His previous heavyweight opponents have included Robert Mugabe and Henry Kissinger. Now the gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell is claiming something of a victory over Mike Tyson, the boxer, after confronting the former heavy weight world champion outside his gym in Memphis and demanding that he stop using homophobic language.
Tyson, who is due to fight Lennox Lewis on Saturday, shook Tatchell's hand, hugged another placard-waving protester and insisted that he had nothing against gay people. Challenged to make a positive statement supporting lesbian and gay rights, Tyson said: "I oppose all discrimination against gay people, OK."
The boxer was criticised earlier this year for calling a journalist a "fucking faggot". He said his use of words like "faggot" was not intended as an insult to the gay community. "I might use them but I don't mean them," he said, though he did not promise to stop.
A week of protests planned against Tyson may now be called off. Tatchell said: "I hope Mike's remarks are sincere and not just a PR move."