Dick Tiger
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Dick Tiger (left) with Nino Benvenuti in 1969
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| Born | Richard Ihetu (1929-08-14)August 14, 1929 |
| Died | December 14, 1971(1971-12-14) (aged 42)
Aba, Nigeria
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| Nationality | Nigerian |
| Statistics | |
| Weight class |
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| Height | 172 cm (5 ft 8 in) |
| Reach | 71 in (180 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 82 |
| Wins | 60 |
| Wins by KO | 27 |
| Losses | 19 |
| Draws | 3 |
Richard Ihetu (August 14, 1929 – December 14, 1971), professionally known as Dick Tiger was a Nigerian professional boxer who held the undisputed middleweight and light-heavyweight championships.[1]
Tiger emigrated to Liverpool, England to pursue his boxing career and later to the United States. Tiger was Igbo and served as a Lieutenant in the Biafran army during the Nigerian Civil War, primarily training soldiers in hand-to-hand combat.[2]
Tiger was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991. The Ring magazine named him Fighter of the Year in 1962 and 1965, while the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) named him Fighter of the Year in 1962 and 1966. In 1996, Tiger was voted as one of the best boxers of the 1960s, The later in 1998, Tiger was put in the book of "Best boxers of the 20th Century". In 2002, Tiger was voted by The Ring magazine as the 31st greatest fighter of the last 80 years.[3] His first world title win in 1962 was ranked the 15th most memorable moment in Nigerian sports history since 1960byPremium Times in 2020, the highest ranked combat sports-related moment.[4]
Tiger became a two-time undisputed world middleweight champion and helped keep boxing alive during the 1950s boxing industry recession. Tiger won the WBA middleweight title when he beat Gene Fullmer on October 23, 1962, and the light heavyweight title in 1966 when he dethroned José TorresofPuerto Rico.[5][6]
Prior to these accomplishments, however, Tiger seemed condemned to poor management and a resulting lack of exposure. In 1957, using Liverpool as his fighting base, Tiger was fighting on undercards for small purses, when by fortune, facing off against popular favorite Terry DownesatShoreditch Town Hall, he walked away with a TKO after six heats.[7] New management saw to it certain "errors in his style" were corrected, and in another year, Tiger had taken 17 of 19 fights and won the British Middleweight title. In 1959, handled by the independent Jersey Jones, Tiger came to America, to face adversity in a whole, new way. Jersey Jones, resisting the influences of Madison Square Garden, brokered deals for Tiger by himself, which in the short run, cost them both. In an independent promotion at Edmonton, Alberta, Tiger's Empire belt was lost in a more-than questionable 15 round nod to local challenger Wilf Greaves. The decision as rendered, had first been called a draw; appalled, Jones demanded a recount of the cards, which boomeranged, showing the fight, dominated by Tiger, as a win for Greaves. Tiger, sincere and honorable in his dealings, often found this virtuous approach not reciprocated, particularly in North America.[8]
A. J. Liebling, impressed in witnessing Tiger's 1962[9] performance versus Henry Hank of Detroit, described the fighter's appearance thus, "... a chest like an old-fashioned black office safe, dropping away to a slender waist, big thighs, and slender legs; he boxed classically, his arms tight against his sides at the beginning of a punch, his savagely methodical blows moving in short arcs and straight lines."
