Mike Tyson KO: "When the nerve gets inflamed I can't even speak"

• Sports

Mike Tyson was seen a few weeks ago in a wheelchair. The sporting world and beyond was very concerned about the health of the boxing legend. Now Iron Mike himself has explained how the problem stems from inflammation of the sciatic nerve.

The boxer said that when he gets inflamed it causes him such pain that he gets stuck, takes his breath away. He's so sick he can't even talk.
Tyson has an acute form and when he is sick it is difficult for him to make even the simplest gestures like walking.

That's why he had appeared at the airport sitting in a wheelchair or, more recently, was seen walking around leaning on a cane. This problem leaves him helpless, stuck. But there is no reason to worry, his life is not in danger nor is he suffering from a debilitating and irreversible disease.

Tyson denied the rumors about his condition by clarifying what his complications are. In 2005 he was forced to say goodbye to boxing due to those pains. Tyson won his first 19 fights by knockout, 12 of them in the first round.

In 1986, at the age of 20, 4 months and 22 days, he took the WBC crown against Trevor Berbick, becoming the youngest heavyweight champion of the world, a record that still remains unbeaten. A year later he also won the WBA and IBF titles, becoming the undisputed champion and the first heavyweight to unify the world championships.

In 1988 he became linear champion when he KO'd Michael Spinks in 91 seconds. He defended his belts on nine occasions, before being knocked out by Buster Douglas in what was termed one of the greatest surprises in the history of the sport.

In 1992 he was accused of rape of Desiree Washington and sentenced to 6 years in prison. During his detention he converted to Islam and took the Islamic name of Malik Abdul Aziz. Released in March 1995, he made his return to the ring and in 1996 won the WBC and WBA titles by defeating Frank Bruno and Bruce Seldon by KO respectively.

This made him one of the heavyweights capable of regaining a division belt after losing it. After being deprived of the WBC World Cup, he lost the WBA crown in a match against Evander Holyfield in November of the same year and in their rematch he was disqualified for biting his opponent's ear by pulling off a piece of cartilage.

In 2002, aged 36, he faced Lennox Lewis for the world title, being defeated by knockout. In 2005 at the age of 39, after further failures against Danny Williams and Kevin McBride, he announced his retirement.