Pot that drove the punch: Mike Tyson reveals why he beat man on airplane

Mike Tyson, former professional boxer, was in the news recently for having punched a co-passenger on an airplane. He was asked about it on Thursday, on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live‘ and the 55-year-old started off by pleading ignorance. 

“That’s not me. Does that look like me?” he said, continuing, “I’m usually good at this stuff. I guess it was his number.” 

The boxer insisted that he usually shows restraint in face of agitators, but followed this up with the admission that he was “high and pissed off” when the incident went down. 

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“I was wrong”, Tyson said, adding “That should’ve never happened. That’s me back in my primitive child stages. I shouldn’t have done it.” 

He continued, “I was just irritated and tired — and high and pissed off. Sh-t happens. I don’t want to hurt nobody.” 

The incident in question took place on April 20, when Tyson was flying from San Francisco to Florida. He reportedly was agitated by a man named Melvin Townsend III, who was seated behind him and kept talking “in his ear”, despite the boxer asking him not to. 

At the time, Tyson was travelling to promote his marijuana business, and the former pro wasn’t charged in connection with the incident. 

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In May, Tyson first spoke publicly about the matter on an episode of the ‘Hotboxin’ podcast, saying, “They said they ain’t gonna pick up charges. He was f–king with me, man. I shouldn’t even be taking public planes. My wife gets mad I take public planes.” 

On the same episode of Kimmel’s show., Tyson dressed up as a bee and posted a video of the same on his Instagram. 

He also played ‘Mike Tyson is right behind you …’ where audience members commented on the boxing icon before coming face to face with him.

Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion of all time at the age of 20, in 1986. He then left the sport to build his cannabis empire.