Mike Tyson has stressed that he does not care about the public's perception of him, adding that he enjoys hurting people.

The boxer's admission came as it emerged that his team was preparing legal action against a number of newspapers, including the Daily Record, over certain statements made.

A less than talkative Tyson said he was in the business of hurting people and that he enjoyed it.

The former world heavyweight champion's visit to Scotland has been shrouded in controversy with politicians and women's rights groups adamant that he should not be allowed in to the country on acount of his conviction for rape.

Tyson in Glasgow

In his first press conference since arriving in Britain, Tyson responded to most questions with brief answers, though he became more animated towards the end.

He said: "It'll be a great fight. I'm pretty much in shape."

Referring to the friend whose funeral he attended last week, delaying his arrival in the country, he added: "He would have wanted me to fight. He was a fan as well as a friend."

He played down talk of a possible future world title fight, saying he would take each fight as it came.

I'm in the hurting business and I enjoy it.

Mike Tyson

But it was a question concerning his public image which provoked the most startling response.

"I enjoy what I do. I enjoy hurting people. I'm in the hurting business and I enjoy it. You guys enjoy coming to watch," he said.

He added that he did not care about the public's view of him, saying: "I don't like myself sometimes so I can understand why they don't like me."

Meanwhile, a London jeweller is taking court action against Mike Tyson and promoter Frank Warren after the boxer bought �400,000 worth of jewellery, without paying for it.

Bond Street firm Graff Diamonds issued a writ after Tyson and Warren each claimed the other was responsible for picking up the bill for the jewellery bought by Tyson on his last visit to Britain.

Tyson greets his fans

That prompted reports in some newspapers that there had been an alleged incident between the boxer and his promoter.

At the press conference, one of Frank Warren's team said: "Sports Network is issuing writs against the Daily Record and other newspapers over various statements."

Earlier in the day, Tyson left his city centre hotel to train at a private gym in the east end of Glasgow.

The fighter arrived at around 1230BST at Morrison's Boxing Gym on Sydney Street in the Gallowgate district of the city, for a closed doors training session.

The gym is owned by Alex Morrison, a promoter providing boxers for the undercard of Saturday's main bout.