Mike Tyson has withdrawn his application for a licence to box in New Jersey a day before state boxing regulators were expected to vote on it, a spokeswoman for the state's Attorney General's office confirmed yesterday. "We don't know why," said spokeswoman Rita Malley.

A New Jersey State Athletic Control Board session was scheduled for today and was expected to vote on Tyson's application.

Malley confirmed that board officials received a letter yesterday from Tyson saying he wished to withdraw the application. Tyson's attorney, Anthony Fusco Jr, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Tyson had his licence to box revoked by Nevada officials just over a year ago after he twice bit the ears of champion Evander Holyfield and was disqualified in their title re-match in Las Vegas.