The tattoo drew significant attention before the fight. Tyson took time off of training to get it, which trainer Jeff Fenech would later say was a contributing factor to the fight being rescheduled by a week. Some questioned Tyson's physical and mental fitness to fight. Experts including dermatologist Robert A. Weiss expressed concerns about Tyson boxing while the tattoo healed; Etienne said that he would not go after the tattoo. (Tyson ultimately knocked out Etienne in under a minute. ) The work—which Tyson and others have referred to as his "warrior tattoo"—was also met with criticism from the outset by Māori activists who saw it as cultural appropriation. In 2006, tā moko artist Mark Kopua in a statement to the Waitangi Tribunal called for "a law that would prevent a Mike Tyson or a Robbie Williams or large non-Māori companies from wearing and exploiting the moko".

But when I look at this situation with legendary Mike Tyson, who will be 58 buy the time the fight happens, one of boxing's all-time iconic figures, returning to the ring against Paul, I can't help but think about our once-called sport and its lifeline. Many boxing purists, like me, have seen a shift in boxing as the business side has taken over. We see more and more crossover events, high-profile exhibition matches, and celebrity boxing matches becoming more prevalent nowadays. Modern-day boxing now prioritizes entertainment and financial gains over the traditional values of boxing, such as our amateur system, honed exceptional boxing skills, discipline, and overall professionalism.

Mike Tyson grew up poor and troubled and he wound up rich and famous. His mother died when he was 16 and he was taken in by his legendary trainer Cus D’Amato. Before Tyson was 13 years old, he had been arrested more than 30 times. He needed boxing and, as we later found out, boxing needed him.

In 2014, though, Tyson finally fessed up about the real reason for his tattoo. As Sportcasting recounts, Tyson said of his dark period, "I just hated myself... I literally wanted to deface myself." Capricious though it was, the tattoo was also his first step toward making positive choices.

Ed Helms was part of the ensemble cast of "The Office" when he was cast as Stu in "The Hangover." Helms told The Hollywood Reporter, "Just trying to close my deal was such a nightmare because NBC was in first position with my schedule." The showrunner was very helpful, consolidating all of Helms' scenes into two days of shooting. Helms chartered flights, saying, "I'd go from Vegas to Van Nuys Airport at 4 in the morning because we were doing shoots all night, then I'd land in Van Nuys, drive to the set and shoot all day on 'The Office,' completely Red Bull-ed out of my brain."

Tyson once revealed that he spontaneously got the tattoo done and did it because it looked cool. Furthermore, Tyson revealed that he initially wanted to get hearts as a face tattoo but changed his mind at the last moment. As such, Tyson decided to instead get a tattoo that could represent his fierce spirit, and he chose this tattoo.

Issues like how central the tattoo is to the plot, how much of the film it is in and whether it is shown in a non-parody context were the kind of factors a judge would consider when determining if "fair use" was in play, he said.

In conclusion, the true meaning behind Mike Tyson’s face tattoo goes far beyond the surface. It represents his personal transformation, philosophical beliefs, tributes to important figures in his life, and an unwavering statement of individuality. This iconic piece of art has left an indelible mark on popular culture and continues to inspire millions to embrace their own journeys of self-discovery and self-expression.

Despite the ear bite, Tyson had a legendary career, winning 50 fights and 44 by knockout. The 57-year-old six-time heavyweight champion hasn't boxed professionally since 2005 but is returning to fight Paul. Tyson's last fight was an exhibition against Roy Jones Jr. in 2020, which ended in a draw.

If there is proof Ed Helms was born to play Stu in "The Hangover," we don't need to look any further than his right lateral incisor. When the production team was discussing what age did mike tyson get his face tattoo to do about Stu's missing tooth, Helms told them his tooth was an implant he'd had since he was 15. Helms told The Hollywood Reporter, "I talked to my dentist and he said, 'Yeah, we can take it out.' He was a champ. He's in the credits. So he took the tooth out, and he had to make a special piece to then screw into the hole so that the gum tissue stays healthy. He made me a flipper with the fake tooth on it that I could take in and out because I was still shooting on 'The Office.'"

While the outcome of the case was not precedential, Perry's comments were the first time that a government official commented on the copyrightability of tattoos. They were also significant in drawing a distinction between the tattoo's design and application. Despite the case settling, it prompted further discussion of the topic and speculation as to how the case might have proceeded if it had gone to trial.