Mike Tyson told a New Zealand news programme he was innocent despite being convicted of a rape charge as he seeks a visa to enter the country.
Tyson, who is due to visit on a speaking tour this month, was sentenced in 1992 to six years in prison after the conviction.
The 46-year-old former heavyweight boxing champion, who resides in Las Vegas, stressed in a phone interview with ONE Breakfast: "I was set up - I don't care what people say.
"I didn't do that f***ing crime."
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key says a decision by immigration officials to award Tyson a visa to enter the country was a "line call," given his criminal convictions.
A serious criminal conviction would usually lead to the refusal of a visa but Key said immigration officials were able to exercise discretion in individual cases.
Key said Tyson's visa application was approved on a "line call" because his conviction was 20 years ago and he'll be in New Zealand "for about 20 hours." He added: "It's a marginal call and there are always issues that have to be reflected."