Mike Tyson's most expensive punch: A six-figure scandal!
Would you tick off a former boxing champion on a flight? Well, Melvin Townsend, a passenger onboard a San Francisco-Florida flight did just that and, as the kids would say, he found out pretty quickly...
Footage of the incident was published on TMZ, where you could see the passenger bothering Tyson from behind his seat. After holding out for a few minutes, Mike Tyson turned around and started beating Townsend.
After the incident, Mike Tyson left the aircraft while the passenger received treatment onboard the plane. Townsend didn't suffer any serious injuries, but yet, it is Mike Tyson we are talking about here! The former boxing champion went to report the incident himself to the local police.
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At that time, as reported by TMZ, the San Mateo County District Attorney decided not to file charges against Mike Tyson, claiming that it was the victim's conduct that led to the incident.
Obviously, there were no criminal consequences for Mike Tyson but that does not mean that, a year and a half later, there cannot be administrative or financial consequences...
According to the New York Post, Jake Jondle, the lawyer for the victim, Melvin Townsend, sent a letter to Mike Tyson's lawyer, Alex Spiro, with his client's pre-litigation demands.
Basically, Jake Jondle is asking his client for compensation of $450,000, which, according to the petition, would cover the legal bills of the incident, as well as possible future treatments.
Furthermore, the lawyer assures in his letter that Melvin Townsend "is still suffering the effects of the attack," according to the New York Post.
From the defense side they see this movement as "blackmail" and confirm that "there will be no undue payment."
Tyson's lawyer confirmed to TMZ Sports that not only did Melvin Townsend bother the former boxing champion but he also assaulted him with bottled water. "It seems that the matter will still give more to talk about."