Thursday November 12, 2009

MIKE Tyson was arrested at Los Angeles’ LAX airport Wednesday after allegedly punching a photographer.

Tyson reportedly lashed out at paparazzo Tony Echevarria, 50, as he passed through the city’s airport with his family.

Police have confirmed the former heavyweight boxing champion has been held on suspicion of battery.

“The two men got into a scuffle, and it’s alleged that Tyson hit the photographer once in the face with one hand, causing him to fall to the ground,” said Sgt. Jim Holcomb. “The photographer sustained a laceration to the forehead, and was taken to a local hospital.”

Tyson’s spokeswoman said the boxer was protecting his family — wife Lahika and 10-month-old baby Milan — from an overly aggressive photographer to protect his baby.

“Mr. Tyson did absolutely nothing wrong, he was the victim in this case,” his attorney, Richard Schonfeld told People magazine. “We look forward to vindicating him and pursuing his rights.”

The incident comes just months after Tyson’s four-year-old daughter Exodus died after accidentally strangling herself with a loose cord on a treadmill.

It’s not the first time that the boxer, 43, has been in trouble with the law.

In 1999, he was jailed for assaulting two people after a traffic accident and seven years previous to that, was convicted of raping a beauty queen and served three years in prison.

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