By April MacIntyre Mar 15, 2010, 15:38 GMT
Mike Tyson may be tough on humans, but around animals he's a ball of putty.
Former US heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson EPA/DANILO SCHIAVELLA
Animal Planet fell in love with the pitch from Mike Tyson's camp, and warmed immediately to the idea of the pugilist and pigeons, in a new series titled "Taking on Tyson."
The former heavyweight champion of the world will take audiences inside the intensely competitive and bizarrely fascinating world of pigeon racing.
Slated to debut in early 2011, the show will give audiences an insider’s look at pigeon rearing and racing, a sport that is far from the mainstream. The novice pigeon racer Tyson goes toe-to-toe against several individuals in hopes of being crowned a champ all over again.
Little known fact that Tyson has raised pigeons all his life. In fact his first-ever fight as a child was in defense of his birds. But this show will follow his first foray into racing them competitively. So for the first time in years, Tyson enters a sport as an underdog.
“Tyson’s passion for his pigeons takes my breath away,” marvels Marjorie Kaplan, president and general manager of Animal Planet Media. “For years, he has been inspired by these birds that he feels have the ‘biggest heart’ in the animal kingdom. TAKING ON TYSON peels back new layers of the remarkable persona and deep humanity of Mike Tyson while also showing us a whole world we never knew existed right on the rooftops of New York City.”
“I’m honored to be a part of this monumental show on Animal Planet,” said Tyson. “I feel a great pride acting as an official representative for all the pigeon fancier’s out there. I want people to see why we love these birds. It feels good returning to the rooftops of the city where it all started for me – New York.”
Background:
To rear, train and race pigeons – or “homers” – requires dedication, discipline, patience and tenderness. For many pigeon racers, these avian athletes are the kings of the bird world. Their intelligence, spirit, titanic bonds of loyalty and astounding homing ability sets them apart from other birds.
Pigeon fliers treat the birds like fine thoroughbred horses to dominate the racetrack. Such a feat could not be accomplished alone, especially for a rookie like Tyson, but he has a colorful team of pigeon experts by his side, including his trainer Vinnie Torre, caretakers the Roman Brothers and promoter/manager Mario Costa, each providing deep insights into the rich and colorful sport of pigeon racing. With the gritty and scenic backdrop of New York City rooftops, this series takes flight with its view of weekly pigeon auctions and dynamic competitions.
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