Giant pigeon ad shoot sparks 2.7 billion won legal battle

Netflix documentary revisits past glory and criminal record

'Ali was the greatest' — Tyson reaffirms desire to fight Mayweather

Mike Tyson (left) attends the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI) 2026 Gala at Gotham Hall in New York with his wife Lakiha Spicer on Sept. 25. [Getty Images]
Mike Tyson (left) attends the Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI) 2026 Gala at Gotham Hall in New York with his wife Lakiha Spicer on Sept. 25. [Getty Images]

Mike Tyson, the "Iron Fist" of boxing, is keeping a full schedule even at 60. The former heavyweight champion has remained a fixture of headlines long after leaving the ring — entangled in a multimillion-dollar lawsuit over an ad shoot featuring a giant pigeon costume, the subject of a newly released documentary, and still vocal about his place in boxing history. He recently named Muhammad Ali the greatest boxer of all time and reaffirmed his desire to fight fellow legend Floyd Mayweather, 49.

The 2.7 billion won pigeon dispute

British outlets including The Independent and talkSPORT reported Friday (Korean Standard Time) that Tyson is locked in a legal dispute worth 1.5 million pounds (about 2.7 billion won) with online gambling operator Mediaw.

Mediaw filed a lawsuit in the High Court in London, alleging that Tyson and his promotional company Tyrannic failed to honor a sponsorship agreement signed in January 2024.

One of the central disputes involves a promotional video in which a performer dressed as a giant pigeon was to appear. The company claims Tyson agreed to film a segment in which he would converse with the pigeon character and teach it boxing moves, but then refused to participate.

The original concept also called for Tyson to share stories from his childhood and use a mannequin bearing the likeness of former rival Evander Holyfield to demonstrate boxing techniques.

The company further alleges that Tyson skipped a scheduled online event and failed to appear at a sports betting event planned for Amsterdam in July 2024, claiming he lost interest in the existing advertising commitments while preparing for his boxing match against Jake Paul that year.

Tyson's camp denied any breach of contract, arguing that the pigeon video was a demand that fell outside the scope of the original agreement and that it was the company that first violated the contract.

The total promotional fee under the contract was $2 million, and Tyson's side received approximately $190,000 before the two parties parted ways. Legal liability has yet to be determined.

Tyson has been famously fond of pigeons since childhood — one story holds that his very first fight was sparked when someone killed one of his beloved birds. The man known for his deep affection for pigeons now finds himself in a courtroom battle over a pigeon costume.

Light and shadow in the documentary

A four-part Netflix documentary simply titled "Tyson," chronicling his turbulent life, was released Tuesday.

The series traces Tyson's journey from a difficult upbringing in Brooklyn, New York, to becoming the youngest heavyweight champion in world history, as well as his subsequent fall and attempts at redemption.

Tyson claimed the WBC heavyweight title in 1986 at age 20 by defeating Trevor Berbick, going on to dominate the sport with his devastating punching power before a series of controversies outside the ring overshadowed his career.

Among the most notable were his 1992 rape conviction and imprisonment, and his disqualification in a 1997 rematch with Evander Holyfield after biting off a piece of Holyfield's ear.

The documentary has drawn mixed reviews. The Guardian praised its vivid portrait of Tyson's life but said the film relied too heavily on Tyson's own perspective when addressing the sexual assault conviction and its victims.

Ali above all

Tyson has also been reflecting on his boxing career and sharing his views on who deserves to be called the greatest of all time.

In an interview on "Piers Morgan Uncensored" released Oct. 8, Tyson described himself as the most celebrated fighter in boxing history — yet named Muhammad Ali the greatest boxer ever.

Asked who would have won if a prime Tyson had faced Ali, he still gave the nod to Ali. Tyson said Ali knew how to handle a fearsome opponent and would have beaten him too.

The man who once terrorized opponents with his "Iron Fist" put his own idol ahead of himself when it came to the ultimate ranking in boxing history.

Tyson's admiration for Ali has been unwavering for decades. When the two appeared together on "The Arsenio Hall Show" in August 1989, a 23-year-old Tyson acknowledged his own greatness but said everyone had to bow before Ali. Ali returned the compliment, saying Tyson was a better boxer than he was — a warm exchange that has endured in boxing lore.

The ring's unfinished call

Tyson's competitive fire has not dimmed at 60. In the same "Piers Morgan Uncensored" interview released Oct. 8, he reaffirmed his desire to fight undefeated boxing star Floyd Mayweather.

An exhibition bout between the two had been in the works for April 25 of this year in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but the fight never materialized.

A contractual dispute over the event subsequently moved to a US court. According to court documents, Tyson suffered a broken hand in March and was unable to compete in a bout scheduled for May. A September date was also floated, but the fight still has not taken place.

Tyson expressed his eagerness for the Mayweather bout in the recent interview, though no new date or venue has been confirmed.

Mayweather finished his professional career with a perfect 50-0 record. Tyson lost a decision to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in November 2024.

The man who ruled the heavyweight division in the 1980s has turned 60, yet he remains firmly in the public eye — through courtroom battles, a documentary, and the lingering prospect of one more fight against an old rival.


yjc@heraldcorp.com