Such a description was similarly evoked, albeit in simpler terms, by Tiger's contemporaries. Gene Fullmer: "Tiger was a rough guy....I went to Nigeria to fight him, and, of course, I don't know what happened over there....He beat me. He beat me bad. My mother and father could have been judge and referee, and I couldn't have won a round..."[10] Joey Giardello: "I thank Dick Tiger because Dick Tiger was a man and Dick Tiger gave (a title shot) to me. He didn't have to give it to me. He could have give it to somebody else."[11] An additional comment from Giardello, in the form of a sarcastic bon mot, showed contemporary respect for Tiger as a fellow battler. The pair fought four times in all, the last two of these in swapping the middleweight title. Every fight went the distance, meaning that in terms of time, Dick Tiger and Joey Giardello contended face to face for two and a half hours. Prior to one of these latter encounters, when asked by the press if Giardello, a classic boxer, planned to trade punches with Tiger, Giardello squelched this with, "I wouldn't trade stamps with him."[12]
Numerous accounts of Tiger as both man and fighting man, describe a solid, decent, un-nuanced person. Unsurprisingly, a very Western gimmick, the literal "power of the press", or perhaps of Madison Avenue, appears lost on him. Contender Joey Archer, a scientific middleweight of uncommon speed, launched a small space ad campaign directed at Tiger. The ads, using copy such as "I'm a middleweight, and I've licked every man I ever fought, including you", were employed to create a sensation and perhaps a groundswell toward securing Archer a title fight. Tiger had already signed to fight Emile Griffith, and an Archer ad admonished, "The Middleweight Champion should meet the best middleweight (not a welterweight)." Archer carried his cause to talk shows, even to the New York Daily News, was photographed taunting an angry, caged tiger at the Bronx Zoo. Whether this bombast registered in any negative way, or even impacted Dick Tiger's pride, history never discovered after Emile Griffith won Tiger's middleweight belt from him, making Tiger a non-player in the drama. Joey Archer shifted his attentions and, from 1966, Tiger campaigned as a full light heavyweight.[13]
After decisioning Jose Torres to win title honors, Tiger then defended his crown against Torres and Montanan Roger Rouse, before coming up short against Bob Foster of Albuquerque, New Mexico, sometimes described as a veteran, although he was only 26 with 33 fights. Tiger was the veteran, at nearly 40 and his 4th last fight.. The left hook Foster used to dethrone Tiger in an instant, was rated among "The 10 Deadliest Punches of the Last 25 Years" in 1975.[14] The power in the one-punch K.O. made such an impact upon Garden promoters, it was felt that a rematch would do poor business. This attitude forced Tiger to contend for the right to regain his crown, and saw him matched against up-and-comer Frankie DePaula, who was coming off five consecutive knockouts. The fight to qualify against Foster was, for its first four rounds, a war which saw both men go down twice, and was selected by Ring magazine as "Fight of the Year". Though Dick Tiger took the decision, having proved his mettle, ill treatment on the American side seemed to cling, as Frankie DePaula, the man he had defeated, was inexplicably given the chance at Bob Foster.[15]
Tiger travelled from his home of Nigeria to Liverpool, Western England and eventually the United States in the latter parts of his career, making a big contribution to boxing.
After retiring from boxing, Tiger worked as a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. One day, he felt a strong pain in his back. Tested by doctors, he was diagnosed with liver cancer.
