Paparazzo Plays Mike Tyson's Punch-Out

Former heavyweight champ busted for allegedly hitting a photographer who was following him around at LAX

Mike Tyson. Now there is someone you want to piss off.

The former boxing champ was arrested Wednesday afternoon at Los Angeles International Airport after allegedly punching a paparazzo who was trailing him from terminal to terminal and, at one point, followed him into a bathroom.

Both men ended up in custody, however, after Tyson told police that the shutterbug had laid hands on him first to provoke him.

Always a good idea.

X17online.com reported that Tyson was in search of misplaced luggage after returning to L.A. from England and had his wife, Lakiha, and 10-month-old daughter, Milan, with him. A rep for the fallen star, who still cuts an imposing figure, told TMZ.com that Tyson was acting in self-defense.

The 43-year-old heavyweight lost his 4-year-old daughter Exodus earlier this year when the toddler accidentally hanged herself on a treadmill cord in her mother's Arizona home.

"There's a lot of different versions to the story," said Los Angeles Airport Police Sgt. Jim Holcomb. "That's all going to come out later. But in this particular case, both individuals are going to be pressing charges for battery."

Holcomb adds that the photographer, who was not identified by police but whom E! News has learned is named Tony Vera, was treated at a nearby hospital for cuts on the forehead.

Tyson was booked on suspicion of battery and released from custody shortly before 8:30 p.m. after posting $20,000 bail.