- Dick Tiger
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Dick Tiger 
Statistics Real name Richard Ihetu Rated at Middleweight Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) Reach 71 in (180 cm) Nationality 
NigerianBorn August 14, 1929
Amaigbo, NigeriaDied December 14, 1971 (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 GriffithUD 10 1970-07-15 
Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkWin 60-18-3 Andy KendallUD 10 1969-11-14 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkWin 59-18-3 
Nino BenvenutiUD 10 1969-05-26 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkWin 58-18-3 Frank DePaulaUD 10 1968-10-25 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkThe Ring magazine's "Fight of the Year" (1968) Loss 57-18-3 Bob FosterKO 4 (15), 2:05 1968-05-24 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkLost The Ring, WBC & WBA World Light Heavyweight titles Win 57-17-3 Roger RouseTKO 12 (15), 0:12 1967-11-17 Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NevadaRetained The Ring, WBC & WBA World Light Heavyweight titles Win 56-17-3 
José TorresSD 15 1967-05-16 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkRetained The Ring, WBC & WBA World Light Heavyweight titles Win 55-17-3 Abraham TomicaTKO 5 (10) 1967-02-05 Mile One Park, Port HarcourtWin 54-17-3 José TorresUD 15 1966-12-16 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkWon The Ring, WBC & WBA World Light Heavyweight titles Loss 53-17-3 Emile GriffithUD 15 1966-04-25 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkLost The Ring, WBC & WBA World Middleweight titles Win 53-16-3 
Peter MuellerKO 3 (10), 0:57 1966-02-18 Westfalenhalle, Dortmund, Nordrhein-WestfalenWin 52-16-3 Joey GiardelloUD 15 1965-10-21 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkWon The Ring, WBC & WBA World Middleweight titles Win 51-16-3 Rubin CarterUD 10 1965-05-20 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkWin 50-16-3 
Juan Carlos RiveroTKO 6 (10) 1965-03-12 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkLoss 49-16-3 Joey ArcherSD 10 1964-10-16 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkWin 49-15-3 Don FullmerUD 10 1964-09-11 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, OhioWin 48-15-3 Jose Monon GonzalezTKO 6 (10) 1964-07-31 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkLoss 47-15-3 Joey GiardelloPTS 15 1963-12-07 Atlantic City Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New JerseyLost The Ring, WBC & WBA World Middleweight titles Win 47-14-3 Gene FullmerRTD 7 (15), 3:00 1963-08-10 Liberty Stadium, IbadanRetained WBA & Won vacant The Ring, WBC World Middleweight titles Draw 46-14-3 Gene FullmerPTS 15 1963-02-23 Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NevadaRetained WBA World Middleweight title Win 46-14-2 Gene FullmerUD 15 1962-10-23 Candlestick Park, California, CaliforniaWon vacant WBA World Middleweight titles Win 45-14-2 Henry HankUD 10 1962-03-31 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkWin 44-14-2 
Florentino FernándezTKO 6 (10) 1962-01-20 Miami Beach, FloridaWin 43-14-2 William PickettUD 10 1961-12-16 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkWin 42-14-2 Hank CaseySD 10 1961-05-15 New Orleans, LouisianaWin 41-14-2 Spider WebbKO 6 (10), 2:41 1961-04-15 St. Nicholas Arena, New York, New YorkWin 40-14-2 Gene ArmstrongTKO 9 (10), 1:21 1961-02-18 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkWin 39-14-2 
Wilf GreavesTKO 9 (15), 1:20 1960-11-30 Edmonton Gardens, Edmonton, AlbertaWon Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight title Loss 38-14-2 Wilf GreavesSD 15 1960-06-22 Edmonton Gardens, Edmonton, AlbertaLost Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight title Win 38-13-2 Víctor ZalazarMD 10 1960-04-01 Boston Arena, Boston, MassachusettsWin 37-13-2 Gene ArmstrongUD 10 1960-02-24 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, IllinoisWin 36-13-2 Holly MimsMD 10 1959-12-30 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, IllinoisLoss 35-13-2 Joey GiardelloUD 10 1959-11-04 Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, OhioWin 35-12-2 Joey GiardelloUD 10 1959-09-30 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, IllinoisWin 34-12-2 Gene ArmstrongPTS 10 1959-09-02 Convention Hall, Camden, New JerseyLoss 33-12-2 Rory CalhounSD 10 1959-07-17 War Memorial Auditorium, Syracuse, New YorkDraw 33-12-2 Rory CalhounPTS 10 1959-06-05 Madison Square Garden, New York, New YorkWin 33-12-1 Randy SandyPTS 10 1959-05-12 
