Mike Tyson faces an uncertain future after the brawl with Lennox Lewis last week and the subsequent decision of the Nevada State Athletic Commission to withdraw his licence to box.

"It's now time for Tyson to stop blaming the world and society in general for flashpoints, which provoke his infamous temper tantrams," said Dr Francisco Schnass, head of psychiatry at the American British Hospital in Mexico City.

"He needs to take a long hard look at himself, because these incidents form a disturbing and recurring pattern."

Dr Schnass put it quite bluntly: "Obviously there is a behavioural pattern he's had for a number of years.

"But this guy does not have much insight, which is necessary in people trying to change themselves.

"This type of behaviour is very egocentric. He obviously doesn't see the connection between these events. He does not see them as part of a pattern."

Tyson has apparently used his teeth twice - first to bite Evander Holyfield's ear and then at the news conference scuffle in which Lewis said he bit him on the leg.

Dr Schnass described it as "a very childish infantile aggression, which is a very regressive type of psychotic behaviour".

He also explained that the current divorce proceedings that Tyson is facing are a particular source of extreme pressure, which only ranks second to the death of a spouse.

Dr Elena Aviles - a psychologist who has treated a number of boxers - agreed with the assessment that the pressure of pending divorce proceedings is very traumatic.

She explained: "He is obviously suffering a lot. The Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez also went through a painful divorce. It is a pressure point."

Concerning the biting incidents Dr Aviles agrees: "He is biting like a little boy because he's exasperated.

"He wants to hurt the other person and the quickest way is biting."

In the recent brawl, World Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman was accidently pushed against a table by the crowd, banging his head and suffering a mild concussion.

He was successfully treated and has recovered.

Sulaiman has stressed that Tyson should not be ear-marked for special blame because other boxers have also been involved in recent violent incidents.

The WBC is now preparing a code of ethics to deal with violence outside the ring.

Sulaiman believes that away from the boxing environment, Tyson is a quite different man.

He conceded that Tyson does have his temper, which is "uncontrollable."

But he also advised: "What he needs is care and friendship and understanding.

"What he needs is to have other friends who are not butlers or warriors.

"He needs to understand he has to change his habits. He has to go to the doctors so they can help him.

"This is a matter of someone with a tremendous respect for Mike Tyson, to come and make him a different man - not a different boxer - and convince him nobody hates him and that he is wrong.

"He thinks that everybody hates him and that is not right.

"There are so many people in the world who have affection and profound admiration for him."