• Tweet

Mike Tyson -- heavyweight boxing champion, convicted rapist, occasional actor and, it seems, top-flight pigeon fancier.

Tyson, 44, the boxer who famously bit off part of Evander Holyfield's ear in a 1997 bout, shows a gentler side of himself in an upcoming TV show as a man with a lifelong passion for raising pigeons.

Not just common or garden pigeons, but racing pigeons. Or as Tyson puts it "the creme de la creme of the pigeon world. These are thoroughbred pigeons. Pigeons were mens' first feathered friends".

"Taking on Tyson", which comes to the Animal Planet cable TV channel in March, is a six-part documentary in which the former world heavyweight champion returns to his Brooklyn neighbourhood to race pigeons.

Tyson, nicknamed "Iron Mike" for his ferocious boxing style in the 1980s, recalls in the show how as a child he skipped school to escape bullies but found solace and tranquility raising pigeons.

His pigeon coop is now in a tall house next to the gym where he trained for his famously bruising encounters in the ring.

The documentary shows Tyson and a group of other pigeon fanciers training their birds and readying them for races.

"This is what we do. Our lives are dedicated to pigeons, even when I have been fighting or getting locked up," Tyson told TV reporters.

"This is not no hobby. This is something we are going to do until the day we die," he added.

Tyson was undisputed world heavyweight boxing champion in the 1980s but in 1992 he was convicted of rape and served three years in prison. He declared bankruptcy in 2003 and retired from professional boxing in 2006. Since then he has appeared in the TV shows "Entourage" and "Brothers" and had a cameo role in the 2009 hit comedy movie "The Hangover".

"Taking on Tyson" focuses on the complex culture of pigeon racing, but is also a window into Tyson's life now.

"There are things about my life. I had a pretty colourful past...We go to some places in the past which are a pretty dark place for me," he said.

"Taking on Tyson" makes it debut on March 6 on Animal Planet.

Comments

• Sign in or sign up to comment

Fri May 24 01:53:14 SAST 2013 ::

Jan 7, 2011

DOGUNIT

IRON MIKE,U ARE STILL THE BEST
Report Abuse

Jan 7, 2011

Prudence

DOES HE REALLY HAV A SOFT SIDE !!!! I ADOUBT
Report Abuse

Jan 7, 2011

Mashesha

I WONDER
Report Abuse

Jan 7, 2011

Batista40

Eishhhhhhhhhhh, We gonna see
Report Abuse

Jan 7, 2011

clivage

wat is he gonna b doing "KEEPING UP WITH THE IRON MIKE?HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Report Abuse

Jan 7, 2011

Mthondosheshayo

Hey wena Fake Prudence...let the Real Prudence inform you...Oprah had Mike as one of her guests. I won't lie before watching that interview I just could not fathom why there was a Brute like Mike Tyson - but after watching that interview, hearing Mike speak about his old trainer and how he viewed this guy as a father figure...and how he felt his life started spiralling out of control after this trainer died; all the crap with Robin and the death of his daughter....watching this huge man with this crazy tatoo on his face; who the press has basically termed an "animal" tear up as he spoke of loss of his child....Of course he has a soft side!!!!!
Report Abuse

Jan 7, 2011

Mthondosheshayo

sowetan sort out your access problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Abuse

Jan 7, 2011

TCTLHAPI

@clivage
helo babes,r u gud?......

@Mthondosheshayo
mchana kunjani?
i saw that interview, and the dude was so emotional i luv mike but i dnt blame him the way he reacts after he was betrayed like dat by ppl he trusted at dat tym


Report Abuse

Jan 7, 2011

clivage

@tct
fine luv still wyting for ur e-mail.............
Report Abuse

Jan 7, 2011

Mahikeng

@Prudence - you must watch Mike Tyson's interviews & read his biography then you will realise that he is just a softy.

@TCTLHAPI - eitha mchana, o reng daar song? Thanx for a chat maabane bosigo ntwana!!!!
Report Abuse

Read all 21 comments