No rape charge for Tyson

Tyson is now looking forward to his fight against Nielson

California prosecutors have declined to file rape charges against former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, saying the case against him could not be proved.

The San Bernardino County district attorney's office reviewed the case on Friday and conducted a follow-up investigation before reaching a decision.

"It's precisely because of Mr Tyson's reputation for violence and his notoriety and his previous conviction for rape that we really, really looked at this case very careful," said deputy district attorney David Whitney.

There was never a doubt in my mind that, when the authorities took a hard look at the case, the truth would serve to vindicate me

Mike Tyson

"We concluded after reviewing everything we currently know about the case that it cannot be proven beyond reasonable doubt."

Whitney also said it was unlikely charges could be filed in the future.

A 50-year-old woman maintains she was sexually assaulted by Tyson on 16 July at a home he rented while training in the San Bernardino Mountains near Los Angeles.

Tyson, who said he was innocent, has since moved to Phoenix to train for a his September fight with Danish boxer Brian Nielsen in Copenhagen.

"There was never a doubt in my mind that, when the authorities took a hard look at the case, the truth would serve to vindicate me," Tyson said in a written statement.

"Now that this is behind me, I am just looking forward to fighting and regaining the heavyweight championship of the world."