When did Mike Tyson get his tattoo and showed it to the public for the first time, it elicited a wide range of reactions. Some praised the boldness and uniqueness of the design, while others criticized it as unconventional or even controversial.
The tattoo drew significant attention before the fight. Tyson took time off of training to get it, which trainer Jeff Fenech would later say was a contributing factor to the fight being rescheduled by a week. Some questioned Tyson’s physical and mental fitness to fight. Experts including dermatologist Robert A. Weiss expressed concerns about Tyson boxing while the tattoo healed; Etienne said that he would not go after the tattoo. (Tyson ultimately knocked out Etienne in under a minute. ) The work—which Tyson and others have referred to as his “warrior tattoo”—was also met with criticism from the outset by Māori activists who saw it as cultural appropriation. In 2006, tā moko artist Mark Kopua in a statement to the Waitangi Tribunal called for “a law that would prevent a Mike Tyson or a Robbie Williams or large non-Māori companies from wearing and exploiting the moko”.
Yet the case continued, and Warners attorneys must have been concerned that Perry suggested she saw merit in the case, even referring to the studio’s defenses as “silly.” site in yahoo.com subsequent court filings, Warners said that it planned to digitally alter the tattoo for the home video version of the film if the case didn’t settle quickly.
When Tyson got the face tattoo, he agreed in writing that all drawings, artwork, and photographs of it belonged to Whitmill’s Paradox-Studio of Dermagraphics, an uncommon step in the tattoo industry. In The Hangover’s 2011 sequel, The Hangover Part II, the character Stu Price (played by Ed Helms) gets a face tattoo almost identical to Tyson’s. After seeing a poster depicting the tattooed Stu, Whitmill registered a copyright for the tattoo and then on April 28, 2011 filed Whitmill v. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., seeking to enjoin The Hangover’s distributor, Warner Bros., from using the tattoo in the movie or its promotional materials. Describing the face tattoo as “one of the most distinctive tattoos in the nation”, Whitmill did not challenge “Tyson’s right to use or control his identity” but challenged Warner Bros.’ use of the design itself, without having asked his permission or given him credit.
The best boxing champ of all time ? Here’s a video of @miketyson I did last week…more boxing portraits please. Done with @magnumtattoo @stencilhoney @saniderm @butterluxe_uk @worldfamousink ________________ #miketyson #miketysontattoo #boxing #heaveywieght #ironmiketyson #inkjunkeyz #colourportraittattoos #nyctatooartist #Inkjunkey #tattooartist #tattoolove #tattoorealistic #artistic #tattooist #tattooartistmagazine #supportgoodtattooers #tattoodo #tattooist #skinart #realismtattoo #tattoolife #best_tattoos_ig_ #supportgoodtattooers #inkedmag #d_world_of_ink #sanidermsponsoredartist #inkedlife #inked #tattood #tattoolifemagazine
Mike Tyson’s face tattoo is more than just a bold and striking design – it’s a symbol of cultural exchange, personal interpretation, and individual identity. Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying that the tattoo has captured the public’s imagination and become an iconic part of Tyson’s legacy. By exploring the history, cultural significance, and personal meaning behind the tattoo, we can gain a deeper understanding of why it continues to fascinate and inspire people around the world.
PATERSON, N.J. — It isn’t hard to tell that Zhilei Zhang has beaten this writer to the gym today. Several inches of snow fell in New Jersey earlier that morning, Feb. 13, pushing back the start of their training an hour, to 1 p.m. Approaching the warehouse where True Warriors Boxing Club is based, large footprints that obviously belong to a man well over 6-foot tall dotted the path towards the door, which leads to the second floor gym.
“I want to be like Judy Garland and Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra and all those kinda people as far as entertainment is concerned,” he said. “That’s where my ego takes me. At first I wanted to do this show just for me and my wife to make a little money, something very small. So we go into this venture and the next thing you know, it’s an international scene, and it makes me a little nervous, but deep down inside, my ego said ‘yeah, that’s what you really want.’”
If the WBO belt is vacated, the interim titleholder would become the full WBO champion. If it isn’t, then Zhang could potentially make millions in a showdown against a heavyweight champion whose marketability will be at an all-time high.
“September was the second time I proved that the first time was not a fluke. I always feel like people have a misunderstanding about me because they don’t get to see me. On March 8 I also have something new to show everybody. Every fight I’m bringing something new to the table.”
