‘Shouldn’t be taking public planes’: Mike Tyson reveals why he punched man on flight

Boxing icon Mike Tyson has revealed why he punched a passenger on his flight, saying his wife doesn’t even like him taking public planes.

For the first time since a viral video showed Mike Tyson throwing punches at an overzealous fan on a flight last month, the former heavyweight champion spoke publicly about the incident.

The New York Post reports Melvin Townsend III and Tyson got into it on an April 20 flight, a video published by TMZ showed, with Townsend allegedly throwing a water bottle at Tyson. Charges were not filed by the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

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“They said they ain’t gonna pick up charges,” Tyson said on the most recent episode of his Hotboxin podcast. “He was f***ing with me, man.

“I shouldn’t even be taking public planes. My wife gets mad I take public planes.”

Tyson, 55, said he took pictures with Townsend before the incident. He didn’t sound like he wanted to be travelling with security or friends to watch his back.

“A bodyguard and a f***ing yes man. What am I gonna do on a plane?” Tyson said.

Mike Tyson lost his cool on the plane. (Photo by JC Olivera/Getty Images)

A witness told TMZ Tyson told Townsend to leave him alone, but the boxer started swinging when he refused to back off.

The New York Post reported a source close to Tyson claimed Townsend was “extremely intoxicated” and “wouldn’t stop provoking” him, resulting in an onslaught of punches.

However, earlier this month, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe told AFP there would be no charges against the former fighter.

“We have reviewed the police reports of the San Francisco Police Department and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office and have viewed the various videos collected by law enforcement from others on the aeroplane,” Wagstaffe said.

“Our decision is that we will not file any charges against Mr Tyson based on the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.

“These 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.”

This story first appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission