‘Beaten Into Submission’ Before Getting COVID-19 Vaccine, Mike Tyson Says

Boxing legend Mike Tyson said he has been vaccinated against COVID-19, and while he was “forced” to get the shot, he had to do it due to his career that requires international travel.

Speaking with USA Today Sports from his cannabis company, Tyson Ranch, the legendary boxer said he was unwilling to get a COVID-19 vaccine. “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,” he said.

The 55-year-old athlete said that people “have their own choice,” but noted that he “never got sick” after taking “the risk” of getting vaccinated.

Tyson, who won 44 of his 50 boxing wins by knockout, further revealed that he thinks he may have contracted COVID-19 at one point since he experienced some symptoms linked to the virus.

“The whole day I was just coughing, throwing up water, so I was dehydrated,” he revealed of the experience. The former World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion said he feels “great” at this point. “I feel really well. The best I’ve ever felt,” he said.

Tyson’s revelation of getting vaccinated comes as more boxers urge people to get their shots. In June, British boxers, both active and retired, championed COVID-19 vaccines through a short film. Connor Benn, Terri Harper, and father-and-son duo Ricky and Campbell Hatton, encouraged people to get vaccinated, hailing vaccines as “the best jab” of 2021.

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn also joined the campaign that first talked about which boxer has the best jab and then transitioned into discussing vaccine jabs.

Meanwhile, there have also been athletes who launched their own anti-vaccine campaigns through social media. Earlier this year, Australian boxing legend Anthony Mundine posted on Facebook urging his fans to avoid getting COVID-19 shots, Fox News Australia reported.

The outlet said Mundine claimed that people who get vaccinated “will have serious health problems, even death.” In July, Mundine, in an expletive-laden post, claimed that vaccines were “a death wish.”

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), COVID-19 vaccination “will stop the pandemic.” The organization added that while safe and effective vaccines will help protect against transmission and infection, people should still abide by health protocols such as mask-wearing, hand-cleaning, and physical distancing.