Mike Tyson accused of striking ‘aggressive’ paparazzo

MIKE TYSON allegedly hit a photographer at Los Angeles International Airport and was charged and released on suspicion of battery, police said.

The paparazzo told police that the former heavyweight boxing champion struck him once, airport police spokesman Sgt Jim Holcomb said.

The photographer fell to the ground and was treated for a cut to his forehead at a hospital.

Tyson’s spokeswoman Tammy Brook said the boxer was travelling with his wife and 10-month-old child on Wednesday when he was attacked by an “overly aggressive” paparazzo. The 43-year-old acted in self-defence to protect his child, she said.

Tyson and the unnamed photographer both want to press charges for misdemeanour battery, police said.

“There’s a lot of different versions to this story and that’s all going to come out later,” Sgt Holcomb said.

“Some witness statements support Tyson’s version, others support the photographer’s.”

Paparazzi often camp out at Los Angeles’ largest airport to get shots of celebrities in transit.

“I’ve heard people were following him into the men’s room and trying to take his picture there,” said Tyson’s defence attorney, David Chesnoff. “My advice to him is going to be to vigorously press charges against what everyone agrees are ridiculously aggressive photographers.”

Tyson was co-operative as he waited in a holding cell at the airport police station, Sgt Holcomb said.