PETA protests pigeon racing outside Mike Tyson's home

Animal rights activists People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) held a demonstration outside former boxing champ Mike Tyson's home to protest his role in pigeon racing.

Henderson police spokesperson Todd Rasmussen said that the PETA demonstration outside 44-year-old Tyson's gated hillside neighbourhood was peaceful, Stuff.co.nz reported.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that some of the 20 protesters carried signs reading, "Featherweights: No match for a Heavyweight", and "Mike doesn't give pigeons a fighting chance".

Tyson has been a pigeon racing breeder and fan since childhood in Brooklyn, New York.

PETA's Lisa Lange said the protest followed Sunday night's debut of the Animal Planet show, 'Taking on Tyson'.

It features Tyson competing with pigeon racers in the New York City area.