Man Who Talked Back to Tyson and Got Hit by the 'Iron Fist' Says "Will Settle for 600 Million Won"

Tyson Assaulted Drunk Passenger on Plane Last Year

A man from the United States who was assaulted after provoking former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson (57) demanded a settlement of $450,000. This amount is equivalent to approximately 580 million KRW.

The victim speaking to Tyson and the victim's appearance after being assaulted
[Photo by TMZ Sports capture · Yonhap News]

The New York Post reported on the 30th (local time) that Melvin Townsend, who was assaulted by Tyson on a passenger plane departing from San Francisco on April 20 last year, conveyed this demand to Tyson's side.

At the time, Townsend sat in the seat behind Tyson. Recognizing Tyson, Townsend asked to take a photo together. Tyson took a photo and talked with Townsend as requested, but when Townsend gradually provoked and mocked him, Tyson lost patience and punched him in the face.

After throwing the punch, Tyson voluntarily got off the plane, and the passenger received emergency treatment and reported the incident to the local police.

Image source=Yonhap News

Tyson's side claimed, "The other party harassed me by throwing a water bottle and was intoxicated, continuing to provoke me," adding, "He is responsible for this incident." The prosecution decided not to indict Tyson considering the circumstances.

However, Townsend claimed that he suffered severe pain in his neck and head due to Tyson's assault and is experiencing depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), demanding compensation. He also stated that he lost his job after the assault became public and threatened to file a formal lawsuit if the settlement is not paid.

But Tyson's side stated that they have no intention of paying the settlement.

Tyson, who spent a difficult youth in a poor neighborhood, started boxing at age 12 after repeatedly entering juvenile detention centers, and at age 20 in 1986, he became the youngest WBC heavyweight champion. However, in the 1990s, he gained notoriety for involvement in drugs, violence, and rape incidents.