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. Tiger was a talented boxer, commercial venturer, and Biafran rebel.

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
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

• 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

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 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