Mike Tyson sued by Medier Ltd, owner of Rabona, over abandoned gambling ad featuring a talking pigeon

Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is facing a legal battle in London's High Court over a sponsorship deal with Rabona, an online casino brand. Medier Ltd, the company responsible for promoting the brand, claims Tyson and his promotional firm, Tyrannic LLC, failed to honour the terms of an agreement signed in January 2024. The dispute centres on a planned advertising campaign that would have seen the boxer appear alongside a giant talking pigeon.

Medier is seeking around £1.5 million in damages, equivalent to approximately $2 million. The company alleges that Tyson withdrew from the campaign after agreeing to fight YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, whose exhibition bout reportedly earned Tyson $15 million.

What Was Included in the Rabona Sponsorship Deal?

The agreement reportedly required Tyson to take part in promotional activities for Rabona, including filmed gambling sessions and a public relations event at a major gaming conference in Amsterdam scheduled for July 16–19, 2024.

One of the proposed campaign concepts was a show called Talking Pigeons. The format involved Tyson being interviewed by a presenter dressed as an oversized pigeon. During the programme, the boxer was expected to discuss his childhood, demonstrate boxing techniques and play casino games on Rabona's website.

The unusual concept has become a central point in the legal dispute. According to the arguments presented in court, Tyson's representatives considered the proposed format to be outside the scope of the activities covered by the sponsorship agreement.

The defence maintains that Tyson had agreed to appear on camera while playing casino games, including slots, poker and roulette, but had not committed to taking part in a scripted entertainment show. Tyson and Tyrannic deny breaching their contractual obligations.

Jake Paul Fight at the Centre of the Dispute

Medier has put forward a different account of why the partnership fell apart. The company argues that Tyson lost interest in the Rabona campaign after the opportunity to fight Jake Paul emerged.

The bout, which was eventually held in November 2024, attracted a global audience through Netflix. It had initially been scheduled for July 20, 2024, placing the original fight date close to the Amsterdam conference where Tyson was expected to make a promotional appearance.

Medier's legal team argues that the timing of the fight and the restrictions associated with Tyson's Netflix agreement may have influenced his decision to withdraw. The sponsorship dispute therefore concerns not only the proposed pigeon-themed advert but also the extent of Tyson's existing contractual commitments.

Why the Talking Pigeons Concept Matters

The proposed campaign has attracted attention because of Tyson's well-known affection for pigeons. In his autobiography, the boxer described the importance of the birds during his childhood and recalled a violent confrontation that followed the killing of one of his pigeons.

That personal connection makes the proposed advert particularly unusual. However, the central question for the court is not whether the concept was appropriate or entertaining, but whether Tyson was contractually required to participate in it.

The lawsuit was filed in October 2024, and the High Court proceedings are now bringing further details of the disagreement into the public domain. The outcome will depend on the contract's terms and the evidence presented by both sides.

Celebrity involvement in gambling rarely goes unnoticed, and not always for the right reasons. Tyson’s dispute with Rabona stems from an advertising deal, while Conor McGregor has come under fire over his planned appearance at SiGMA World 2026. Whether the issue is a disagreement between a brand and its ambassador or criticism from the public, these cases keep the question of celebrity gambling promotion in the spotlight. Many countries are responding by tightening advertising rules.