Tearful Mike Tyson admits 'I'm a vicious alcoholic'

Mike Tyson says he's been sober for six days and calls it 'a miracle'. Photo / AP

Former boxing champion Mike Tyson has fought back tears as he confessed to lying about his sobriety.

Tyson opened up about his alcoholism battle at a press conference in the US.

He told US sports show Friday Night Fights he has been struggling with substance abuse, but admitted he hopes he is finally on the road to recovery.

"I'm a bad guy sometimes. I did a lot of bad things, and I want to be forgiven. So in order for me to be forgiven, I hope they can forgive me. I wanna change my life, I wanna live a different life now. I wanna live my sober life. I don't wanna die. I'm on the verge of dying, because I'm a vicious alcoholic."

Tyson, 47, then became emotional as he announced: "I haven't drank or took drugs (sic) in six days, and for me that's a miracle.

"I've been lying to everybody else that think I was sober, but I'm not. This is my sixth day. I'm never gonna use again," Tyson said.

The former champion boxer, who was convicted of rape in the US in 1992, was in Australia in November last year for a five-day speaking tour.

During the tour Tyson said he was a "changed man".

Before arriving Down Under he promised to be on his "best behaviour" while in Australia.

"You know, you're not going to see me in the strip clubs in Australia, you're not going to see me out in the clubs in Australia. I'm not going to be getting high in Australia," Tyson said at the time.

- AAP