Dick Tiger

Dick Tiger (born Richard Ihetu; August 14, 1929 – December 14, 1971) was a Nigerian-born professional boxer who held the undisputed middleweight and light-heavyweight championships.[1]

Dick Tiger
Dick Tiger (left) with Nino Benvenuti in 1969
Statistics
Real nameRichard Ihetu
Weight class
Height172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Reach71 in (180 cm)
NationalityNigerian
Born(1929-08-14)August 14, 1929
Amaigbo, Colony of Nigeria
DiedDecember 14, 1971(1971-12-14) (aged 42)
Aba, Nigeria
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights82
Wins60
Wins by KO27
Losses19
Draws3

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 1960 by Premium Times in 2020, the highest ranked combat sports-related moment.[4]

Professional career

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 Torres of Puerto 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 Downes at Shoreditch 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]

Retirement and death

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]

Professional boxing record
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

Portrayals

Fiction
  • A fictional August 29, 1963 Madison Square Garden bout in which a heavily favored Dick Tiger loses to Tom "The Hammer" Case of Dallas, Texas comes near the end of Stephen King's time-travel novel, 11/22/63.

Television
  • Appeared as a guest on an episode of the American television series What's My Line? (June 16, 1963). The panel correctly guessed his occupation.

See also

References
  1. "The Lineal Boxing World Champions". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  2. Rogak, Larry (2005). You Don't Know Dick!: An Onomastic Reference Compendium. iUniverse. p. 80. ISBN 0-595-35433-5.
  3. Andrew Eisele. "Ring Magazine's 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years". About.com Sports.
  4. "60 noteworthy Nigerian sporting moments since 1960". Premium Times. October 11, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  5. "The Lineal Middleweight Champions". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia.
  6. "The Lineal Light Heavyweight Champions". The Cyber Boxing Zone Encyclopedia. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
  7. Carpenter, Harry (1975). Boxing: A Pictorial History. Chicago, IL: Henry Regnery Company. p. 123. ISBN 0-8092-8349-2.
  8. Sugar, Bert (1984). The 100 Greatest Boxers of All Time. New York, NY: Bonanza Books. pp. 138–139. ISBN 0-517-67246-4.
  9. Liebling, A.J. (1990). A Neutral Corner. San Francisco, CA: North Point Press. pp. 191–192. ISBN 0-86547-450-8.
  10. Heller, Peter (1973). In This Corner! (Dell PB original ed.). New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, Inc. pp. 353–354.
  11. Heller, Peter (1973). In This Corner! (Dell PB original ed.). New York, NY: Simon and Schuster, Inc. p. 403.
  12. Liebman, Glenn (1996). Boxing Shorts. Chicago, IL: Contemporary Books, Inc. p. 176. ISBN 0-8092-3216-2.
  13. Dundee, Angelo (2008). My View From The Corner. New York, NY: McGraw Hill. pp. 85–86. ISBN 978-0-07-147739-0.
  14. staff writer, no by-line. "The 10 Deadliest Punches of the Last Quarter Century!". Big Book of Boxing (July, 1975): 25, 54.
  15. Collins, Nigel (1990). Boxing Babylon. New York, NY: Carol Publishing Group. p. 78. ISBN 0-8065-1183-4.
  16. Dick Tiger dies of liver cancer, google.com; accessed November 6, 2016.
  17. Anderson, Dave (16 December 1971). "Dick tiger 42, Nigerian boxer who won world titles dead". The New York Times.

Further reading
  • Makinde, Adeyinka (2005). Dick Tiger: The Life and Times of a Boxing Immortal. Tarentum, PA: Word Association Publishers. ISBN 1-59571-042-6.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dick Tiger.
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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