Boxing legend Mike Tyson was embroiled in controversy on Thursday when video surfaced of him punching a man who was agitating him on an airplane.
Tyson was taking a Jet Blue flight from San Francisco to Florida on Wednesday (conveniently 4/20), when a fellow passenger reportedly harassed him for several minutes. The actions elicited a response from “Iron Mike,” who turned around and threw several punches and bloodied the man.
According to Tyson’s representatives, who issued a statement to USA TODAY Sports, the incident caught on video was essentially exactly what it appeared to be.
“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,” the statement read.
The police also issued comment.
“On Wednesday April 20, 2022, at approximately 10:06 p.m., San Francisco Police officers assigned to the SFPD Airport Bureau were dispatched to a physical altercation onboard an airplane located at the Domestic Terminal of the San Francisco International Airport,” the San Francisco Police Department said in a statement. “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. Both subjects were released … pending further investigation.
“The SFPD is aware of video that possibly captured the incident, which surfaced following the initial investigation. That video has been forwarded to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office.”
The video sparked quite the commotion within the combat sports world. Several figures, from UFC president Dana White to many notable fighter sand personalities, shared their thoughts.
Check out the social media reactions below.
Dana White
USA TODAY Sports
Tito Ortiz
Kelvin Gastelum
Jack Shore
Arjan Bhullar
Joe Giannetti
Jimi Manuwa
Mike Jackson
Kay Hansen
Ben Rothwell
Terrance McKinney
Josh Barnett
Shayna Baszler
Paul Redmond
Thiago Moises
Nik Lentz
James Vick
Mike Wilkinson
Louis Smolka
Billy Quarantillo
Dustin Poirier
Jake Paul
Roque Martinez
David Onama
Montel Jackson
Joe Ellenberger
Josh Thomson
Diana Belbita
Georgi Karakhanyan
Mike Goddard
Jessica Eye
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