He had been banned by the Nigerian government in his country because of his involvement in the Biafran movement; however, the ban was lifted immediately after news about his condition arrived in Nigeria. He died of liver cancer on 14 December 1971 in Aba, Nigeria, at the age of 42.[16][17]
| 82 fights | 60 wins | 19 losses |
|---|---|---|
| By knockout | 27 | 2 |
| By decision | 33 | 17 |
| Draws | 3 | |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | Loss | 60–19–3 | Emile Griffith | UD | 10 | Jul 15, 1970 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 81 | Win | 60–18–3 | Andy Kendall | UD | 10 | Nov 14, 1969 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 80 | Win | 59–18–3 | Nino Benvenuti | UD | 10 | May 26, 1969 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 79 | Win | 58–18–3 | Frank DePaula | UD | 10 | Oct 25, 1968 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 78 | Loss | 57–18–3 | Bob Foster | KO | 4 (15), 2:05 | May 24, 1968 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Lost WBA, WBC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles |
| 77 | Win | 57–17–3 | Roger Rouse | TKO | 12 (15), 0:12 | Nov 17, 1967 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles |
| 76 | Win | 56–17–3 | José Torres | SD | 15 | May 16, 1967 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Retained WBA, WBC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles |
| 75 | Win | 55–17–3 | Abraham Tomica | TKO | 5 (10) | Feb 5, 1967 | Mile One Park, Port Harcourt, Nigeria | |
| 74 | Win | 54–17–3 | José Torres | UD | 15 | Dec 16, 1966 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Won WBA, WBC, and The Ring light-heavyweight titles |
| 73 | Loss | 53–17–3 | Emile Griffith | UD | 15 | Apr 25, 1966 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Lost WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 72 | Win | 53–16–3 | Peter Mueller | KO | 3 (10), 0:57 | Feb 18, 1966 | Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Germany | |
| 71 | Win | 52–16–3 | Joey Giardello | UD | 15 | Oct 21, 1965 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | Won WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 70 | Win | 51–16–3 | Rubin Carter | UD | 10 | May 20, 1965 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 69 | Win | 50–16–3 | Juan Carlos Rivero | TKO | 6 (10) | Mar 12, 1965 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 68 | Loss | 49–16–3 | Joey Archer | SD | 10 | Oct 16, 1964 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 67 | Win | 49–15–3 | Don Fullmer | UD | 10 | Sep 11, 1964 | Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 66 | Win | 48–15–3 | Jose Monon Gonzalez | TKO | 6 (10) | Jul 31, 1964 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 65 | Loss | 47–15–3 | Joey Giardello | PTS | 15 | Dec 7, 1963 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | Lost WBA, WBC, and The Ring middleweight titles |
| 64 | Win | 47–14–3 | Gene Fullmer | RTD | 7 (15), 3:00 | Aug 10, 1963 | Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, Nigeria | Retained WBA and The Ring middleweight titles; Won inaugural WBC middleweight title |
| 63 | Draw | 46–14–3 | Gene Fullmer | SD | 15 | Feb 23, 1963 | Las Vegas Convention Center, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | Retained NYSAC and WBA middleweight title |
| 62 | Win | 46–14–2 | Gene Fullmer | UD | 15 | Oct 23, 1962 | Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California, U.S. | Won WBA middleweight title |
| 61 | Win | 45–14–2 | Henry Hank | UD | 10 | Mar 31, 1962 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 60 | Win | 44–14–2 | Florentino Fernández | TKO | 6 (10) | Jan 20, 1962 | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. | |
