Mike Tyson says he may die from alcohol and drug abuse
Former world heavyweight champion has been a controversial figure. In 1992 he was convicted of rape and was sentenced to six years in prison.
Former heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson has claimed that he is suffering from drug and alcohol related issues and that he is on the brink of dying.
Admitting that he still is a chronic alcoholic, 47-year-old Tyson admitted that he has been lying about the problem for years. "I'm a bad guy. I did a lot of bad things and I want to be forgiven. I want to change my life. I want to live my life sober," he said on ESPN's Friday Night Fights. "I don't want to die. I'm on the verge of dying because I'm a vicious alcoholic."
Tyson has been controversial on and off the ring. In 1992, Tyson was convicted of raping Desiree Washington and sentenced to six years in prison but was released after serving three years. After his release, he engaged in a series of comeback fights. In 1996, he won the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association titles after defeating Frank Bruno and Bruce Seldon by knockout.
After being stripped of the WBC title, Tyson lost his WBA crown to Evander Holyfield in November 1996 by an 11th round TKO (technical knockout). Their 1997 rematch ended when Tyson was disqualified for biting Holyfield's ear.
Currently sober for close to a week, the 47-year-old who has been rehab thrice since 2012, said that he wanted to kill himself five years ago. The death of his daughter Exodus - strangled by a chord while playing on a treadmill - however made him realize his folly.