London, Oct 29 (IANS) Former boxing champion Mike Tyson is urging Hollywood heavyweight Mel Gibson to seek professional help as he battles personal problems, insisting the actor needs "someone to talk to".

Gibson has been embroiled in a public spat with his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva this year over allegations he knocked out her teeth in a domestic dispute. Tapes of their bitter arguments, which later emerged online, intensified the fall out.

Tyson admits he can empathise with the actor-director because of his own chequered past, which saw him sensationally accused of beating his ex-wife Robin Givens, while he later sank into drug abuse and the sportsman is adamant Gibson needs therapy to help him through the dark times, reports contactmusic.com.

"We all have that guy -- a Mel Gibson -- in us. We just don't want people to be exposed to it. Maybe he needs to go get help. We all need help, and need someone to talk to. I'm not against him, but I'm not for him," he said.

Tyson, who appeared in hit 2009 comedy "The Hangover", is reportedly set to join the cast of the upcoming sequel which will now no longer feature a cameo appearance from Gibson after members of the cast and crew objected to his presence on set.

But the boxer admits he wouldn't have complained about working with the "Lethal Weapon" star.

"I'm not going to ever in my life point my finger at anyone. I don't live in a glass house. None of us do. I work with anybody, as long as they're respectful," he said.