Paul’s face tattoo, however, is fake since they did not show the tattoo being done properly, which means this was just for promoting the fight. Furthermore, Paul blatantly imitating Tyson is his way of paying homage to the legend, but several fans did not enjoy it.
Regardless of who comes out on top in July, I can’t help but think the true winner here is the professional boxing industry. Logan and Jake Paul have both put the sport back on the map with these sideshow bouts, and made legends like Floyd Mayweather very wealthy in the process.
Tyson married actress Robin Givens on February 7, 1988, at Holy Angels Catholic Church during a traditional ceremony in Chicago. Givens was known at the time for her role on the sitcom Head of the Class. Tyson’s marriage to Givens was especially tumultuous, with allegations of violence, spousal abuse, and mental instability on Tyson’s part.
It marks the latest in a long string of pre-fight taunts directed at Tyson. Last week, Paul shared a video (with the fake face tattoo) of himself biting a prosthetic ear, clipped together with images of a man with a bloodied ear. The video references Tyson’s infamous fight against Evander Holyfield in 1997, when the boxer bit off Holyfield’s ear. The move cost Tyson both the game and his boxing licence, though he was later reinstated.
Mike Tyson is all set to go up against Jake Paul on July 20, 2024. However, the one question that’s perhaps lingering in everyone’s mind is ‘why’? Why is a legend like Tyson going up against Paul, who has only fought 10 times in his boxing career?
Altogether, Tyson is a father to seven children, including three daughters, three sons, and a nonbinary child. His firstborn, a daughter named Mikey, arrived in 1990. Tyson had Mikey with Kimberly Scarborough. The boxer and his second wife, Monica Turner, welcomed Rayna, who is the 10 division world boxing champion is nonbinary, and Amir, their son, in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Next, Tyson had a son named Miguel in 2002 and a daughter named Exodus in 2005 with his former girlfriend Sol Xochitl. Milan and Morocco round out Tyson’s brood.
Mike Tyson’s tribal face tattoo, a striking Maori-inspired design from New Zealand, represents a significant chapter in his life story. He chose this powerful symbol in 2003, just before his bout against Clifford Etienne. Tyson once revealed, “I just thought it was a cool tattoo,” expressing a moment of spontaneity that turned into a lasting legacy. Initially considering hearts, he was swayed towards something that mirrored his fierce spirit, ultimately deciding, “This is cool; I like this.”
In addition to its cultural significance, the tattoo has also become a work of art. Many people have admired the intricate design, and it has been the subject of many artistic interpretations. The tattoo has even been featured in a museum exhibit, where it was showcased as an example of modern art. Tyson’s face tattoo is a testament to the power of art and its ability to connect people with their identity and culture.
In October 2017, Tyson was announced as the new face of Australian car servicing franchise Ultra Tune. He took over from Jean-Claude van Damme in fronting television commercials for the brand, and the first advert aired in January 2018 during the Australian Open. However, the ad was quickly attacked, even leading Tyson himself to describe it as “a little sexist.”
Matters came to a head when Tyson and Givens gave a joint interview with Barbara Walters on the ABC TV newsmagazine show 20/20 in September 1988, in which Givens described life with Tyson as “torture, pure hell, worse than anything I could possibly imagine.” Givens also described Tyson as “manic depressive” – which was later confirmed by doctors – on national television while Tyson looked on with an intent and calm expression. A month later, Givens announced that she was seeking a divorce from the allegedly abusive Tyson, with the two officially separating on February 14, 1989.
There is no buzz or fascination surrounding the fight, especially after Anthony Joshua highlighted the rift in skills between top heavyweights and crossover fighters. The fans know the difference between the skill sets boxers have and those of other superstars. The brutal knockout of Francis Ngannou might mirror a similar fate for the YouTuber-turned-prizefighter, whom boxing fans have yet to accept as a boxer.
In a 2013 interview with the The Telegraph, Tyson additionally explained that he came up with a way to get around drug tests before fights. He used a fake penis that he called his “whizzer” to give clean urine samples.
He added, “Then I said ‘what do you think I should get? Because I was confused.’ Victor Perez is a good guy and said ‘come back in a couple of days I’m going to try and write up some stuff’. And I waited around like two three days later and then he called and said ‘Mike, I’ve got some tribal stuff’. I said ‘woah, put another one over there’. I was like ‘this is cool, I like this’. So he did it.”
