Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson could have to pay out a massive £350,000 after repeatedly punching a man on a plane last year.
Tyson had allegedly become annoyed with a passenger who wouldn't leave him alone during a JetBlue flight that departed from San Francisco, USA in April 2022.
On an episode of his Hotboxin' with Mike Tyson podcast, he stated that the passenger was 'f***ing with him' and wouldn't stop bothering him despite his requests to leave him alone.
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Tyson is then said to have grabbed the passenger by the collar and punched him repeatedly.
At the time, no charges were made against the boxer after all parties involved declined to file any.
However, the passenger, Mike Townsend, is now demanding £350,000 in damages after incurring hefty medical costs following the incident.
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In a letter from his lawyer, Jake Jondle, to Tyson's representatives, Townsend has outlined his demands and threatens a lawsuit if they are not met.
The letter reads: "If we are unable to reach an agreement, we will continue to prepare Mr. Townsend's case for the filing of a lawsuit."
It continues: "There is no need for a lengthy summary of the events at issue – video of Mr. Tyson repeatedly punching Mr. Townsend is widely available on the Internet. In short, it is our position that Mr. Townsend was excited to see your client on the flight, began discussing the marijuana industry and psychedelic mushrooms with him, and Mr. Tyson became annoyed.
"Mr. Tyson then reached over the seat, grabbed Mr. Townsend by the shirt collar, and proceeded to repeatedly punch him in the head."
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Townsend claims to have experienced a number of medical issues following the incident, including pain in his head and neck, concussion, nausea, memory issues and depression.
He also suffered cuts to his forehead after Tyson allegedly threw a bottle at him.
At the time of the incident, Townsend did not have medical insurance and he claims he has had to pay out significant costs for treatment.
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Since the incident occurred, 57-year-old Tyson has admitted that he was in the wrong, saying: " I was wrong, that should've never happened.
"That's me back in my primitive child stages, I shouldn't of done that, but I was just irritated, tired, high, and pissed off. S*** happens."
However, Tyson's lawyer Alex Spiro has rejected the call for a settlement, stating: "I have received a shakedown letter related to some instigator's harassment of Mike a year ago and the aftermath.
"There will be no shakedown payment."
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LADbible has contacted Spiro for further comment.
Topics: Celebrity, Mike Tyson, Plane Etiquette, Travel, US News, Money
Bec Oakes