Dick Tiger

Dick Tiger
Statistics
Real name Richard Ihetu
Rated at Middleweight
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Reach 71 in (180 cm)
Nationality Nigerian
Born August 14, 1929(1929-08-14)
Amaigbo, Nigeria
Died December 14, 1971(1971-12-14) (aged 42)
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 82
Wins 60
Wins by KO 27
Losses 19
Draws 3

Dick Tiger CBE (born Richard Ihetu August 14, 1929 - December 14, 1971) was a boxer from Ubahu village, Amaigbo, Nigeria, who emigrated to Liverpool and later to the United States of America. Tiger was a member of the Igbo ethnic group.[1] Tiger was a talented boxer, commercial venturer, and Biafran rebel.

Contents

Professional career

Dick Tiger was one of the greatest fighters to come out of Africa. He became a two-time undisputed world middleweight titlist and helped keep boxing alive during the 1950s boxing industry recession. Tiger earned an undisputed Light-Heavyweight world championship. In 1962, Tiger won the world middleweight boxing championship.

On May 20, 1965, Tiger floored Rubin "Hurricane" Carter three times and won a unanimous 10-round decision. Tiger took on Gene Fullmer and won the world's Middleweight title by decision in fifteen. Later in a rematch he drew in fifteen and in the rubber match won by knockout in seven rounds.

Tiger was an "in-house fighter" at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

Retirement and death

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. Tiger 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 December 14, 1971; he was 42 years old.

Biafran rebel cause

Tiger developed a portfolio of investments before the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War. Tiger was appointed CBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, but he returned his insignia as a protest for what he perceived as a lack of support by Great Britain to the Biafran cause.

