Mike Tyson and his wife, Lakiha Tyson, are embroiled in a £1.5 million High Court legal battle in London over claims that the former heavyweight boxing champion unlawfully withdrew from a lucrative marketing campaign after objecting to a promotional video featuring a giant talking pigeon. According to a report by The Independent, Medier Ltd, the company behind online gambling brand Rabona, is suing Tyson and his promotional business, Tyrannic, alleging breach of a sponsorship agreement signed in January 2024. Tyson and Tyrannic deny the allegations.The dispute centres on an agreement under which Tyson was to promote Rabona’s gaming services through live-streaming events and other promotional activities. The contract reportedly involved a $2 million fee, payable to Tyrannic in instalments, of which nearly $190,000 was paid before the relationship broke down.As reported by The Independent, Medier alleges that Tyson and Tyrannic failed to participate in agreed live-streaming events and terminated the contract without proper notice.Barrister Ali Reza Sinai, representing Medier, told the court that Tyson and his company effectively walked away from the agreement after he secured a much more lucrative deal to fight YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.Describing the Netflix-backed exhibition bout as the “elephant in the room”, Sinai argued that Tyson and Tyrannic had lost interest in the Rabona arrangement once the fight was confirmed.“The defendants simply lost interest in the service agreement once the more rewarding exhibition fight was firmly agreed,” Sinai said in written submissions. He also argued that fulfilling the sponsorship obligations had become inconvenient for Tyson and his company.
Giant talking pigeon at centre of legal dispute
At the heart of the disagreement is a proposed promotional video called ‘Talking Pigeons’, which Tyson’s legal team says went well beyond what had been agreed under the sponsorship contract.According to the court submissions detailed by The Independent, the concept required Tyson to interact with four presenters, including one dressed as a giant pigeon. The boxer was allegedly expected to participate in scripted role-play, answer questions, share childhood stories and teach the presenters how to box.The proposed segment also involved a mannequin bearing the face of Tyson’s former opponent, Evander Holyfield, which the presenters were expected to punch. Tyson would then play casino games on the Rabona website while interacting with them through a video link.Medier’s legal team maintains that Tyson and Tyrannic failed to honour their contractual commitments. The defence, however, argues that the proposed entertainment format was never part of the performance Tyson had agreed to provide.
Tyson’s lawyers say promotional demands exceeded contract
Barrister Amanda Hadkiss, representing Tyson and Tyrannic, told the court that the requested performance went “far beyond the scope of what might reasonably be considered to have even been required” under the agreement.She argued that the contract limited Tyson’s filmed activities to playing casino games, including slots, poker and roulette, or participating in other games and events featured on Rabona’s website, provided those activities had been approved.The defence contends that the ‘Talking Pigeons’ concept was fundamentally different from the activities specified in the contract.Hadkiss said Tyson was not contractually required to take part in the proposed show and argued that Tyrannic had therefore not breached the agreement by indicating in advance that he would not attend or by his subsequent non-attendance.The High Court will have to consider the competing interpretations of the sponsorship agreement as the hearing continues.
Jake Paul fight and Amsterdam event add to dispute
The court heard that Tyson’s exhibition bout against Jake Paul was initially scheduled for July 20, 2024, although it eventually took place in November that year. Tyson lost the contest, which was streamed on Netflix.Under the Rabona agreement, Tyson was also expected to attend a promotional event at a major gambling conference in Amsterdam scheduled for July 16 to 19, 2024.Medier’s barrister argued that Tyson and Tyrannic may have been concerned that the Amsterdam appearance could conflict with restrictions under the Netflix agreement, which allegedly limited non-fight-related sponsorship activities during the build-up to the bout.Sinai argued that there was a “clear and significant risk” that the defendants could be viewed as breaching the Netflix agreement if the Amsterdam sponsorship event was advertised and went ahead.The defence disputes that Tyson’s withdrawal amounted to a contractual breach, maintaining that the nature of the requested promotional performance itself exceeded the agreed obligations.
Mike Tyson’s lifelong love of pigeons
The dispute has an unusual connection to one of Tyson’s best-known personal interests: his lifelong affection for racing pigeons.As noted in The Independent’s report, Tyson has frequently spoken about his love for the birds and their importance during his difficult childhood in New York. In his autobiography, he wrote about how caring for pigeons became a meaningful part of his early life.He has also recounted an incident in which a man killed one of his pet pigeons, an experience he has linked to his first involvement in physical confrontation.Tyson became the youngest heavyweight world champion in boxing history in 1986, at the age of 20. Known for his explosive power and aggressive fighting style, he later retired with a professional record of 50 victories and seven defeats.The current dispute is not about Tyson’s affection for pigeons itself, but about whether the proposed pigeon-themed promotional show fell within the obligations he had accepted under the Rabona agreement.The High Court hearing is continuing. No finding of liability has been made against Tyson or Tyrannic.