Mike Tyson has certainly had an interesting career path, with many ups and downs, and quite a few dark asides along the way. In 'Taking on Tyson' (Sun., 10PM ET on Animal Planet) we meet the kinder and gentler animal lover at the root of the boxing legend.

In fact, were it not for his love of birds, Tyson might have never taken up fighting at all. "People would take my jewelry, take my clothes, people would rob me, beat me up," he said of his childhood.

That changed when he was robbed of some of his birds and confronted one of the thieves, still holding one alive.

When Tyson demanded the bird back, the kid killed the bird and smeared its blood on Tyson's face. "Here you can have it," the kid said mockingly, and that's when Tyson snapped and a fighting legend was born. Luckily for that kid, Tyson wasn't nearly the lethal weapon he would become later.

It was a long journey from such a gruesome beginning to some of the horrific acts of Tyson's own life, but he's hoping to show that he's mellowing in his middle years, finding peace and happiness in the feathered friends that kept him happy before he was known to anyone.