| 59 | Win | 43–14–2 | William Pickett | UD | 10 | Dec 16, 1961 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 58 | Win | 42–14–2 | Hank Casey | SD | 10 | May 15, 1961 | Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 57 | Win | 41–14–2 | Ellsworth Webb | KO | 6 (10), 2:41 | Apr 15, 1961 | St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 56 | Win | 40–14–2 | Gene Armstrong | TKO | 9 (10), 1:21 | Feb 18, 1961 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 55 | Win | 39–14–2 | Wilf Greaves | TKO | 9 (15), 1:20 | Nov 30, 1960 | Edmonton Gardens, Edmonton, Canada | Won Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 54 | Loss | 38–14–2 | Wilf Greaves | SD | 15 | Jun 22, 1960 | Edmonton Gardens, Edmonton, Canada | Lost Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 53 | Win | 38–13–2 | Víctor Zalazar | MD | 10 | Apr 1, 1960 | Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 37–13–2 | Gene Armstrong | UD | 10 | Feb 24, 1960 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 51 | Win | 36–13–2 | Holly Mims | MD | 10 | Dec 30, 1959 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 50 | Loss | 35–13–2 | Joey Giardello | UD | 10 | Nov 4, 1959 | Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 49 | Win | 35–12–2 | Joey Giardello | UD | 10 | Sep 30, 1959 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. | |
| 48 | Win | 34–12–2 | Gene Armstrong | PTS | 10 | Sep 2, 1959 | Convention Hall, Camden, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 47 | Loss | 33–12–2 | Rory Calhoun | SD | 10 | Jul 17, 1959 | War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York, U.S. | |
| 46 | Draw | 33–11–2 | Rory Calhoun | PTS | 10 | Jun 5, 1959 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 33–11–1 | Randy Sandy | PTS | 10 | May 12, 1959 | Empire Pool, Wembley, England | |
| 44 | Loss | 32–11–1 | Randy Sandy | PTS | 10 | March 19, 1959 | The Stadium, Liverpool, England | |
| 43 | Win | 32–10–1 | Yolande Pompey | PTS | 10 | Oct 14, 1958 | Empire Pool, London, England | |
| 42 | Loss | 31–10–1 | Ellsworth Webb | PTS | 10 | Jun 24, 1958 | Earls Court Empress Hall, London, England | |
| 41 | Win | 31–9–1 | Billy Ellaway | KO | 2 (8) | May 1, 1958 | The Stadium, Liverpool, England | |
| 40 | Win | 30–9–1 | Pat McAteer | KO | 9 (15) | Mar 27, 1958 | The Stadium, Liverpool, England | Won Commonwealth middleweight title |
| 39 | Win | 29–9–1 | Johnny Read | KO | 6 (8) | Feb 25, 1958 | Harringay Arena, London, England | |
| 38 | Win | 28–9–1 | Jimmy Lynas | KO | 7 (8) | Feb 3, 1958 | King's Hall, Manchester, England | |
| 37 | Win | 27–9–1 | Jean Ruellet | PTA | 8 | Jan 13, 1958 | City Hall, Hull, England | |
| 36 | Win | 26–9–1 | Paddy Delargy | KO | 6 (10) | Nov 28, 1957 | Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, England | |
| 35 | Draw | 25–9–1 | Pat McAteer | PTS | 10 | Nov 11, 1957 | Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales | |
| 34 | Win | 25–9 | Jean Claude Poisson | PTS | 10 | Oct 21, 1957 | Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales | |
| 33 | Win | 24–9 | Phil Edwards | PTS | 10 | Sep 9, 1957 | Sophia Gardens Pavilion, Cardiff, Wales | |
| 32 | Win | 23–9 | Alan Dean | PTS | 8 | Jun 25, 1957 | The Stadium, Liverpool, England | |
| 31 | Loss | 22–9 | Willie Armstrong | PTS | 8 | Jul 15, 1957 | Engineer's Club, Hartlepool, England | |
| 30 | Win | 22–8 | Marius Dori | TKO | 7 (8) | Jun 4, 1957 | Harringay Arena, London, England | |
| 29 | Win | 21–8 | Terry Downes | TKO | 5 (8) | May 14, 1957 | Town Hall, London, England | |
| 28 | Win | 20–8 | Johnny Read | TKO | 2 (8) | Apr 29, 1957 | National Sporting Club, London, England | |
| 27 | Win | 19–8 | Alan Dean | PTS | 8 | Nov 9, 1956 | Tower Circus, Blackpool, England | |
| 26 | Loss | 18–8 | Alan Dean | PTS | 6 | Oct 18, 1956 | The Stadium, Liverpool, England | |
| 25 | Win | 18–7 | Jimmy Lynas | PTS | 8 | Jul 2, 1956 | Tower Circus, Blackpool, England | |
| 24 | Win | 17–7 | Wally Scott | TKO | 4 (8) | May 28, 1956 | Engineer's Club, Hartlepool, England | |
