From Chron

Former boxing champ Mike Tyson fought back tears as he confessed he has been “lying to everybody” about his sobriety as he opened up about his alcoholism battle at a press conference on Friday.

The sporting icon told ESPN’s “Friday Night Fights” he has been struggling with substance abuse, but admitted he hopes he is finally on the road to recovery.

He told reporters, “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 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.”

The 47 year old was the most famous boxer on the planet by the late 1980s when he became undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, but his achievements were overshadowed by his addictions, his abusive marriage to actress Robin Givens and his rape conviction in the 1990s.

He previously credited his appearances in “The Hangover” comedy franchise with helping him turn his life around and kick his personal demons.

PHOTO: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

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http://blog.chron.com/celebritybuzz/2013/08/mike-tyson-im-on-the-verge-of-dying-from-alcoholism/