A man repeatedly punched by Mike Tyson in a viral video taken on a JetBlue flight is suing the former heavyweight champ — 2 years after the incident

A man who was punched repeatedly by Mike Tyson in first-class on a flight in 2022 has filed a lawsuit against the former boxing champion and airline JetBlue.

The incident occurred on a late-night flight from San Francisco to Florida on April 20, 2022 and went viral after video footage filmed by another passenger was shared by TMZ.

Tyson’s reps told the Associated Press at the time that the man seated behind Tyson was “an aggressive passenger who began harassing him and threw a water bottle at him while he was in his seat.”

In an episode of his podcast a month after the incident, Tyson said the passenger was “fucking with me,” adding that he shouldn’t fly on “public planes.”

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Around the same time, the San Mateo County District Attorney said it would not file criminal charges against the former world heavyweight champion, citing “the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.”

“It is simply a case that does not belong in the criminal court. If they want to sue each other, that’s their business,” the DA said.

In December 2023, the passenger, Melvin Townsend, sent a “pre-litigation settlement demand” requesting $450,000 to resolve the incident without taking it to court, the LA Times reported.

Tyson’s lawyer told the Times there would be no “shakedown payment.”

On April 19, 2024, Townsend filed a complaint with the San Mateo County Superior Court, one day before a two-year statute of limitations came into effect for some of the claims.

Per Townsend’s account of the incident in the complaint, he and a friend noticed they were seated directly behind Tyson as they boarded the plane.

Townsend, then 36, claims he initiated a conversation with the star, expressing admiration for Tyson’s “illustrious boxing career” and buying alcoholic drinks for him and themselves.

He describes himself as “a fan of Mr. Tyson who was happy to be speaking to one of his childhood heroes.”

Tyson offered them psilocybin mushrooms, the complaint claims, which the pair declined.

According to the court documents, the boxer then turned to his companion, a man he referred to as his manager, asking for some psilocybin mushrooms for himself. His companion declined to give him them.

“Suddenly and without warning or provocation,” Tyson stood up from his seat, turned around, and began punching Townsend repeatedly while standing over him.

“Mr. Tyson punched Plaintiff numerous times in the head, face, and neck, tore the neck of Plaintiff’s shirt, and caused Plaintiff to bleed from both sides of his head,” the complaint says.

The boxer’s companion tried to stop the attack by putting his body between the two men and taking some blows himself before Tyson eventually stopped, the suit says.

Townsend stated he was punched about 10 times.

Describing himself as 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 170 pounds, he said he had no way to defend himself “due to Mr. Tyson’s extraordinary strength and decades of professional fighting training and skill.”

The incident has left Townsend with physical and emotional distress, according to the complaint.

The lists seven complaints for damages. Three are against Tyson, claiming assault, battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Four are against JetBlue, claiming negligence, common carrier liability, premises liability, and negligent hiring, retention, and supervision.

Townsend is requesting a trial by jury to decide the outcome.

Tyson’s representatives told Business Insider he “will be 100% refuting these ridiculous claims.”

Mike Tyson showed just how powerful he was, scoring an eight-second KO as an amateur.

Heavyweight legend ‘Iron Mike’ has had a stellar career in boxing, having achieved it all at professional level, retiring in 2005 after reigning as undisputed world champion from 1987 to 1990.

But his credentials were certainly proven at amateur level, where he won a gold medal at the 1981 Junior Olympics in the heavyweight division.

And in the final, the heavy-handed American made a statement like no other with the landmark event lasting just eight seconds against rival Joe Cortez.

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Tyson quickly burst out from his corner with just one intention, and began loading up some vicious shots.

But after just eight seconds with Cortez clearly way out of his depth, the 15-year-old at the time landed a crushing right-left combination which sent his opponent crumpling to the canvas.

Cortez was left flat on his back out cold, and the referee immediately waved off the fight while seeking medical attention for the silver medallist.

Tyson’s quickfire KO came as no surprise, with the amateur champion seen as one of the most dynamic punchers to have come through at the time.

He went on to win another gold medal at the 1982 version of the tournament, before making the step to the professional ranks with a huge reputation.

A glittering career went just as quickly from strength to strength, seeing him rise to become the youngest ever heavyweight world champion aged 20, when he beat Trevor Berbick with another thumping KO in November 1986.

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The feared puncher went on to share the rings with some greats including Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and Larry Holmes in a stint that saw him go down as one of the greatest of all-time.

Tyson did go out with a whimper at the back end of his career, losing three of his last four fights before hanging up his gloves in 2005.

After returning to face Roy Jones Jr in an exhibition in 2020, Tyson has now announced a new comeback fight on July 20 against Jake Paul.

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Surprisingly the contest has been sanctioned as a professional fight, despite the 31-year age gap between the pair.

He has also received a host of medical warnings from doctors over his health if he receives punches as a veteran, but has ignored them to pursue a contest which will count on his record.