Tatt would have been painful! Mike Tyson tweets that he is getting his face tattoo removed... but it's all an April Fools' joke

PUBLISHED: 11:55 EST, 1 April 2013 | UPDATED: 04:37 EST, 2 April 2013

He has had it for ten years, but it seems Mike Tyson may have grown sick of his facial tattoo.

The boxer tweeted on Monday that he was about to get laser treatment to have the ink removed.

Fortunately, Mike’s announcement was just an April Fools’ joke.

Ditching the ink?: Mike Tyson tweeted on Monday that he was having his famous facial tattoo removed

The 46-year-old posted on his Twitter page: ‘At the doctors office this morning. Getting this tattoo removed from my face. This is going to be painful.’

The heavyweight then retweeted a message from one of his fans urging him to keep the inking.

‘@MikeTyson is getting his face tattoo removed !!!!!!’ the user wrote. ‘Don't do it mike!!!’

Teasing tweet: Fortunately the announcement was just an April Fool's prank from the boxer

Ten years in: It is understood that the star, pictured right in 1999, got the tattoo in early 2003

He even started the hashtag '#GoodbyeMikeTysonTattoo'. But after an hour the called April Fools, and tweeted: 'Ok. April Fools. There is no #GoodbyeMikeTysonTattoo. This tattoo is with me forever.'

It is understood that Mike got the swirling tattoo, which stretches from his forehead to his cheek on the left side of his face, in early 2003.

It can take several sessions using a laser to remove a tattoo, and the process is said to be extremely painful.

Keeping busy: Mike has cameo roles in upcoming films Scary Movie 5 and The Hangover Part III

Mike is set to appear in cameo roles in upcoming film Scary Movie 5 and The Hangover Part III. In the second installation of The Hangover, Ed Helms' character Stu gets a tattoo to match Mike's.

Meanwhile the star is currently performing in a one-man show, Undisputed Truth, which has been praised by critics.

Last month Charlize Theron, David Arquette and other celebrities joined a sold out crowd as the show opened at the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood.

Winning over critics: Mike, pictured in Las Vegas on Saturday, is currently starring in a one-man show, Undisputed Truth

Comedy gold: Ed Helms' character Stu gets a tattoo to match Mike's in The Hangover Part II

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i think he suits the tattoo not many could pull it off but he does

- TheTruth.com , leeds, United Kingdom, 02/4/2013 12:48

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Marketing..... right.... thats what hes famed for....

- Bee Gee , Derby, 02/4/2013 10:27

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Even if he wanted to get that tattoo off, not only would it be excruciatingly painful, but would leave scarring and he could not regain his natural coloring. Why people make decisions to forever disfigure their natural skin with these ugly pigmented tattoos is totally foreign to my mentality.Tattoos are a mark of the low-class.

- Barbara Morgan , Baltimore USA, 02/4/2013 02:53

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not much of an April Fools joke. More like a good idea!

- Adam , Sydney, Australia, 02/4/2013 02:21

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I admire Mike Tyson for going vegan because it is a lifestyle that is more kind. He says that he wishes he had always been vegan.

- sookie , sydney, Australia, 02/4/2013 00:35

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What a comedian . . . Not

- Sophie , Chester, 02/4/2013 00:17

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I like him..