Melvin Townsend, who was involved in a physical altercation with former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson on a JetBlue flight, is demanding $450,000. Townsend’s attorney has sent a pre-litigation settlement demand to Tyson’s legal team, citing “injuries and damages” from the incident that occurred on a flight from San Francisco to Florida in April last year.
Townsend’s legal team asserts that he was merely a fan excited to engage with Tyson before the conflict escalated. The incident, which was captured on video by other passengers, shows Tyson punching Townsend multiple times. The footage has since gained considerable attention online.
Townsend’s attorney, Jake Jondle, emphasized Tyson’s responsibility, considering his background as a former undisputed heavyweight champion. Jondle criticized Tyson’s choice of physical violence over other possible responses and referenced Tyson’s later admission in a TV interview that his actions were wrong and should not have happened.
Following the incident, Townsend reportedly experienced severe headaches and neck pain and continues to suffer from the assault’s effects. The demand for financial compensation aims to cover ongoing medical care, including treatment for head and neck pain, depression, and PTSD. The settlement, if agreed upon, would prevent Townsend from filing future lawsuits against Tyson.
Mike Tyson’s attorney, Alex Spiro, has rejected the settlement demand, describing it as a “shakedown” related to harassment. Spiro firmly stated, “There will be no shakedown payment.”
The altercation gained media attention after TMZ published footage showing Tyson reacting violently to Townsend, who allegedly threw a water bottle at him. Townsend, who has previous criminal convictions, is depicted in the aftermath with apparent blood on his head. Authorities did not charge Tyson for the incident, and Tyson himself addressed the altercation on a podcast, attributing his reaction to irritation and frustration.
