Retired former world champion Mike Tyson still has some power, as he displayed on a plane ride back to Florida toward a passenger who was reportedly egging him on.
TMZ Sports first reported the incident from 2022, which was on a JetBlue flight leaving from San Fransisco International Airport. Tyson was attending a cannabis festival at Golden Gate Park before the incident.
In the video, the unidentified man was reported to be "extremely intoxicated" and tried taking a selfie with Tyson. He then continued to talk to Tyson, with the idea that he was “provoking” him enough for Tyson to lean over the seat and land shots to his face.
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Another passenger, who may have been friends with the man getting attacked, recorded the interaction. “My boy just got beat up by Mike Tyson,” the passenger stated. “Yeah, he got f----- up.”
Tyson walked off the plane not long after, and the passenger, who was bleeding, has now contacted authorities.
Tyson is one of the most dangerous power punchers in boxing history, with 44 wins via knockout. A 1984 Golden Gloves winner, Tyson made his pro debut in 1985. In 1986, at age 20, Tyson won the WBC heavyweight title against Trevor Berbick. The ex-champ has beaten the likes of Michael Spinks, Frank Bruno, and Larry Holmes. His most famous defeats came against Buster Douglas, Evander Holyfield, and Lennox Lewis.
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"Iron Mike,” who became undisputed champion, last fought professionally in 2005 in a losing effort against Kevin McBride. He returned to action in 2020, fighting Roy Jones Jr. to a draw in a lucrative exhibition bout. Outside of fighting, Tyson produces a podcast called "Hotboxin With Mike Tyson" and owns a cannabis company.
This is not the first time Tyson has been involved in trouble. He served roughly three years in prison in the 90s after being convicted of rape. In the ring, he bit Evander Holyfield's ears in 1997.
UPDATE: TMZ Sports has reported that Tyson will not be facing criminal charges for punching a man while aboard a JetBlue flight from California to Florida. The San Mateo County District Attorney told TMZ that the conduct of the man leading up to the punch, along with the interaction between the two, resulted in the no-charges call. There was also a request by both the victim (Melvin Townsend III) and Tyson to dismiss any potential charges.
"We thank San Mateo District Attorney Stephen Wagstaffe, the San Mateo County Sheriff, and all law enforcement agencies involved in this investigation for their careful, diligent, and professional work," said David Z. Chesnoff, Richard A. Schonfeld and Martin A. Sabelli, Tyson's attorneys.
UPDATE (Dec. 1, 2023): The case has become relevant again. Townsend's lawyer sent Tyson a “pre-litigation settlement demand” for “injuries and damages” suffered last year. Per reports, Townsend has stated his life has never been the same since the incident, with multiple headaches and neck pain.
Townsend also reportedly lost several jobs and couldn’t pay for medical care, initially because he didn’t have medical insurance.
“As a former undisputed heavyweight champion, the potential to cause severe injuries to another person goes without question,” wrote Townsend’s attorney Jake Jondle via The New York Post. “There were several other remedies available to Mr. Tyson, but he chose physical violence. Immediately after the incident, Mr. Townsend had a severe headache and neck pain” and “is still suffering with the effects of the assault to this day.”
The representative of Tyson called the demand a “shakedown letter,” emphasizing there would be no “shakedown payment.”
