Mike Tyson’s Luxurious Indulgence: Renting Rooms for His Pigeons

Legendary boxer Mike Tyson has always been known for his larger-than-life persona, both inside and outside the ring. But there’s one quirky story from his past that even his biggest fans might not know — Tyson once rented a room for a pair of pigeons. This bizarre event, which occurred over 20 years ago, was recently revealed by Shelly Finkel, Tyson’s former manager, ahead of his highly anticipated exhibition match against Jake Paul on November 15.

Mike Tyson’s Pigeon Obsession: A Love That Cost Him $1,000

The story takes us back to when Tyson visited Louisville, Kentucky, with his pigeons in tow. Among his flock was a pair of European racing pigeons, each worth around $1,000. Finkel shared a conversation he had with Tyson during their stay at a hotel, recalling:

“We were staying in this hotel, and Mike said to me, ‘What are we going to do with these pigeons?’ I responded, ‘What do you mean? You’re the one who brought them here. Leave them in your room.’ Mike replied, ‘I can’t, they’ll fly all over the place.’ So I told him to rent a room for them. We did, and went to sleep.”

However, things quickly took a messy turn. The pigeons began to relieve themselves everywhere, including the bed, making a huge mess. A few weeks later, Finkel received a surprising bill for $1,000 from the hotel for cleaning fees.

“I asked why, and they said, ‘Have you seen the room? This is the cleaning fee.'” Finkel explained.

Tyson’s Lifelong Love for Pigeons

While many people are familiar with Tyson’s formidable reputation in the ring as the “Baddest Man on the Planet”, few know about his deep connection to pigeons. Growing up in New York, Tyson developed a special bond with these birds from a young age. He even shared a poignant memory in an interview, recounting a time when he was 10 years old:

“I punched a man who threw my pigeon into the trash. That was the first time I ever threw a punch. Pigeons were the first thing I loved in life. They helped me escape. I was fat and ugly, and kids used to tease me. My only joy was those pigeons.”

Tyson has always treated pigeons as more than just pets. He raised them in a pigeon loft behind his mansion and even once broke up with a girlfriend because she had killed his pigeons.

Tyson’s Eccentric Lifestyle: A Legacy of Luxury and Outlandish Habits

Tyson’s eccentric habits were not limited to pigeons. Shelly Finkel, who witnessed Tyson’s rise to fame from his teenage years until his retirement in 2005, recalls how Tyson earned millions but also spent recklessly on things like clothes, luxury cars, beautiful women, and even exotic pets like pet tigers. Finkel described traveling with Tyson as a wild experience:

“There was always something crazy and hilarious happening whenever I was with him.”

Mike Tyson’s Journey from Wealth to Redemption

Despite the ups and downs of his financial and personal life, Tyson’s pigeon love is a reminder of a softer side of the infamous boxer. From his humble beginnings to his extraordinary rise in the boxing world, Tyson’s journey is filled with both triumphs and quirky tales that reveal his true character beyond the fierce persona he cultivated in the ring.

A Pigeon-Loving Boxer

Mike Tyson’s past is filled with intriguing, sometimes strange stories — but none quite like the time he paid for a room for his pigeons, only to receive a hefty cleaning bill. This tale, shared by his former manager Shelly Finkel, highlights not only Tyson’s love for pigeons but also his eccentricity and larger-than-life lifestyle. Whether it was his time in the ring or his bizarre personal habits, Tyson’s journey remains one of the most fascinating in the history of sports.