Mike Tyson: I am on the verge of dying

Mike Tyson

Former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson reveals that he is on the verge of dying due to ongoing drug and alcohol problems.

Tyson, 47, conceded that he is a habitual drug abuser but added he is hopeful of getting rid of all his vices.

“I want to live my sober life. I don’t want to die. I’m on the verge of dying, because I’m a vicious alcoholic,” Tyson said on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, according to BBC. “I’m a bad guy sometimes. I did a lot of bad things, I want to be forgiven.”

In 1987, the 20-year-old American fighter held the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles.

But five years down the line, Tyson was caught in controversy when he was convicted of raping Desiree Washington. As a consequence, he was sentenced to six years in prison.

In 2006, he was sentenced to 24 hours in jail and 360 hours of community service for illegal possession of drugs and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Tyson, who now works as a boxing promoter, added: “I hope they can forgive me. I want to change my life, I want to live a different life now.

“I haven’t drank or took drugs in six days, and for me that’s a miracle.

“I’ve been lying to everybody that thinks I was sober, but I’m not. This is my sixth day. I’m never going to use again.”