8/5/2010 12:07 AM PDT by TMZ Staff
A 49-year-old retired boxer is trying to pick a $115 million fight with Mike Tyson -- claiming "The Hangover" star hijacked his "Iron Mike" nickname 25 years ago.
The other "Iron" man is Mike Landrum -- a former professional fighter who claims he coined the nickname "Iron Mike" before he turned pro in 1983. Tyson started fighting professionally in 1985.
Landrum has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Los Angeles, claiming he owns the trademark to the nickname "Iron Mike" -- and therefore, Tyson infringed on his rights by using the nickname throughout his boxing career.
Landrum -- who's representing himself in the case -- tells us he was "hindered from getting any major title fights or sponsorships because of the name confusion."
For the record -- Landrum's record was 6-4 as a pro.
TMZ spoke with Tyson's rep Tammy Brook who tells us, "Mike's legal team hasn't seen the paperwork yet, but they are confident the case holds no merit."
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Mike Tyson, TMZ Sports, Developing Stories
5/12/2010 10:29 AM PDT by TMZ Staff
We took your questions on everything today -- including
Miley Cyrus' dance floor lap dance, Sean Penn copping a plea after his violent
paparazzi run-in, and Lawrence Taylor's masturbation defense.
Plus: Time running out for
Lindsay Lohan ... and
Mike Tyson's a vegan?!
Filed under: TMZ Live, Miley Cyrus, Sean Penn, Lawrence Taylor, Lindsay Lohan, Mike Tyson
5/12/2010 8:35 AM PDT by TMZ Staff
Mike Tyson is half the man he used to be -- and he proved it during a dinner date with his wife in Beverly Hills last night ... showing off his slimmed down physique for the first time since announcing he's turned vegan.
In case you missed it, Mike -- who once famously chewed up Evander Holyfield's flesh back in the day -- claims he's given up meat for good.
So long Iron Mike ... hello, Iron Deficient Mike!
Filed under: Mike Tyson, TMZ Sports
3/20/2010 10:30 PM PDT by TMZ Staff
Animal Planet and Mike Tyson are the target of an investigation after being accused of illegal gambling -- and it all has to do with the boxing champ's new reality show about pigeon racing.
The District Attorney in Brooklyn -- where Mike's pigeon show "Taking on Tyson" will be filmed -- tells TMZ they received a letter claiming the production violates New York's gambling laws ... because it profits off animal racing.
We're told they're currently looking into the claims.
Animal Planet tells us there won't be any wagering on the show ... but a rep for PETA -- who wrote the letter -- claims making any money off animal racing (including Tyson's salary) is illegal, so the point is moot.
Filed under: Mike Tyson, PETA, TV, Exclusives, Pets
2/26/2010 10:56 AM PST by TMZ Staff
An associate of Don King is under police investigation for allegedly raping a 13-year-old girl at the boxing promoter's home in Florida.
The associate -- 36-year-old Craig Jones -- was questioned by Lantana police after a 13-year-old girl told cops Jones picked her up off the street, drove her to Don King's home and raped her on the night of February 11.
Shortly after the alleged incident, cops questioned Jones -- who denied raping the girl. But according to the police report, the guy "changed his story" during questioning.
Cops took the alleged victim to undergo a medical exam -- which showed that she had recently engaged in sexual activity.
According to the report, Jones told cops he was arrested for allegedly raping a minor roughly 10 years ago -- but pled out to a lesser charge.
Don King has not been accused of any wrongdoing and no charges have been filed against him.
Calls to Don King Productions were not returned.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Mike Tyson
1/5/2010 9:20 AM PST by TMZ Staff
Mike Tyson threatened to kill the paparazzo he allegedly assaulted at LAX back in November -- and now the tape has finally surfaced ... but, it's heavily edited.
In the vid, Iron Mike is stoic as he walks through the airport with his wife and their child.
Six minutes into the video ... as the pap follows him toward the bathroom, Mike snaps, "You can't come through here. Put that away brother, I will kill you!" After that, Tyson charges at the camera ... and the tape stops.
