Tyson got his face tattoo from artist S. Victor Whitmill of Las Vegas, Nevada, shortly before Tyson’s 2003 fight with Clifford Etienne (which would be his 50th and last victory), having previously suggested that he would get a face tattoo if he won Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson. Tyson had originally wanted hearts (which he “just thought … were cool” ), but, according to Tyson, Whitmill refused and worked for a few days on a new design. Whitmill proposed a tribal design inspired by tā moko, a Māori tattoo style. The design is not based on any specific moko and was created directly on Tyson’s face. Tyson saw the tattoo as representing the Māori, whom he described as a “warrior tribe”, and approved of the design, which consists of monochrome spiral shapes above and below his left eye. According to Tyson, it was his idea to use two curved figures rather than one.

So I decided, “Fuck it.” My friends were shocked. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I threw some wild punches and one connected and Gary went down. Wise would skip while he was shadowboxing, so after I dropped Gary, my stupid ass started skipping. It just seemed like the fly thing to do. I had practically the whole block watching my gloryful moment. Everybody started whooping and applauding me. It was an incredible feeling even though my heart was beating out of my chest.

In another Memphis fight on February 22, 2003, Tyson beat fringe contender Clifford Etienne 49 seconds into round one. The pre-fight was marred by rumors of Tyson’s lack of fitness. Some said that he took time out from training to party in Las Vegas and get a new facial tattoo. This eventually proved to be Tyson’s final professional victory in the ring.

“When I came in,” Britton says, “Mike was in a very dark place. There was a darkness around him.… And Mike has literally turned from the ferocious warrior up on the mountaintop, living in isolation, to this spiritually awakened shaman/cannabis-entrepreneur warrior of the light.

Tyson’s second marriage was to Monica Turner from April 19, 1997, to January 14, 2003. At the time of the divorce filing, Turner worked as a pediatric resident at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. She is the sister of Michael Steele, the former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland and former Republican National Committee chairman. Turner filed for divorce from Tyson in January 2002, claiming that he committed adultery during their five-year marriage, an act that “has neither been forgiven nor condoned.” The couple had two children; son Amir and Ramsey who self-identifies as non-binary.

Tyson’s pro career was interrupted by three years in prison after he was sentenced for rape. He returned to the ring but wasn’t the same. He had 14 fights after his release from prison and went 9-5. During that stretch, he endured consecutive losses to Evander Holyfield. He ended his career, losing three out of four fights, falling to Lennox Lewis, Danny Williams, and Kevin McBride.

The Mike Tyson tattoo on his face has had a decisive impact on popular culture and fashion, becoming a different kind of individuality and boldness. This unique pattern not only enhanced his formidable image, but also inspired many people to experiment with tattoos and self-expression. In the world of fashion and art, Tyson’s tattoo became a symbol of boldness and non-acceptance of the standard, prompting designers and artists to create new trends and collections inspired by the motifs present. The emergence of facial tattoos in music, movies and even on runways is partly due to the influence of Tyson, who showed with his invention that such tattoos can be a powerful expression of personal history and inner strength.

“My first impression was that I’ve never had a tattoo in my life, but I thought we are fighting in a week and when you get a tattoo you can’t fight because they scab up and it wouldn’t be healthy to do that,” he said, as per Daily Mail.

Although the design of the Mike Tyson tattoos has remained virtually unchanged since its creation, from time to time he has made minor changes or additions to the pattern. These changes reflect Tyson’s changing tastes and preferences.

Jake Paul, the YouTube star turned professional boxer, recently unveiled a new face tattoo …