News emerges of an unlikely hypnotherapy and hypnosis subject from the Daily Telegraph. It seems that retired boxer Mike Tyson underwent hypnosis sessions before his prize fights to ensure he was as ferocious as possible in the ring.

Sports hypnosis is becoming increasingly popular. It is a great way to visualise future success.

Mike Tyson won his first 19 fights by knockout after becoming a professional boxer aged 18 and he developed a reputation for being a particularly vicious and aggressive fighter, who would quickly charge down opponents at the opening of the first round.

The troubled sports icon now attributes the ferocity of his fights to a hypnotist, who he worked with several times a day at the request of his manager Cus D'Amato.

Speaking about the hypnotherapy Tyson said "Cus used to have me professionally hypnotised two or three times a day - before sparring, before training and before fights. My objective was to destroy."

He was asked if he ever felt remorseful about the viciousness with which he attacked his opponents and replied, "No, because Cus didn't like me to be sensitive like that. He wanted me to be emotionless. He said feelings mean nothing. Feelings have nothing to do with your life. The only thing feelings do is distract you."

I am not quite sure how well this worked for tyson though, unless he started to visualise biting opponents ears off.