Racist Cop Attacks Mike Tyson — Seconds Later, He Instantly Regrets It
What started as a routine traffic stop spiraled into a moment of pure chaos — and a brutal reminder that there are still some men you simply don’t put your hands on.
Witnesses in downtown Los Angeles are still reeling after a white police officer allegedly targeted and physically confronted retired boxing icon Mike Tyson in what many are calling a racially motivated attack. But the officer — now recovering in a hospital — may never forget what happened in the seconds that followed.
It was late evening when Tyson, 58, pulled over outside a private event venue to pick up a friend. Dressed in casual clothes and driving a luxury SUV, he was parked momentarily when a patrol car pulled up behind him with lights flashing. What unfolded after that was described by bystanders as “aggressive, unnecessary, and pure madness.”
“The officer didn’t even ask for ID,” said Kayla Moreno, who filmed part of the incident. “He walked up to Mike’s window shouting, ‘Step out of the vehicle now!’ and reached for the door handle. When Mike calmly asked what was going on, the officer yanked the door open and tried to pull him out. No explanation. No respect. Nothing.”
What the officer either didn’t know — or didn’t care about — was that the man he was putting hands on was one of the most dangerous heavyweights in boxing history. And Tyson, while visibly trying to de-escalate, was pushed past the edge when the officer reportedly shoved him backward and cursed at him.
That’s when it happened.
In the blink of an eye, Tyson landed a single, explosive right hook to the officer’s jaw. The blow was so clean, so fast, that the officer collapsed instantly, face-first onto the pavement — completely unconscious.
Gasps erupted from the growing crowd. Some screamed. Others instinctively started filming. Within minutes, backup arrived, and the scene was swarmed by flashing lights and shouts from every direction.
Tyson immediately raised his hands and voluntarily surrendered, telling one officer on the scene, “I didn’t want to hurt him, but he touched me first. He crossed the line.”
The officer, now identified as Sgt. Paul H. Granger, is reportedly suffering from a broken jaw, fractured cheekbone, and a mild concussion. The LAPD has confirmed an internal investigation is underway, but critics say it’s too little, too late.
Civil rights groups have already descended on the case. “This is yet another example of racially biased policing turning into violence — only this time, they picked the wrong Black man to assault,” said attorney Jalen Morris of the Equal Justice League. “Mike Tyson has the right to defend himself. This wasn’t retaliation. This was survival.”
Social media exploded with support. Within an hour, #MikeTyson, #WrongGuy, and #HeDeservedIt were trending across platforms. Thousands shared clips of the punch, some adding their own commentary: “This is why you don’t test legends,” one user tweeted. “Tyson gave him the fastest performance review of his life.”
Not everyone agreed. Some law enforcement groups called Tyson’s response “disproportionate,” even though footage clearly shows the officer initiating physical contact.
Still, the public sentiment is overwhelmingly on Tyson’s side.
Friends close to the former champ say he’s shaken but unapologetic. “He’s a peaceful man now. But he’s still a warrior,” said longtime trainer Rafael Cordeiro. “If you corner him like an animal, he’ll defend himself — with everything he’s got.”
As the dust settles and the investigations unfold, one truth remains: Mike Tyson didn’t go looking for a fight. But when a fight found him, it was over before it even began.
And this time, the regret belongs to the man who forgot that even legends have limits — and boundaries that should never be crossed.
