Dick Tiger = One of the Best Middleweights Ever

[Poncey]

This has reminded me to get Tiger's fights on DVD! Has there ever been a better African fighter?!

His only rival for the top spot is Azumah Nelson.

No one else is in his (or Nelson's) class IMO, not even Ike Quartey.

Nelson was my only thought as a competitor to the crown. But Azumah didn't beat the quality that Dick did IMHO. Superb fighter.

[Ezzard]

Brian Mitchell was a top fighter though not quite in the same class perhaps, but he has his fans... Cerdan was born in North Africa...

[My2Sense]

Brian Mitchell was a top fighter though not quite in the same class perhaps, but he has his fans... Cerdan was born in North Africa...

I forgot about Mitchell. Very underrated champion. It's hard to truly evaluate him, as he didn't get the big fights until he was probably past his prime (but still acquitted himself very well against Lopez).

And Cerdan may have been born in Africa, but at heart he always was, and always will be, un homme de la France!

[elmersalsa]

This has reminded me to get Tiger's fights on DVD! Has there ever been a better African fighter?!

No...There is none...Tiger earned his pinstripes as the very best of the African continent

[My2Sense]

I have both Griffith fights,Emile won the non-title fight rather easily if I recall correctly,Dunphy thought so.Tiger felt he won.I'll have to watch the title fight again.

I just watched this fight again not too long ago, and although I didn't exactly think Tiger deserved the win, I thought the fight was closer than the judges had it. In fact, I thought it could've conceivably been scored a draw. Griffith boxed well in the early rounds and scored well with his right hand, but over the second half of the fight, he got lazy and let Tiger outwork him in several rounds.

Tiger was upset over the decision, but it seemed he was more upset about the margin of scoring, rather than it actually going to Griffith.


Both men were well past their best by this time, but Tiger was clearly the more faded of the two. He literally had nothing - no power, no speed, no timing, no legs, no reflexes, and even his chin looked a bit shaky (for the first time in his career). Within a year of that fight, he was dead. Tragic.

[pete]

ESPN Classic is showing Tiger's 175 lb defense against Roger Rouse july 31.Interesting as I've only seen him at 175 against Foster.Also showing Laguna against Carlos Ortiz july 30.After showing the same fights over and over ad nauseum ESPN has been finally started running some damn good,rarely seen(at least by me) fights.

[My2Sense]

ESPN Classic is showing Tiger's 175 lb defense against Roger Rouse july 31.Interesting as I've only seen him at 175 against Foster.Also showing Laguna against Carlos Ortiz july 30.After showing the same fights over and over ad nauseum ESPN has been finally started running some damn good,rarely seen(at least by me) fights.

Damnit, I just bought the Rouse fight on DVD not too long ago! :x

I hate it when that happens.


Every now and then, ESPN will spend a couple of weeks showing new fights (which they've been doing the last couple of weeks), and then return to their usual ad nauseum collection.

They did that before a few months back, in which they showed several Bob Foster fights, including very rare footage (until now, anyway) of his fight with Doug Jones.

ESPN actually has access to Bill Cayton's (supposedly) enormous fight collection, so they really should be making more of an effort to shore more fights.


Having said that, the Rouse fight is a great fight and well worth seeing. Tiger was past his prime by then and fighting above his best weight, but he still gave a very good account of himself. As stated earlier in this thread, many people were surprised at his KO of Rouse, who was considered a pretty rugged fellow.

[elmersalsa]

ESPN Classic is showing Tiger's 175 lb defense against Roger Rouse july 31.Interesting as I've only seen him at 175 against Foster.Also showing Laguna against Carlos Ortiz july 30.After showing the same fights over and over ad nauseum ESPN has been finally started running some damn good,rarely seen(at least by me) fights.

Now that I don't have ESPNClassic now they are showing these fights? :x :x :x

[pete]

Yeah after years of the same old,same old I've actually been amazed at some of the fights they've shown recently.A week or so ago they aired Olson vs. Turpin and they've shown more than a few Emile Griffith welter defenses,not just the Paret ones.
Lord I hope they keep it up!