LOS ANGELES, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Former WBC heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was released by police after he was booked on suspicion of battery against a photographer at the Los Angeles International Airport Wednesday afternoon.

    The former boxer got into a fight in Terminal 7 near a United Airlines counter about 4:30 p.m. Tyson told police a photographer struck him in an attempt to provoke him, while the latter claimed Tyson allegedly punched him, grabbed his camera and he went down. The photographer suffered a "minor laceration to the forehead," police said.

    A Tyson representative told TMZ.com that Tyson was traveling with his 10-month-old daughter, and he was acting in self-defense when he was confronted by an aggressive photographer.

    Tyson was held briefly in a cell at the airport. He was later transferred to the 77th Street Station and was booked on suspicion of battery and released about 8:25 p.m. on 20,000 dollars bail, local reports said.

    The 43-year-old boxing king won the WBC title in 1986. He bit off a piece of Evander Holyfield's ear when they met in a rematch and was disqualified. He was arrested several times for rape, driving under the influence and possession of cocaine. His 4-year-old daughter Exodus died in an accident earlier this year, a heavy blow to him.