Sunday 22 May 2022 08:22 AM Mike Tyson breaks his silence after fight aboard JetBlue flight with 'overly ... trends now

Mike Tyson is speaking for the first time about his fight with an 'overzealous fan' onboard a taxiing plane that was caught on camera.

In a video that has since gone viral, the former undisputed heavyweight champion can be seen having an altercation with Melvin George Townsend III after the man allegedly threw a bottle at Tyson prior to take off the night of April 20.

After watching the video and interviewing both parties involved, the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office decided not to file any charges in connection to the case.

Through his attorney, Townsend has denied throwing a bottle at Tyson and blamed the incident on being 'overly excited.'

The confrontation on the plane and subsequent fight were among the topics of conversation during a recent episode of Tyson's podcast "Hotboxin' With Mike Tyson.

'Yes, they said they ain't gonna pick up charges,' the Brooklyn, New York native joyfully shared initially.

In the video, Tyson could be seen sitting in his first-class seat as Townsend appeared to attempt to talk to him. 

'He was f*****g with me man,' Tyson said of the man's antics, before adding, 'I took pictures with this n****.'

According to Tyson, there's always a possibility of him being confronted with so-called 'overly excited' fans, and that it happens enough that his wife, Lakiha Spencer, doesn't want him flying on commercial flights.

'I shouldn't even be taking public planes,' he continues. 'My wife gets mad I take public planes.'

The self-declared 'baddest man on the planet' in the 1980s, then laid out some scenarios if he were to step up security or fly with some sort of entourage.

'What am I going to do on a f*****g plane with my friends and [a bodyguard] he's supposed to watch me?' he asked co-host DJ Whoo Kid and his podcast guests Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson.

'A bodyguard and a f*****g yes man. What am I gonna do on a plane?' he added.

Tyson went on to describe incidents like the one on the plane as something that 'triggers me.' With the benefit of hindsight, Tyson admits engaging in confrontations with troublesome fans isn't worth the battle. 

When asked if it's a 'losing situation', Tyson revealed: 'Yes. Totally, 100 per cent.'

The San Mateo County District Attorney's Office decided not to file any charges against Tyson 'based on the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.'

Those circumstances include 'the conduct of the victim leading up to the incident, the interaction between Mr. Tyson and the victim, as well as the requests of both the victim and Mr. Tyson that no charges be filed in this case.' 

The former boxer's attorney followed up by thanking '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.'

Video of the incident shows Tyson punching Townsend before the JetBlue flight had taken off from San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale, leaving the Florida man with a bloody forehead.

Townsend initially had a cordial exchange with Tyson, according to TMZ. A witness says he and a friend greeted the 55-year-old former boxer as they boarded the plane and even got their picture taken with Tyson.

Tyson soon grew tired of engaging with Townsend and reportedly asked him to be quiet. When Townsend continued talking, Tyson reportedly then stood, turned, and threw several punches to his face and forehead.

'Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey Mike, come on, stop that,' a witness is heard saying on the cell phone footage.

Another video from the flight shows the aftermath

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