But it wasn’t until years later that Tyson discussed the tattoo while chatting with sportscaster Jim Grey on his podcast that Tyson revealed his reasons behind getting the tattoo. When asked by Grey why he got the tribal tattoo Tyson replied, “I don’t know. I was supposed to do it earlier. Put this tattoo, I wanted a tattoo on my face. I was gonna put a bunch of hearts on my face, there’s a bunch of little hearts and my friends are like, no I am not gonna do anything whack like that.”
Tyson, who is 30 years older than his opponent, is among the greatest boxers of all time and the first heavyweight to simultaneously hold the WBA, WBC and IBF titles. He has not fought in a competitive bought since 2005, however.
Although Tyson has not expressed a strong desire to get more tattoos, he has not ruled out the possibility. As a form of self-expression, tattoos have a special meaning for Tyson and he may decide to add to his collection in the future.
On social media, fans often share photos and stories related to the Mike Tyson tattoo, showcasing their own Tyson-inspired tattoos or expressing their admiration for his iconic ink. The tattoo serves as a center of fan engagement and discussion.
“Spike gave me the book and went through the book and what a thing,” Tyson explains in an interview with Inked Mag. “I flew through it, then read it again. I felt a kinship to . He was very intelligent and he held back that intelligence, he was just non-confrontational. I respect that. I wish I could be nonconfrontational but it just wasn’t meant to be. I felt a kinship there, so I put a tattoo there.”
It was in the lead-up to the bout that ‘Iron’ Mike decided to get his now signature Māori warrior tattoo. Reportedly done by celebrated tattoo artist S. Victor Whitmill from Las Vegas, the story goes that Tyson originally wanted hearts on his face. However, Whitmill refused to go with the concept. Given that he has himself led the life of a warrior, the former heavyweight champion liked it when Whitmill introduced the Māori ‘tā moko’, a permanent ink decking the faces of Māori tribesmen from New Zealand.
Charles C. Brown is a journalist, writer, and tattoo enthusiast. He has over 10 years of experience in the tattoo industry, working as a tattoo artist and body piercer. He has written extensively on the history and culture of tattoos, exploring the many different meanings, symbolism and designs associated with tattooing.
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.
Last month, pictures of Jake Paul with a face tattoo resembling the one Mike Tyson made headlines. Many fans and followers pointed out that it was a fake photo op to promote the upcoming fight. But for an altogether unconventional reason, ‘The Problem Child’, as it turns out, appears quite serious about getting one.
MIKE TYSON’s FACIAL tattoo has been described as one of the most popular boxing division distinctive tattoos in North America. It has attracted controversy as an example of the cultural appropriation of ta moko, the sacred culturally embedded tattooing practice of the Maori people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. It has also attracted much media attention for its place at the heart of Whitmill v. Warner Bros., a rare litigated instance of a tattooist enforcing their copyright in a tattoo design. More than this, though, Tyson’s tattoo is an excellent example of the tensions that emerge over the protection of traditional knowledge, and the difhculty of claiming one truth in an intellectual property world that was born in the Western philosophical tradition, and is only now beginning to come to terms with its colonial heritage.
The fight looked on the brink of being cancelled until Tyson belatedly showed up in host city Memphis. The confusion around whether the contest was even happening then caused Etienne to pull out – before he changed his mind 24 hours later, perhaps realising there weren’t too many other $1million paydays on his horizon.
Mike Tyson face tattoo meaning is not just a work of art, but a reflection of his personality, values and experiences. In his interviews, he has talked about the deep personal meaning of the tattoo and its role in shaping his journey. How the tattoo fits into his broader path and identity
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 infamous boxing legend Mike Tyson has recently been turning heads with intense workout videos posted on his Instagram account. The former heavyweight champion of the world has been teasing a potential comeback to the ring, showcasing his agility, power, and speed.
