London, Jan 3 (IANS) Former boxer Mike Tyson rang in the New Year as a free man - he won't face charges for lashing out at a paparazzo during a confrontation at Los Angeles International Airport.

And, in a rare show of good will, the L.A. City Attorney has opted not to file charges against the bloodied and bruised snapper either, reports contactmusic.com.

Tyson allegedly punched videographer Tony Echevarria in November at Los Angeles International Airport. He was with his wife, Lakiha Spicer and their 10-month-old daughter Milan.

Both men made citizen's arrests on each other and were later hauled off to a police station, where they were booked for identical misdemeanour battery charges.

Echevarria spoke out about the incident, accusing Tyson of lashing out without provocation. But the former heavyweight champion insists it was the photographer who instigated the altercation by "attacking" him.

Echevarria claimed he needed five stitches after the 43-year-old punched him at least four times.

Tyson feared the incident would violate the terms of his three-year probation from a drug arrest in Arizona in 2007, but the City Attorney rejected the case on New Year's Eve, Dec 31, 2009, citing "insufficient evidence".