Mike Tyson becomes a pigeon racer now

Jun 01, 2011 |

New Delhi

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Boxing legend Mike Tyson will be back in the ring soon, but this time he will not be the one throwing the punches.

Tyson, who started raising pigeons while he was still a teenager, will race his feathered friends for the very first time.

The former world heavyweight champion's attempt to make a name for himself in the competitive world of pigeon racing will be chronicled on the Animal Planet show 'Taking On Tyson'.

"Pigeons are a part of my life. It's a constant with my sanity in a weird way, this is just what I do," said the 45-year-old Brooklyn native in a press statement.

Tyson who threw his first punch when a neighbourhood bully killed one of his beloved pigeons and his team enter their first race competing against two big names from the New York scene.

Tyson's aim is to prove himself as a pigeon man and gain the acceptance of the competitive and macho pigeon racing community.

The team also faces one of their biggest challenges, a 350 mile race with over 900 birds.

Supporting the novice racer are the members of Tyson's Corner, Mario Costa, his lifelong friend and promoter/manager; Vinnie Torre, his pigeon trainer; and the Roman Brothers, his pigeon caretakers.

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