Dick Tiger vs. Emile Griffith (1st meeting)

Dick Tiger lands a right against Emile Griffith

Emile Griffith 151 lbs beat Dick Tiger 160 lbs by UD in round 15 of 15

• Date: 1966-04-25
• Location: Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, USA
• Referee: Arthur Mercante 9-5
• Judge: Tony Castellano 8-7
• Judge: Frank Forbes 7-6

• Unofficial UPI scorecard: 7-6-2 Griffith
• Unofficial AP scorecard: 8-6-1 Griffith
• World Boxing Association Middleweight Title (1st defense by Tiger)
  
• World Boxing Council Middleweight Title (1st defense by Tiger)
  

Comments

• Tiger was an 8-5 favorite.
• A crowd of 14,934 produced a gate of $147,536.
• Griffith floored Tiger in round nine. It was the first knockdown of Tiger's career.
• Judge Castellano's scorecard was 7-7-1 in rounds but went to supplemental scoring.
• The decision was roundly booed.
• 17 out of 22 sportswriters thought Tiger won the fight.
• Upon Griffith winning the middleweight title, the NYSAC then vacated Griffith's welterweight title in accordance with Rule H of the NYSAC.
• Despite Griffith inserting a plea that he could defend both titles, Justice Samuel L. Gold of the NY Supreme Court ruled in favor of the NYSAC.
• Rule H of the NYSAC: "No individual can hold a world championship title in two or more weight classes at the same time, but the holder of one such championship title may enter into a contest for the world championship title of another class. In an event that such individual wins such world championship title in such other class, his original world championship is automatically vacated."

Preceded by: Giardello vs. Tiger IV

WBA Middleweight Title Fight # 7 WBC Middleweight Title Fight # 5

Succeeded by: Griffith vs. Archer I