A man who claims he was “viciously assaulted” by Mike Tyson on a commercial flight is demanding £350,000 in compensation.
The former world heavyweight boxing champion was filmed repeatedly punching passenger Melvin Townsend on a JetBlue flight from San Francisco in April.
Mobile phone footage appeared to show Tyson, 57, leaning over the back of his seat and delivering a flurry of blows to the passenger as another man says: "Hey Mike, Mike, let's stop that, c'mon."
A representative for Tyson said at the time that the passenger had been aggressive.
"Unfortunately, Mr Tyson had an incident on a flight with an aggressive passenger who began harassing him and threw a water bottle at him while he was in his seat," Tyson's spokesman said.
Mr Townsend’s legal representatives are now demanding £350,000 in compensation after incurring heavy medical costs, The Sun reports.
His lawyers claim that the attack left him with pain in the head and neck as well as a loss of consciousness, concussion and contusion on the head.
A letter addressed to Tyson's representatives reads: "If we are unable to reach an agreement, we will continue to prepare Mr. Townsend's case for the filing of a lawsuit."
It continues: "There is no need for a lengthy summary of the events at issue – video of Mr. Tyson repeatedly punching Mr. Townsend is widely available on the Internet. In short, it is our position that Mr. Townsend was excited to see your client on the flight, began discussing the marijuana industry and psychedelic mushrooms with him, and Mr. Tyson became annoyed.
"Mr. Tyson then reached over the seat, grabbed Mr. Townsend by the shirt collar, and proceeded to repeatedly punch him in the head."
Tyson's lawyer Alex Spiro rejected the call for a settlement, stating: "I have received a shakedown letter related to some instigator's harassment of Mike a year ago and the aftermath.
"There will be no shakedown payment."
