'You don’t want to hear me say that:' Mike Tyson talks vaccine, death, new film
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — At the building where Mike Tyson’s cannabis company is housed, the legendary boxer sat down in a unique room.
Unique in that it was free of the smell of marijuana.
The aroma wafted through several other areas, including where Tyson, 55, and several of his employees were sampling the signature product, UNDISPUTED87.
What is also undisputed: “Iron Mike,’’ the erstwhile Baddest Man on the Planet, one of the most fearsome boxers in the sport’s history, loves an activity where there’s no need to ball up his fist and knock men out.
He loves to talk. Such as last week.
Philosophy, bullying, the COVID-19 vaccine and Evander Holyfield were among the topics covered in a Q&A with Paste BN Sports that was lightly edited for clarity – and to account for the influence of cannabis.
COVID-19: Mike Tyson said he has been vaccinated for COVID-19 but 'didn’t do it willingly'
You’ve gotten more philosophical over the years. That’s become like core Mike Tyson.
Tyson: Listen, it’s just that, everyone becomes philosophical. The expiration date (on life) makes you become philosophical. And without the expiration date, we wouldn’t give a (expletive) about philosophical stuff. We’re trying to understand how we’re going to take this with dignity, how we’re going to die with dignity. That’s all this mystic stuff and meditating and everything. Preparing us for death. Take death with dignity … People have been known to stress themselves to death and it’s a fact. People stress themselves to death. I’m not doing that. Even if I’m in the flood, I’m going to stay calm and relaxed and hope God saves me.
Do you think about your expiration date?
Tyson: Periodically, yes. Yes.
And what kind of impact does it have on you?
Tyson: It has this. I have to be the squirrel and I have to hunt for my nuts and prepare for wintertime, for my children and my wife and my family, my nieces and nephews. We’ve got to prepare for the future because we might not be here the next winter. That’s what life is all about, preparing for the unknown. Pretty much, right? Preparing for the unknown. And then we think, ‘Hey, why was I created to die? Why would God create me in this beautiful world and then make me miserable, I got to die. Why I got to die? Everything’s going right, God, why do I have to die? (Laughs). You ever think that? Why did you make me anyway? For me to stress out about dying?
Are you vaccinated, and how do you feel about people who are refusing to get the jab?
Tyson: Yes, I am vaccinated. But I must say, if I could be kind enough to say, I didn’t do it willingly. I’m a little apprehensive of that. I was pretty much beaten into submission to do this because I travel internationally, and if I don’t travel we don’t eat. And so I decided to take the risk and take the shot. And people, they have their own choice. I never got sick. And I think the symptoms of this COVID thing is feeling good, right? As the symptoms you just start feeling and then something bad happens. I might have caught it but I feel great now. I really feel well. The best I ever felt.
Did you have COVID?
Tyson: No. But I thought I might of because I was coughing a lot and I was in this place with a lot of people. The whole day I was just coughing, throwing up water, so I was dehydrated.
You’re in an action movie starring Bruce Willis that’s due out next year.
Tyson: What is it called?
Vendetta, I think it is. And to me it was like Mike Tyson and action movies just struck me as right.
Tyson: Basically Mr. Willis invited me to be in the movie. I’m just really humbled by it.
What can you tell me about the movie and your role?
Tyson: I’m just a gangster, a gang figure that steals a lot of money but have a big hit squad as well.
Was this as fun as The Hangover?
Tyson: It’s far, far from The Hangover, but it’s pretty exciting.
Last spring you said you were going to fight Lennox Lewis in September. It’s almost October. What’s happening with this fight?
Tyson: Well things happen. But you know, keep your ears open because you’ll be surprised by other things you hear.
So this fight is coming?
Tyson: Hey, if keep your ears open, there’ll be a lot of surprises coming this fall and winter.
Evander Holyfield returned to the ring last month and got knocked out in the first round by a retired MMA fighter. What’d you think of his performance and would you fight Evander?
Tyson: He’s always known for taking a great punch and I didn’t think he took a good punch. If he would’ve boxed me, I would’ve never tried to hurt him. It would’ve gone eight rounds or 10 rebounds, but it would’ve been really exciting, you know. I mean, they’re doing well, fighting hard, he didn’t get hurt, but that’s my intentions.
Would you still fight Evander in an exhibition?
Tyson: Yeah, why not?
Donald Trump did color commentary for Evander’s fight and the other fights on the card. Who performed better, Trump or Evander?
Tyson: Well, I have to give it to Mr. President. He did quite a good job for a president and a hotel owner and you have to agree with that.
Oh, he loves you, too.
Tyson: Oh, he’s a good man.
A long time ago your goal was to be champion of the world. What’s your goal now?
Tyson: “My goal now, wow, there’s quite a few. Be a better father, be a better husband. Use more compassion. Be less self-centered and the list goes on and on. And I’m doing really well. I’m really, really well.’’
I read the Mike Tyson non-fungible token (NFT) has been very popular. Why should your fans care? Why do you care about this?
Tyson: Listen, I’m in a world where I’m out of my league. Even though I got the big image that I’m a tough guy, I’m out of my league intellectually with these kids. And I don’t know, maybe it’s the food, maybe it’s the generation or a new form of human being. But these kids are so far advanced intellectually than we were when we were their age.
But you’re engaged in all this stuff. You say you’re out of your league but here you are.
Tyson: Well, I’m a survivor. I’m a survivor. I’m out of my league, but you know me. You’re not going to ignore me. I’m not going to be ignored.
Switching gears a little bit, there’s all this talk these days about bullying. Cyberbullying, bullying at the playground and so forth and I’ve read or heard over the years that you got bullied.
Tyson: Absolutely.
What would you tell kids?
Tyson: No, you don’t want to hear me say that. You want me to do the television version? You have to take care of your neighborhood bully, man, because he’ll never go away. He’ll be like the measles. He will just never go away. It’s just like a big bear come into your campsite all the time. Well he’s not worried about you coming out until you bring that gun – pow! – shoot his ass. You don’t got to kill him. He won’t come back again. You don’t have to kill him. Once you put your violence and your aggressive game on him, stick him a few times, he’s not coming back. He’s a bully. He don’t want to take a chance of getting stabbed again. See bullies are like those animals that want to steal babies because there’s less fight. They don’t want to fight. If I fight and get hurt, I’m going to starve to death. That’s why they pick on the smallest animals."
What did you get bullied about?
Tyson: They took my sneakers. Those kids abuse you, humiliate you, smack you, kick you down the stairs. I was a fat kid. I was scared of everybody and I had pigeons. I hung out with pigeons because I was scared of people. And then one day some guys tried to steal my pigeons and that’s the first time I ever fought back. For a (expletive) pigeon." (Laughs.)
Running your own business. Married with two children. Helping a friend (Tom Patti) generate support for a possible run for U.S. Congress. Look at how far you have come since you were fighting over a pigeon.
Tyson: Listen, we had to grow up.