October 1, 2012
Seen sporting neck brace following surgery

Former undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson responds to a question during an interview at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada March 23, 2012. (REUTERS)

Retired boxing champ Mike Tyson is sporting a neck brace and a nasty scar after undergoing surgery to fix a degenerated disc.

The fighter, 46, stunned onlookers over the weekend when he showed up to a charity auction held by the World Boxing Council and Hublot Watches in Las Vegas with a large scar on his neck.

It has since emerged that Tyson recently went under the knife and had titanium pins inserted to support his neck as a result of an old spinal injury which had been causing him pain.

The sports legend took to his Twitter page on Sunday to offer up an explanation, writing: "I was damaged before I even entered boxing.

I was damaged before I even entered boxing. — Mike Tyson (@MikeTyson) September 30, 2012