Mike Tyson lost his temper and cursed during yesterday's hearing before a panel of New Jersey state sports regulators who are meeting to consider his appeal for reinstatement of his boxing licence.

Tyson choked back tears as he spoke of biting Evander Holyfield on both ears in their second fight in June last year, but grew frustrated with the questioning by Assistant Attorney General Michael Haas and refused to read out a statement.

After Tyson's outburst, his lawyer Anthony Fusco Jnr apologised, blaming his absence from boxing and adding: "You're seeing a guy ripped apart."

The three-member panel will have 45 days to decide whether Tyson has "good character, honesty, integrity and responsibility", as required by state boxing law. No immediate decision is expected, according to spokesman Roger Shatzkin.

Questions have been raised over whether New Jersey - which includes the lucrative gambling resort of Atlantic City - should be the state to grant Tyson a licence, because he had it withdrawn in Nevada.