Mike Tyson has awkward moment with security guard at Miami Open

Mike Tyson took a break from training for his highly-anticipated fight against Jake Paul. The legendary boxer stopped by the Miami Open to enjoy some tennis, but found himself in an awkward run-in with a security guard.

On Tuesday, Tyson attended the Miami Open to watch the quarterfinal match between No. 27 Victoria Azarenka and Yulia Putintseva. Yet upon trying to get to his seat, he was stopped by a security guard who refused to let him pass until there was a stoppage in play.

Sky Sports commentators directed their attention to Tyson, who seemed to grow slightly annoyed while having to wait on the steps before being seated. One of the announcers heralded the guard as “brave,” jokingly asking, “You know this is Mike Tyson?”

“Iron Mike” has not been shy about expressing his love for tennis in the past. His daughter Milan grew a knack for the sport at just three years old and has developed into a rising star, even training with Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

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While speaking with Mouratoglou back in 2022, Tyson shared that tennis had changed his life and “broadened my horizons.” “Our whole life has changed over tennis,” he said. “I thought we were doing well and everything, and everything we were doing was making money, but that’s not bigger than my daughter playing tennis.

“She’s bigger than everything in our life now,” he continued. “I see her transcending into something she would never have before if she hadn’t got involved in tennis.”

Milan isn’t the only tennis player that Tyson enjoys watching, either. The 57-year-old frequents matches at the US Open and Indian Wells, among other professional tournaments.

This isn’t the first time that Tyson has faced an issue getting to his seats at the Miami Open. At last year’s tournament, he delayed the final between Elena Rybakina and Petra Kvitova after arriving fashionably late.

As Rybakina was going through her serve routine, the umpire noticed Tyson was still standing and called for all spectators to take their seats. Once the former heavyweight champion reached his chair and sat down, the crowd around him erupted in cheers. An additional break ensued, with play finally resuming after the noise died down.

This year’s Miami Open has been full of surprises, with several big names falling in the early rounds. On Monday, No. 1 seed Iga Swiatek lost to Ekaterina Alexandrova (6-4, 6-2). Just several hours prior, U.S. Open champion and No. 3 seed Coco Gauff was knocked out by No. 23 Caroline Garcia in three sets (6-3, 1-6, 6-2).

Following a brief break from boxing, Tyson’s attention will likely re-focus on his upcoming bout versus Paul. The two will step into the ring on July 20 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with Netflix broadcasting the event.