Home / Lifestyle / Mike Tyson: Pigeons Were My First Love
Mike Tyson: Pigeons Were My First Love
3 Sep
Summary
- Childhood bullying led Tyson to find solace with pigeons.
- Tyson considered pigeons his first loving relationship.
- A bully killing his pigeon sparked Tyson's first fight.
Long before his boxing career, Mike Tyson found solace and comfort in pigeons during his difficult childhood in Brooklyn. Growing up, he experienced bullying and domestic challenges, and spending time with the birds offered him an escape and a sense of care. Tyson has described this affection for pigeons as his first loving relationship.
His deep connection with pigeons took a dramatic turn when a neighborhood bully killed one of his beloved birds. This incident, occurring when Tyson was around 11 years old, led him to retaliate physically, marking what he considers his first fight and an early indicator of his aggressive nature.
Decades later, Tyson's fascination with pigeons endures. In March 2025, he estimated owning hundreds, possibly up to a thousand, birds spread across California, New Jersey, Florida, and Las Vegas. This lifelong passion has extended to competitive homing-pigeon racing, a sport he explored in a 2011 television series, demonstrating a gentler side distinct from his public boxing persona.
