from Europe to Las Vegas with his wife and 10-month-old child when he was confronted by the photographer.
The ex-boxer acted in self-defence to protect his child, she said.
Tyson's defence lawyer, David Chesnoff, said: "I've heard people were following him into the men's room and trying to take his picture there.
"My advice to him is going to be to vigorously press charges against what everyone agrees are ridiculously aggressive photographers," the lawyer added.
Reporting the incident, the Associated Press news agency notes that paparazzi often camp out at the airport to get shots of celebrities in transit.
"There's a lot of different versions to this story and that's all going to come out later," said airport police spokesman Sgt Jim Holcomb.
"Some witness statements support Tyson's version, others support the photographer's."
Tyson, the policeman added, had been co-operative as he waited in a holding cell at the airport police station.Comment
-
The Hangover........................................"Im just saying" "HE still got it."Comment
-
People shouldn't **** with Mike, the prick deserves what he got. Tyson one of the greats, paparazzi know he's crazy, so it's the guys own fault.Comment
-
People need to leave Mike alone.The world won't be happy until this man kills someone.Comment
-
Mike Tyson didn't punch anyone for no reason, no one is ******. Just like he didn't bite Evanders ear off for No reason. Not saying that Tyson had to handle this with his fists but Paparazzi get what they deserve.
And it looks like the paparazzi has his other friends and ppl he paid off to back up his own bs story, **** this guy we need to find this paparazzi and break his ****ing legs. Were coming for you Tony Echevarria you girly man!Comment
-
Mike's a nice guy, i seen him Sunday. Seems alot more chilled and ****, just wants to live a more quiet life. Leave Mike alone you ****s!Comment
-
i can already imagine what happened..the camera man came ran up on mike and mike probally politley kept asking him to leave cause he was trying to be alone with the fam..camera man kept following him and irritated him and ..bam..mike layed his ass out....leave mike the **** alone damn...Comment
-
flollowing a man into the bathroom is a quick way to get yo ass beat...wtf??Comment
Tweet
Comment