Mike Tyson might have been one of the most ruthless boxers ever. But outside the ring, he is a very compassionate person. One of the reasons for this compassion is his well-known love for pigeons. While growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn taking care of pigeons was his only way of finding peace.

Tyson’s love for pigeons is well documented and every fan knows about it. By ‘Iron’ Mike’s own admission, his first fight happened because a neighborhood bully stole one of his prized pigeons and when he confronted him, the bully brutally killed the pigeon right in front of Tyson, breaking his heart. What happened later is a stuff of legends. However, pigeons have remained a soft spot for the youngest heavyweight champion in history as he opened up about the mental toll it takes on him when one of his birds dies.

King of the Air

Mike Tyson has such a profound love for pigeons that he has built a custom aviary in his Nevada home for the hundreds of his high-pedigree pigeons and he is proud of it. In the second episode of ‘Behind The Mike’ the boxing great showcased his collection of pigeons from around the world.

During the episode, Tyson shared a nugget of wisdom about birds and what happens to him when one of them is hurt. He admitted, “If I have a favorite and the Hawks get him, I am fu**d up. That’s why I tell people I have no favorite. But deep down inside, you always have a favorite.” That is why he never tells anyone which among the birds is his favorite. It might be his way of protecting himself and the bird. It probably goes all the way back to his childhood in Brownsville when he used to race pigeons.

Tyson might have retired from boxing but he still loves competing and now he lives that fierce desire for competition through his birds. “This is why I love pigeons, because of the competition. I got my birds, they got his birds, throw them in the air, let’s see what happens. Who is the king of the air?” Iron Mike revealed in the clip. Tyson has always been someone who loves the competition. And watching these birds compete in the air is something that he is still very fond of.

Mike Tyson’s witnesses his first birth

The long form of the clip also features an incident where Tyson talks about witnessing his first pigeon birth. He has been collecting pigeons since he was 10 years old, but this is the first time he has seen a newborn hatchling being birthed. “We saw that bird born today. I never saw that before. A bird got born, came out the egg. I’ve never seen that in my life before. Toby pointed that out to me. She’s in the egg and open. I’ve never in my life seen that,” confessed an excited Tyson.

The 5’10 feet boxer was trying to remain calm, but he was not able to hide his excitement while narrating the birth. It was a beautiful moment that showcased the human side of Tyson. His boxing skills have made him a respectful fighter, but the love he shares for his birds has definitely made him a more compassionate human being.

What do you think about Mike Tyson’s impressive bird collection? Let us know down below.