But here's the mystery. The video -- which TMZ obtained from an outside agency -- was shot by a photographer who made at least 7 edits before handing it over. Did he incite Tyson? Did he touch the baby's stroller, as Tyson claims? We don't know.
The L.A. City Attorney rejected the case against both Tyson and the photog last week -- citing "insufficient evidence."
Filed under: Paparazzi Video, TMZ Sports, Developing Stories, fight, Mike Tyson, paparazzi, video
12/31/2009 10:55 AM PST by TMZ Staff
Mike Tyson will not be prosecuted for allegedly punching a photog at LAX, TMZ has learned.
The L.A. City Attorney officially rejected the case today, citing "insufficient evidence."
Tyson's lawyer, the ever-effervescent Shawn Chapman Holley, tells TMZ, "The City Attorney's office made the right decision given the harassing conduct of the paparazzo."
Tyson was arrested last month for battery after a bloody confrontation with a paparazzo outside the United terminal at LAX. Tyson claimed the photog was harassing him, his wife and child.
The photog was taken to the hospital and stitched up.
The City Attorney also declined to file charges against the photog.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, Exclusives, Mike Tyson, paparazzi
11/29/2009 5:10 AM PST by TMZ Staff
Mike Tyson's run-in with a photog at LAX earlier this month may have unearthed a lapse in security at one of the biggest airports in the world.
Sources tell TMZ Tyson's fight with the pap was not recorded by any camera other the one the photog had -- not a security camera, nothing. You'd think at an airport as highly-trafficked as LAX you couldn't go anywhere without being caught on video -- with the exception of the bathroom, of course.
The City Attorney has not yet decided what charges, if any, will be filed against either Tyson, the photog, or both.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TMZ Sports, Exclusives, fight, Mike Tyson, paparazzi, video
11/17/2009 12:55 PM PST by TMZ Staff
Mike Tyson's explosive run-in with a paparazzo at LAX last week is now in the hands of L.A. prosecutors ... sources tell TMZ.
We've learned the LAPD sent the case to the Los Angeles City Attorney this morning. We're told the City Attorney has conducted a preliminary investigation but has not decided whether to charge Tyson and/or the papper, Tony Echevarria, with criminal battery.
We're told the City Attorney wants to see the video the photog shot when the fight broke out.
Both Tyson and Echevarria were arrested. Tyson says the photog made contact with the stroller carrying his baby and he struck the dude in self defense.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TMZ Sports, Exclusives, arrest, Mike Tyson, paparazzi, Fights
11/16/2009 11:25 AM PST by TMZ Staff
TMZ has obtained the 911 call made last week after Mike Tyson got into a bloody altercation with a paparazzo at LAX.
The woman who placed the call says she "has a man bleeding from the face. I think it's Mike Tyson ... the person he assaulted."
As we previously reported, both Tyson and the photographer performed citizen's arrests on each other and were booked for misdemeanor battery.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TMZ Sports, Exclusives, arrest, Mike Tyson, paparazzi, Fights, 911 Call
11/15/2009 5:45 AM PST by TMZ Staff
Iron Mike Tyson is getting no sympathy from the toughest law man in the county -- because Sheriff Joe Arpaio claims Tyson will feel some serious heat -- literally -- if a judge decides his L.A. arrest violates the terms of his probation from a previous DUI and cocaine conviction in Arizona.
Sheriff Joe -- who oversees the famous Tent City jail in Maricopa County, Arizona -- tells TMZ:
"Mike Tyson has served time in the Tents before and if he is violated on the terms of his probation here in Arizona, he better get his jail time done while the weather in Phoenix is cool and not 140 degrees in the summer time."
Tyson spent one day in Tent City back in 2007 -- he was required to wear the jail-issued pink underwear and a black-and-white striped jumpsuit.
Filed under: Celebrity Justice, TMZ Sports, Exclusives, Mike Tyson