| 23 | Win | 16–7 | Alan Dean | PTS | 8 | May 10, 1956 | The Stadium, Liverpool, England | |
| 22 | Win | 15–7 | Dennis Rowley | KO | 1 (8) | May 3, 1956 | The Stadium, Liverpool, England | |
| 21 | Loss | 14–7 | George Roe | PTS | 8 | Mar 22, 1956 | The Stadium, Liverpool, England | |
| 20 | Loss | 14–6 | Jimmy Lynas | PTS | 8 | Mar 1, 1956 | Tower Circus, Blackpool, England | |
| 19 | Loss | 14–5 | Gerry McNally | PTS | 8 | Jan 27, 1956 | Tower Circus, Blackpool, England | |
| 18 | Loss | 14–4 | Alan Dean | PTS | 6 | Dec 08, 1955 | The Stadium, Liverpool, England | |
| 17 | Win | 14–3 | Bolaji Johnson | PTS | 8 | Aug 31, 1955 | Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos, Nigeria | |
| 16 | Win | 13–3 | John Ama | KO | 2 | May 1, 1955 | Lagos, Nigeria | |
| 15 | Win | 12–3 | Raheem Fagbemi | PTS | 8 | Jan 31, 1955 | Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos, Nigeria | |
| 14 | Win | 11–3 | Koko Kid | KO | 6 | Jan 1, 1955 | Amaigbo, Nigeria | |
| 13 | Win | 10–3 | Peter Okptra | KO | 8 | Nov 1, 1954 | Lagos, Nigeria | |
| 12 | Win | 9–3 | Super Human Power | PTS | 8 | Jul 18, 1954 | Rex Cinema Hall, Aba, Nigeria | |
| 11 | Win | 8–3 | Mighty Joe | PTS | 6 | Jun 12, 1954 | Rex Cinema Hall, Aba, Nigeria | |
| 10 | Win | 7–3 | Robert Nwanne | KO | 2 | Feb 1, 1954 | Lagos, Nigeria | |
| 9 | Loss | 6–3 | Tommy West | PTS | 6 | Jan 29, 1954 | Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos, Nigeria | |
| 8 | Loss | 6–2 | Tommy West | RTD | 7 | May 20, 1953 | African Tennis Club, Lagos, Nigeria | |
| 7 | Win | 6–1 | Simon Eme | PTS | 8 | Feb 1, 1953 | Lagos, Nigeria | |
| 6 | Win | 5–1 | Blackie Power | PTS | 6 | Jan 30, 1953 | Glover Memorial Hall, Lagos, Nigeria | |
| 5 | Win | 4–1 | Lion Ring | TKO | 6 | Jan 1, 1953 | Lagos | |
| 4 | Loss | 3–1 | Tommy West | PTS | 10 | Dec 13, 1952 | Rex Cinema Hall, Lagos, Nigeria | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Easy Dynamite | KO | 1 | Oct 1, 1952 | Port Harcourt, Nigeria | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Koko Kid | PTS | 8 | Sep 1, 1952 | Port Harcourt, Nigeria | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Simon Eme | KO | 2 | Jan 1, 1952 | Aba, Nigeria |
| Sporting positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World boxing titles | ||||
| Vacant Title last held by Paul Pender |
NYSAC middleweight champion November 9, 1962 - August 10, 1963 Won inaugural WBC title |
Title discontinued | ||
| Preceded by | WBA middleweight champion October 23, 1962 - December 7, 1963 |
Succeeded by | ||
| Inaugural Champion | WBC middleweight champion August 10, 1963 - December 7, 1963 | |||
| Vacant Title last held by Paul Pender |
The Ring middleweight champion May 7, 1963 - December 7, 1963 | |||
| Vacant Title last held by Sugar Ray Robinson |
Undisputed middleweight champion November 9, 1962 - December 7, 1963 | |||
| Preceded by Joey Giardello |
WBA middleweight champion October 21, 1965 - April 25, 1966 |
Succeeded by | ||
| WBC middleweight champion October 21, 1965 - April 25, 1966 | ||||
| The Ring middleweight champion October 21, 1965 - April 25, 1966 | ||||
| Undisputed middleweight champion October 21, 1965 - April 25, 1966 | ||||
| Preceded by | WBA light-heavyweight champion December 16, 1966 - May 24, 1968 |
Succeeded by | ||
| WBC light-heavyweight champion December 16, 1966 - May 24, 1968 | ||||
| The Ring light-heavyweight champion December 16, 1966 - May 24, 1968 | ||||
| Undisputed light-heavyweight champion December 16, 1966 - May 24, 1968 | ||||
| Middleweight status | ||||
| Preceded by | Latest born world champion to die December 15, 1971 – January 8, 1995 |
Succeeded by | ||
| Light heavyweight status | ||||
| Preceded by | Latest born world champion to die December 15, 1971 – October 25, 1980 |
Succeeded by | ||
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