Professional boxing record

60 Wins (27 Knockouts), 19 Defeats (2 Knockouts), 3 Draws[2]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Loss 60-19-3 Emile Griffith UD 10 1970-07-15 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win 60-18-3 Andy Kendall UD 10 1969-11-14 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win 59-18-3 Nino Benvenuti UD 10 1969-05-26 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win 58-18-3 Frank DePaula UD 10 1968-10-25 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York The Ring magazine's "Fight of the Year" (1968)
Loss 57-18-3 Bob Foster KO 4 (15), 2:05 1968-05-24 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York Lost The Ring, WBC & WBA World Light Heavyweight titles
Win 57-17-3 Roger Rouse TKO 12 (15), 0:12 1967-11-17 Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA World Light Heavyweight titles
Win 56-17-3 José Torres SD 15 1967-05-16 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA World Light Heavyweight titles
Win 55-17-3 Abraham Tomica TKO 5 (10) 1967-02-05 Mile One Park, Port Harcourt
Win 54-17-3 José Torres UD 15 1966-12-16 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York Won The Ring, WBC & WBA World Light Heavyweight titles
Loss 53-17-3 Emile Griffith UD 15 1966-04-25 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York Lost The Ring, WBC & WBA World Middleweight titles
Win 53-16-3 Peter Mueller KO 3 (10), 0:57 1966-02-18 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-Westfalen
Win 52-16-3 Joey Giardello UD 15 1965-10-21 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York Won The Ring, WBC & WBA World Middleweight titles
Win 51-16-3 Rubin Carter UD 10 1965-05-20 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win 50-16-3 Juan Carlos Rivero TKO 6 (10) 1965-03-12 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Loss 49-16-3 Joey Archer SD 10 1964-10-16 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win 49-15-3 Don Fullmer UD 10 1964-09-11 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Win 48-15-3 Jose Monon Gonzalez TKO 6 (10) 1964-07-31 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Loss 47-15-3 Joey Giardello PTS 15 1963-12-07 Atlantic City Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey Lost The Ring, WBC & WBA World Middleweight titles
Win 47-14-3 Gene Fullmer RTD 7 (15), 3:00 1963-08-10 Liberty Stadium, Ibadan Retained WBA & Won vacant The Ring, WBC World Middleweight titles
Draw 46-14-3 Gene Fullmer PTS 15 1963-02-23 Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained WBA World Middleweight title
Win 46-14-2 Gene Fullmer UD 15 1962-10-23 Candlestick Park, California, California Won vacant WBA World Middleweight titles
Win 45-14-2 Henry Hank UD 10 1962-03-31 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win 44-14-2 Florentino Fernández TKO 6 (10) 1962-01-20 Miami Beach, Florida
Win 43-14-2 William Pickett UD 10 1961-12-16 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win 42-14-2 Hank Casey SD 10 1961-05-15 New Orleans, Louisiana
Win 41-14-2 Spider Webb KO 6 (10), 2:41 1961-04-15 St. Nicholas Arena, New York, New York
Win 40-14-2 Gene Armstrong TKO 9 (10), 1:21 1961-02-18 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win 39-14-2 Wilf Greaves TKO 9 (15), 1:20 1960-11-30 Edmonton Gardens, Edmonton, Alberta Won Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight title
Loss 38-14-2 Wilf Greaves SD 15 1960-06-22 Edmonton Gardens, Edmonton, Alberta Lost Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight title
Win 38-13-2 Víctor Zalazar MD 10 1960-04-01 Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts
Win 37-13-2 Gene Armstrong UD 10 1960-02-24 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win 36-13-2 Holly Mims MD 10 1959-12-30 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Loss 35-13-2 Joey Giardello UD 10 1959-11-04 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Win 35-12-2 Joey Giardello UD 10 1959-09-30 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win 34-12-2 Gene Armstrong PTS 10 1959-09-02 Convention Hall, Camden, New Jersey
Loss 33-12-2 Rory Calhoun SD 10 1959-07-17 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New York
Draw 33-12-2 Rory Calhoun PTS 10 1959-06-05 Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
Win 33-12-1 Randy Sandy PTS 10 1959-05-12 Empire Pool, Wembley, London
Loss 32-11-1 Randy Sandy PTS 10 1959-05-12 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside
Win 32-10-1 Yolande Pompey PTS 10 1958-10-14 Empire Pool, Wembley, London
Loss 31-10-1 Spider Webb PTS 10 1958-06-24 Empress Hall, Earl's Court, Kensington, London
Win 31-9-1 Billy Ellaway KO 2 (8) 1958-05-01 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside
Win 30-9-1 Pat McAteer KO 9 (15) 1958-03-27 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside Won Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight title
Win 29-9-1 Johnny Read KO 6 (8) 1958-03-27 Harringay Arena, Harringay, London
Win 28-9-1 Jimmy Lynas KO 7 (8) 1958-02-03 King's Hall, Belle Vue, Manchester
Win 27-9-1 Jean Ruellet PTS 8 1958-01-13 City Hall, Hull, Yorkshire
Win 26-9-1 Paddy Delargy KO 6 (10) 1957-11-28 Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, West Midlands
Draw 25-9-1 Pat McAteer PTS 10 1957-11-11 Maindy Stadium, Cardiff
Win 25-9 Jean Claude Poisson PTS 10 1957-10-21 Maindy Stadium, Cardiff
Win 24-9 Phil Edwards PTS 10 1957-09-09 Maindy Stadium, Cardiff
Win 23-9 Alan Dean PTS 8 1957-07-25 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside
Loss 22-9 Willie Armstrong PTS 8 1957-07-15 Engineer's Club, West Hartlepool, County Durham
Win 22-8 Marius Dori TKO 7 (8) 1957-06-04 Harringay Arena, Harringay, London
Win 21-8 Terry Downes TKO 5 (8) 1957-05-14 Town Hall, Shoreditch, London
Win 20-8 Johnny Read TKO 2 (8) 1957-04-29 National Sporting Club, Piccadilly, London
Win 19-8 Alan Dean PTS 8 1956-11-09 Tower Circus, Blackpool, Lancashire
Loss 18-8 Alan Dean PTS 6 1956-10-18 Liverpool Stadium, Blackpool, Lancashire
Win 18-7 Jimmy Lynas PTS 8 1956-07-02 Tower Circus, Blackpool, Lancashire
Win 17-7 Wally Scott TKO 4 (8) 1956-05-28 Engineer's Club, West Hartlepool, County Durham
Win 16-7 Alan Dean PTS 8 1956-05-10 Liverpool Stadium, Blackpool, Lancashire
Win 15-7 Dennis Rowley KO 1 (8) 1956-05-03 Liverpool Stadium, Blackpool, Lancashire
Loss 14-7 George Roe PTS 8 1956-03-22 Liverpool Stadium, Blackpool, Lancashire
Loss 14-6 Jimmy Lynas PTS 8 1956-03-01 Tower Circus, Blackpool, Lancashire
Loss 14-5 Gerry McNally PTS 8 1956-01-27 Tower Circus, Blackpool, Lancashire
Loss 14-4 Alan Dean PTS 6 1955-12-08 Liverpool Stadium, Blackpool, Lancashire

TV

See also

References

  1. ^ Rogak, Larry (2005). You Don't Know Dick!: An Onomastic Reference Compendium. iUniverse. p. 80. ISBN 0-595-35433-5. http://books.google.com/books?id=2El5T0q86GcC&pg=PA80. 
  2. ^ Dick Tiger's Professional Boxing Record. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-22.

Further reading

External links

Achievements
Preceded by
Gene Fullmer		 WBA Middleweight Champion
23 Oct 1962–7 Dec 1963		 Succeeded by
Joey Giardello
Preceded by
Paul Pender
Retired		 WBC Middleweight Champion
7 May 1963–7 Dec 1963
Vacant
Title last held by
Gene Fullmer		 Undisputed Middleweight Champion
7 May 1963–7 Dec 1963
Preceded by
Joey Giardello		 World Middleweight Champion
21 Oct 1965–25 Apr 1966		 Succeeded by
Emile Griffith
Preceded by
José Torres		 World Light Heavyweight Champion
16 Dec 1966–24 May 1968		 Succeeded by
Bob Foster
Awards
Preceded by
Joe Brown		 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year
1962		 Succeeded by
Cassius Clay
Preceded by
Gene Fullmer		 BWAA Fighter of the Year
1962		 Succeeded by
Emile Griffith
Preceded by
Emile Griffith		 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year
1965		 Succeeded by
Joe Frazier (1967)
Preceded by
Muhammad Ali		 BWAA Fighter of the Year
1966		 Succeeded by
Carlos Ortiz