Who is Melvin Townsend III, the man who got punched by Mike Tyson on plane?

The man who got punched by boxing legend Mike Tyson on board a JetBlue flight from San Francisco to Florida on Thursday has been identified as Melvin George Townsend, III.

Who is Melvin George Townsend III?

Melvin George Townsend III reportedly has a long criminal record and has been convicted of several charges, including fraud, grand theft, burglary, possession of controlled substances and trafficking in stolen property in the past. 

Also Read: 
Vijay Devarakonda shoots with Mike Tyson for ‘Liger’ in US. Watch

In 2018, the 36-year-old reportedly broke into a property and stole a trailer.

He reportedly has been jailed twice- once for 20 months and another time for 15 months.

Also Read: Viral Video! BTS’s Jungkook Shows Off His Boxing Skills

On Thursday, a video of Mike Tyson punching him repeatedly on a flight surfaced on the internet. 

The video showed Tyson leaning over the back of his seat repeatedly striking the man, later identified as Townsend, in the head, drawing blood. 

“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,” representatives for Tyson said in an email to The Associated Press.

Also Read: From bedroom to the ring; pillow fighting becomes professional sport

Prior to the physical altercation, the man is seen on the video standing over Tyson’s seat, waving his arms and talking animatedly while the former boxer sits quietly.

San Francisco police responded Wednesday around 10 p.m. to a “physical altercation” on a plane at the airport’s domestic terminal, officials said.

“Officers arrived and detained two subjects that were believed to be involved in the incident. One subject was treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries. That subject provided minimal details of the incident and refused to cooperate further with the police investigation,” police said in a statement Thursday.