This is the bizarre moment Mike Tyson popped into a Polish village to buy 100 pigeons from a local breeder.
The former heavyweight champion was pictured in the village of Piątnica in the northeast of the country posing with the local unnamed pigeon dealer.
Wearing a quilted white jacket and woollen hat, the 57-year-old is seen clenching a fist in the air as he drapes his other arm over the man’s shoulders.
Posting on Instagram, local community group TeamHypeTalk said: ‘Mike Tyson flew especially to Piątnica (near Łomża) to buy 100 pigeons from a local trader!
‘No-one could have predicted such a turn of events.’
The former heavyweight champion (left and right) was pictured in the village of Piątnica in the northeast of the country posing with the local unnamed pigeon dealer. Wearing a quilted white jacket and woollen hat, the 57-year-old is seen clenching a fist in the air as he drapes his other arm over the man’s shoulders
Posting on Instagram , local community group TeamHypeTalk said: ‘Mike Tyson flew especially to Piątnica (near Łomża) to buy 100 pigeons from a local trader!’ (file image of Tyson with a pigeon)
Once dubbed ‘the most dangerous man on the planet’, Tyson has long been known for his love of pigeons
Initially met with disbelief, the story has since been verified by the Mylomza.pl portal who published more pictures of Tyson.
Images posted on the portal show ‘Iron Mike’ standing alongside his team and other locals in the village.
According to Mylomza.pl, several veterinary officials were called to the village to vaccinate the pigeons so that they could be certified for export to the USA.
But, the portal said: ‘However, the issue of exporting birds is not simple, with Virulent Newcastle Disease and HAPI restricting the free trade of these animals.’
Once dubbed ‘the most dangerous man on the planet’, Tyson has long been known for his love of pigeons.
Growing up in New York, he found that caring for pigeons during a traumatic childhood brought hm solace.
He once said: ‘I was fat and ugly and kids teased me all the time. The only joy I had was pigeons.
‘I’ve loved them since I was nine. They were my escape.’
Poland has gained a global reputation for pigeon breeding.
Last year, it was reported that the country has Europe’s largest community of pigeon breeders.
A report by AFP also said that Polish pigeons were ‘good enough to compete in international tournaments’ and were sold for up to £1,200.
In March this year, the Polish government said it was adding traditional pigeon breeding to the country’s List of Intangible National Heritage, with deputy culture minster Jaroslaw Sellin saying: ‘Polish mail pigeons are world class.’