Tyson has an original tattoo of Mao Zedong on his right arm, the founder of the Chinese People’s Republic. The great leader was credited with ending civil unrest, which Tyson read about in prison. In 2006 Tyson visited the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, with the Chicago Tribune in tow, to pay respects.
It’s not a problem for Tyson that many see him as forever young and hold on to this image of him. Yet he knows what kind of person he was back then—ruthless, dangerous, angry. And now as a father and role model for his children, he hates what he was.
Know of boxing’s consensus favorite heavyweight and youngest champ Mike Tyson? Sure you do. Do you know that he is facing a 9-1 (6KOs) YouTuber boxer next? You just might. Did you know he has 44 career knockouts till now? Or that he once bit a peer’s ear off during a bout? That is a famed affair. What about his iconic face tattoo? Of all the above, that stands out as his selling point.
Since then Tyson has gone bankrupt in 2003, losing his $400 million fortune, been involved in several drug-related run-ins with the law, and got in trouble for comments he made in the media about Sarah Palin. Despite all this, Tyson has managed to build back his brand and is now worth around an estimated $10 million, mainly thanks to his cannabis company Tyson 2.0. He’s also helped soften the media and public’s perception of him by exposing his flaws in interviews, appearing in movies, such as The Hangover, and revealing more about himself on his podcast, Hot Boxin’.
The latter competed against Tommy Fury in early 2023, losing against the half-brother of WBC heavyweight champion Tommy Fury via split decision. Before the fight in Saudi Arabia, Paul earned an easy $250,000. All he had to do was get a tattoo of the vodka brand Au Vodka.
Mike Tyson, one of the most famous and controversial boxers of all time, has left an indelible mark on the history of the sport. He began his career in 1985 and soon became the youngest ever world heavyweight champion, defeating Trevor Berbick in 1986 at the age of 20. Tyson was known for his powerful punching, aggressive style and swift knockouts that made him a crowd favorite.
Meaning: The boxer went under the needle in the year 2003 by the tattoo artist, Victor Whitmill. The tribal tattoo is inked on the left side of Tyson’s face. This unique design stirred some commotions like lawsuit and trials when ‘The Hangover’ movie doctor’s character ‘Stu Price’ depicted a temporary tribal tattoo with the same design as Tyson’s tattoo on his face.
As well as that Victor Whitmill tribal tattoo on his face and the visage of his ex-wife, Monica Turner - whom he divorced after she admitted cheating on him - Tyson also has a portrait of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, whom he described during an interview as an "incredible" person who "had a lot" but who "sacrificed everything for the benefit of other people," on his abdomen.
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.
Jake Paul replied, "I’m not gonna get the Tyson one, but Tyson, like, got his legendary tattoo; he just…" Lil Pump insisted; probably Paul needs it since he’s like one of the ‘faces of boxing’. The Ohioan YouTuber-turned-boxer then shared, "So I’m just like, F*ck it, like,
why did mike tyson get a tattoo on his face not just do it because Tyson did it? It’s a story behind Tyson’s face tat is, it was like Wednesday of his fight week, and he just got it, and he showed up to the presser the next day with the face tat and he didn;t tell anybody. So I’m thinking about doing that in honor…"
The timing and choice of the tattoo sparked widespread speculation. His coach, Jeff Fenech, suggested to Fox Sports, the tattoo was more than aesthetics, hinting at Tyson’s reluctance to fight: "I thought we are fighting in a week, and when you get a tattoo, you can’t fight because they snap up and it wouldn’t be healthy to do that. We sat down and spoke, and he didn’t really want to fight and he wasn’t prepared to, and that was one of the reasons he got the tattoo." The fight was even cancelled once, as his coaching team thought that his lack of conditioning could lead to him losing the fight. Yet, Tyson defied doubts, ended up fighting Clifford, decisively ending the bout with Etienne in a mere 49 seconds, showcasing his undiminished prowess.
Eagle-eyed onlookers noticed the 23-year-old had a couple of striking tattoos, which appeared to be written in Welsh. It unsurprisingly got many wondering; what on earth is an NFL star doing covered in Welsh tattoos?
The Mike Tyson tattoo on his face has had a decisive impact on popular culture and fashion, becoming a different kind of individuality and boldness. This unique pattern not only enhanced his formidable image, but also inspired many people to experiment with tattoos and self-expression. In the world of fashion and art, Tyson’s tattoo became a symbol of boldness and non-acceptance of the standard, prompting designers and artists to create new trends and collections inspired by the motifs present. The emergence of facial tattoos in music, movies and even on runways is partly due to the influence of Tyson, who showed with his invention that such tattoos can be a powerful expression of personal history and inner strength.
