London:Boxing legend Mike Tyson is facing a £1.5 million lawsuit for allegedly refusing to participate in a promotional video featuring a giant talking pigeon for the gambling brand Rabona. Tyson, aged 60, along with his promotional company Tyrannic, is being sued by Medier Ltd, the operator of Rabona, in London's High Court for an alleged breach of a sponsorship agreement signed in January 2024.
According to Ghana Web, the promotional event, named "Talking Pigeons," was supposed to feature Tyson answering questions, sharing childhood stories, and teaching a pigeon-costumed presenter how to box, using a mannequin modeled after his former rival, Evander Holyfield. However, Tyson's legal team contends that this concept exceeded the original agreement, which they claim only required him to engage in casino games and other pre-approved activities on Rabona's website.
Medier maintains that Tyson and his company did not meet the agreed livestreaming commitments and withdrew from the agreement without proper notice. The company further alleges that Tyson's interest in the partnership waned after he secured a lucrative deal for his fight against Jake Paul scheduled for November 2024.
The sponsorship deal was reportedly valued at $2 million, with Tyson having received nearly $190,000 before the relationship deteriorated. Interestingly, Tyson's fondness for pigeons is well-known, as he has often spoken about how caring for the birds provided solace during his challenging childhood.