Mike Tyson‘s recent defeat in the ring against Jake Paul may not be the end of his troubles as the legendary boxer is now at the center of a legal battle over his use of a well-known hip-hop track in promotional material ahead of the bout.
A producer named Ty Fyffe has filed a lawsuit against the 59-year-old on the grounds that the boxer allegedly used the 1998 track Murdergram, featuring Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule, without proper authorization.
Fyffe, who says he co-wrote and produced the track for the Streets Is Watching soundtrack, claims Tyson included the song in a social media video promoting his November 2024 fight with Paul.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ Hip Hop, the video showed Iron Mike training in the gym with Murdergramas the backing music and Fyffe asserts that no permission was sought and no payment was made for the usage.
The lawsuit seeks damages as well as an injunction to prevent Tyson from using the song in the future, considering its historical significance in hip hop circles and connection to the prestigious artists who created it.
It was one of the few songs recorded by Jay-Z, DMX, and Ja Rule when they briefly attempted to form a supergroup under the name “Murder Inc.” Although the group never fully materialized, Murdergram remains one of their most notable collaborations.
Mike Tyson sends Terence Crawford warning ahead of Canelo fight
Away from the legal case, Tyson has also been in the headlines for offering pointed advice to another high-profile fighter as he warns Terence Crawford of the risk of fighting Canelo Alvarez.
Crawford, currently undefeated at 41-0-0 (31 KOs), will move up two weight divisions to challenge Canelo for the undisputed super middleweight title on September 13 in what is expected to be one of the biggest fights of the year.
“Brother, he can do whatever he wants,” Tyson said to ES News. “But I don’t think it’s a good idea. I just don’t think so.
“What would he gain from it? I don’t know… I don’t think it’s a good idea. There have been people who’ve done crazy things like that before, but I don’t think he needs to do it.”
The bout will headline the launch of TKO Boxing, with the UFC President, Dana White, acting as lead promoter and Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh providing additional backing.
Crawford, already a dominant champion in his own division, may have more to lose than gain. Yet, in contrast, Mauricio Sulaiman, President of the World Boxing Council, has praised the matchup, framing it as the latest chapter in a storied sporting rivalry.
“Canelo vs. Crawford has all the elements to be a superfight,” Sulaiman said. “Intertwining the legendary sporting rivalry between Mexico and the United States…
“This fight, in particular, is at the highest level in a football stadium, with the undisputed championship on the line. It couldn’t get any better.”
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