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WHEN DICK TIGER TAMED THE 60's

posted by Kathleen Holland on June 23, 2008, in Features

By Jim Amato

He was born Richard Ihetu in his native Nigeria in 1929. He died forty
two years later in Nigeria. In between he established himself as one of
the best pound for pound fighters of the 1960's. He was known to the boxing
world as Dick Tiger. It was a very fitting moniker for the man who crowned
world champion on three occasions.

Dick turned professional in 1952 after a brief amateur career. Within
three years he established himself as the best middleweight in Nigeria.

It was off to England in 1955 to try and broaden his horizons. He lost
his first four fights on English soil. Hardly the stuff of legends right ?
Tiger would not be discouraged. By mid-1956 he was starting to put together
some impressive wins. He stopped future world champion Terry Downes in
1957.

On March 27, 1958 Tiger halted the popular Les Mc Ateer in nine to win
the British Empire middleweight title. Later in the year he lost to the
talented Spider Webb.

The year 1959 saw Tiger step it up. He met Randy Sandy, Rory Calhoun
and Joey Giardello, two bouts with each. He also fought Gene Armstrong and
Holly Mims. Talk about stiff competition.

In 1960 he lost his British Empire title to Wilf Greaves but he would
regain it by the end of the year. That started a seven fight win streak that
would lead to shot at the world's title. Among his victims were Gene
Armstrong, Spider Webb, Florentino Fernandez and Henry Hank.

On October 23, 1962 Dick challenged the defending WBA middleweight
champion, the rugged Gene Fullmer. They met in SanFrancisco and Tiger won the
title by decision.

On February 23, 1963 in Las Vegas, Tiger met Gene Fullmer in a
rematch. They fought to a draw after fifteen rugged rounds and Tiger retained his
title. When the " other " champion Paul Pender retired, Dick received full
recognition as undisputed middleweight champion On August 10th Fullmer
met Tiger one more time in an attempt to regain his title. This time Tiger
stopped Fullmer in seven rounds.

In his very next fight Tiger lost the title to old adversary Joey
Giardello. While waiting for a return match Dick would defeat Jose Gonzalez and
Don Fullmer. He was then upset by the slick Joey Archer. He came right
back to defeat Rocky Rivero and score a huge win over Rubin " Hurricane "
Carter.

On October 25, 1965 Tiger beat the classy Giardello to reclaim the
crown. Six months later Tiger lost the title one and only Emile Griffith.

Tiger decided to move up to light heavyweight and he was granted a
shot at the champion Jose Torres. The Puerto Rican Torres was fine fighter. He
was a well schooled smooth boxer with power. Torres and Tiger met on
December 16, 1966. Torres would box but Tiger kept boring in. It was Tiger's
relentless aggression that upset Torres to capture his second title in a
different weight class. They met again on May 16, 1967 and it was almost a
carbon copy of their first fight. Tiger won another decision and retained his
crown. Six months later he would halt highly regarded contender Roger Rouse to
retain the title.

In 1968 a lean, mean punching machine named Bob Foster was gunning for
a title shot. the proud champion Tiger gave it to him. Foster was 6'3"
and had a terrific jab. What he also had was terrifying power in either hand.
Tiger tried his best to get inside and work on Bob's lean rib cage but he
paid a heavy price every time he tried. Finally in the fourth round a
devastating left hook from Foster put the champion flat on his back. The ever game
Tiger tried to rise but it was over. The title reign of Dick Tiger was ended.

Five months later Dick would meet Frankie DePaula in a barn burner.
The crude slugger DePaula surprised everyone by puttng Tiger down a few
times in the early rounds. Again Tiger dug deep within himself and rallied over
second half of the fight to pull out the verdict.

Next up middleweight champion Nino Benvenuti. It was rumored that Nino
was foolishly thinking of moving up to challenge Foster. Dick Tiger drove
those thoughts out of his head by winning a convincing decision.There were
rumors that Tiger was offered a crack at Foster and his old title but he
supposedly declined.

Tiger would next out fight the tough as nails Andy Kendall. At this
point Tiger was still the second best light heavyweight in the world.

On July 15, 1970 the aging Tiger would meet his old nemisis Emile
Griffith. For whatever reasons Tiger just could not fathom Griffith's style.
This would be Dick Tiger's last boxing match. He would have a much tougher
future foe.

Dick Tiger lost his final fight to the dreaded disease, cancer. He
passed away on December 14, 1971. Thirty five years have passed since his
tragic death. Today he has been somewhat forgotten.With no disrespect, Dick
Tiger would have been able to hold his own with anyone from 160 to 175
today. He was extremely strong. He was always in top condition. He was a
tenacious fighter who would just wear an opponent down. Most of all he was
durable. In 81 fight he was stopped once, by Bob Foster. No shame there as Bob is
considered as one of the hardest punchers of all time.

Here are some of the top quality boxers that Tiger met in his outstanding
career;

Champions ; Emile Griffith, Nino Benvenuti, Jose Torres, Bob Foster,
Joey Giardello, Gene Fullmer and Terry Downes.

Contenders ; Andy Kendall, Frankie DePaula, Roger Rouse, Jose
Gonzalez, Rubin Carter, Joey Archer, Don Fullmer, Florentino Fernandez, Spider
Webb,Henry Hank, Gene Armstrong, Yolande Pompey, Randy Sandy, Holly Mims
WilfGreaves and Rory Calhoun.

Now that is impressive !

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