Empire Pool, Wembley, LondonLoss 32-11-1 Randy SandyPTS 10 1959-05-12 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, MerseysideWin 32-10-1 
Yolande PompeyPTS 10 1958-10-14 Empire Pool, Wembley, LondonLoss 31-10-1 Spider WebbPTS 10 1958-06-24 Empress Hall, Earl's Court, Kensington, LondonWin 31-9-1 Billy EllawayKO 2 (8) 1958-05-01 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, MerseysideWin 30-9-1 Pat McAteerKO 9 (15) 1958-03-27 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, MerseysideWon Commonwealth (British Empire) Middleweight title Win 29-9-1 Johnny ReadKO 6 (8) 1958-03-27 Harringay Arena, Harringay, LondonWin 28-9-1 Jimmy LynasKO 7 (8) 1958-02-03 King's Hall, Belle Vue, ManchesterWin 27-9-1 
Jean RuelletPTS 8 1958-01-13 City Hall, Hull, YorkshireWin 26-9-1 
Paddy DelargyKO 6 (10) 1957-11-28 Embassy Sportsdrome, Birmingham, West MidlandsDraw 25-9-1 Pat McAteerPTS 10 1957-11-11 
Maindy Stadium, CardiffWin 25-9 Jean Claude PoissonPTS 10 1957-10-21 Maindy Stadium, CardiffWin 24-9 Phil EdwardsPTS 10 1957-09-09 Maindy Stadium, CardiffWin 23-9 Alan DeanPTS 8 1957-07-25 Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, MerseysideLoss 22-9 
Willie ArmstrongPTS 8 1957-07-15 Engineer's Club, West Hartlepool, County DurhamWin 22-8 Marius DoriTKO 7 (8) 1957-06-04 Harringay Arena, Harringay, LondonWin 21-8 Terry DownesTKO 5 (8) 1957-05-14 Town Hall, Shoreditch, LondonWin 20-8 Johnny ReadTKO 2 (8) 1957-04-29 National Sporting Club, Piccadilly, LondonWin 19-8 Alan DeanPTS 8 1956-11-09 Tower Circus, Blackpool, LancashireLoss 18-8 Alan DeanPTS 6 1956-10-18 Liverpool Stadium, Blackpool, LancashireWin 18-7 Jimmy LynasPTS 8 1956-07-02 Tower Circus, Blackpool, LancashireWin 17-7 Wally ScottTKO 4 (8) 1956-05-28 Engineer's Club, West Hartlepool, County DurhamWin 16-7 Alan DeanPTS 8 1956-05-10 Liverpool Stadium, Blackpool, LancashireWin 15-7 Dennis RowleyKO 1 (8) 1956-05-03 Liverpool Stadium, Blackpool, LancashireLoss 14-7 George RoePTS 8 1956-03-22 Liverpool Stadium, Blackpool, LancashireLoss 14-6 Jimmy LynasPTS 8 1956-03-01 Tower Circus, Blackpool, LancashireLoss 14-5 Gerry McNallyPTS 8 1956-01-27 Tower Circus, Blackpool, LancashireLoss 14-4 Alan DeanPTS 6 1955-12-08 Liverpool Stadium, Blackpool, LancashireTV
- Appeared as a guest on an episode of the American television series What's My Line?. The panel correctly guessed his occupation.
See also
- List of WBC world champions
- Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ Dick Tiger's Professional Boxing Record. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2011-10-22.
Further reading
- Makinde, Adeyinka (2005). Dick Tiger: The Life and Times of a Boxing Immortal. Tarentum, PA: Word Association Publishers. ISBN 1595710426.
External links
- Professional boxing record for Dick Tiger from BoxRec
- Emeagwali, Philip, "DICK TIGER: Photo Essay"
- Makinde, Adeyinka, DICK TIGER WEBPAGES
- YOUNG DICK TIGER, Nephew of Dick Tiger TIGER BOXING GYM in Los Angeles
Achievements Preceded by
Gene FullmerWBA Middleweight Champion
23 Oct 1962–7 Dec 1963Succeeded by
Joey GiardelloPreceded by
Paul Pender
RetiredWBC Middleweight Champion
7 May 1963–7 Dec 1963Vacant Title last held byGene FullmerUndisputed Middleweight Champion
7 May 1963–7 Dec 1963Preceded by
Joey GiardelloWorld Middleweight Champion
21 Oct 1965–25 Apr 1966Succeeded by
Emile GriffithPreceded by
José TorresWorld Light Heavyweight Champion
16 Dec 1966–24 May 1968Succeeded by
Bob FosterAwards Preceded by
Joe BrownRing Magazine Fighter of the Year
1962Succeeded by
Cassius ClayPreceded by
Emile GriffithRing Magazine Fighter of the Year
1965Succeeded by
Joe Frazier (1967)Preceded by
Gene FullmerBWAA Fighter of the Year
1962Succeeded by
Emile GriffithPreceded by
Muhammad AliBWAA Fighter of the Year
1966Succeeded by
Carlos OrtizCategories:- 1929 births
- 1971 deaths
- Nigerian boxers
- Middleweight boxers
- Light-heavyweight boxers
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- World boxing champions
- International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees
- People from Imo State
- Igbo boxers
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