Tony Echevarria PHOTOS: Mike Tyson Photographer Bandaged And Beaten

INF Daily:

Here are the first pictures of the videographer at the centre of the Mike Tyson bust-up at LAX airport yesterday.

Freelance journalist Tony Echevarria spoke exclusively to INF about his horrific beat-down at the hands of the former world champ.

Read the whole story: INF Daily

Comments

[runner2road]

On the oprah show mike portrayed himself a changed man, operating on a higher level. The purpose of the shots were to show him as a family man, a happy stable man traveling from Point A To point B with his family. The Papparazzi's objective was to get the shots, then move on to his next assignment­.Why all of that blood, Lies, inaccurate reports. Instead of facts, reporters copying other reporters lies? Why comment on the compensation end, what Tony should get or not get. Isn't that his business, His serious head wounds,his $5,000.00 bloodied, wrecked camera.His inability to earn a living as a result of that severe head beating.Mi­ke Tyson isn't called iron Mike for nothing.Th­e only reason Tony Echevarria is alive today is because Mike's Bodyguard along with others pulled Mike away.His sole intention was to just keep beating Tony's head. ck. TMZ Photos. PT. 2 The more severe attacks were on the side and back of the head.The truth will prevail. B.E.

[deepfreezevideo]

I've known Tony Vera for a long time and I used to film his act on the Venice Boardwalk.
A lot of folks are automatically lumping him in with all celebrity photographers, saying he got what he deserved. It's real convenient to make Mike Tyson a tragic figure these days.
But if you've ever seen Tony's act, you know that this funny, kind, generous and warmhearted person isn't the monster folks are making him out to be.
Here's Tony from the early 1980's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNfr0VVo5NA

Check YouTube for more recent stuff.
All I am saying is that unless Tony underwent a Jekyll and Hyde transformation, he isn't the nightmare stalker Tyson's attorneys would like for you to believe.

[ramper]

Both ears bandaged? Yikes!

[deepfreezevideo]

Sorry people, I happen to know this particular papparazzo personally.
If you've ever been on the Venice Boardwalk and seen "Tony the Fireman", the guy who wears a genuine NYFD firefighter hat, who spits fire and balances people on a chair on the tip of his chin, that's the guy.
Tony Vera is polite to a fault, courteous and ethical.
Not only that but check out his YouTube channel which has almost ALL of his work.
No stalking or getting in people's faces anywhere to be found.

It's popular to pick on freelance celebrity photographers these days...aft­er all Princess Diana was killed by papparazzos, right?

It's so popular people don't even bother treating them as individuals

[Balzac]

Mike Tyson still has a long road ahead, recovering from his family tragedy. People are pulling for Mike Tyson to find some tranquility and happiness in his life.

Tony Echevarria looks like a tough and direct guy himself and maybe this contributed to the aggressiveness of Mike Tyson's reaction. Perhaps Tony merely wanted to present Mike in a favorable perspective as a devoted family man. Having a personal financial interest in that wouldn't preclude the possibility of respectful intentions.

I hope Tony Echevarria won't press charges because I don't think Mike has a lot of money left to shell out to lawyers or for a settlement.

I don't know the details, but I hope for a reconciliation without unnecessary legal struggles. Maybe a third party with an interest in Mike Tyson's recovery can help Tony Echevarria with his emergency room expenses as a way to prevent unnecessary legal struggles which will cost both of them more money.

My prior comment was perhaps a bit careless because Mike is still a very powerful fighter, not like a typical celebrity who pops off on a paparazzi. Nobody wants to be on the receiving end of his punches. The only reason I bothered to comment is because I'm rooting for Mike's success in his endeavors and for him to have enough privacy and personal space to

[Balzac]

...continu­ed: find some balance in his life.

Now I'm feeling inclined to be more cautious on my commentary because some people just might be reading some of it.

[deepfreezevideo]

Tony's no wimp, but I've watched him handle hecklers and competing acts on the Boardwalk in Venice. I've never ever seen him start a fight, or even contribute anything from his personality that would lend ammunition to an aggressive person.
Real firefighters love this guy, and I've watched him interact with police on many occasions too, and they respect him and treat him like a friend.
So my take on this is, if he was the deranged stalker that people who don't know him are making him out to be, then why is he so popular and well liked on his home turf, by STRANGERS, kids, moms, dads, the wealthy and the homeless alike. I've even seen him work an entire day and not get much in his hat show after show and still hand out a little money to the bums who don't have enough to eat.
Sorry, what I know about the guy doesn't fit the stereotyped "evil papparazzi" image being hung on him like a jacket and I am simply saying that it might be a good thing if he got his fair chance to state his case like everyone else would like if they were in his shoes.
Yeah, he's a papparazzi, but they're not all alike.

[truthserum808]

omg...the bandages, the iv.... that looks like a cartoon version of someone that got in a fight with Mike

[LostFeliz]

This guy deserved it....Even more than Mitch 'Blood' Green did.

[SeaShell226]

.
GOLD DIGGER
.

[beckpod1]

When's the book coming out?
"I Was Punched By Mike Tyson"....­.
Better chase Britteny Spears....­she can't fight back!

[shthar]

Mike just doesn't Grok Spock.

[clearwaterclearmind]

ha ha. that's what you get for hounding a man who just lost a daughter.

no sympathy for the paps.

[Poorsarah]

The dressing wrapped around this guy's head doesn't appear to be the correct way to wrap...qui­te a long tail of the gauze left. Also, the "IV" tubing looks completely fake.

[ECB]

Psst.

A little advice - Don't "F" with Iron Mike !

[Wide Stance]

Right after the pics were taken, the Paparazzi punched the photographer.

[deepfreezevideo]

You mean, he punched him BACK. Tyson had just destroyed a brand new five thousand dollar camcorder. Yeah, I think I'd be looking for a blunt object to knock him upside the head with if he destroyed an expensive piece of gear UNPROVOKED.
Assault is assault, and if you strike someone with being struck first, you've committed assault.
If you want to change that law, that's great but that means someone can walk up to you and knock you out and then later claim you were harassing them.
I don't think a poorly written modification to a law that has stood for hundreds of years is the answer to the problems celebs have with aggressive photographers.
Yeah, it's real easy to make photographers into the enemy these days.