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Dick Tiger: The Life and Times of a Boxing Immortal by Adeyinka Makinde
DICK TIGER: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF A BOXING IMMORTAL
Dick Tiger was perhaps the greatest fighter to come out of the African continent. Emerging from an environment deviod of substantive traditions in boxing, he was to overcome a litany of obstacles before becoming a two-time undisputed world middleweight titlist and an undisputed Lightheavyweight champion. By the time he hung up his gloves after an eighteen-year career, he had already fashioned an exemplary image and fighting record that accorded him the status of a ring legend.
        The Life and Times of a Boxing Immortal, the first comprehensive biography of Dick Tiger, puts the man in the context of his times: A migrant fighter to Liverpool, the repository of a multitude of West African born fighters who kept the boxing game alive during the industry wide reccession of the 1950's, Tiger later moved to America where he established a marquee value seldom attainable by foreign fighters and where he played a prominent role as an 'in-house fighter' at the Mecca of Boxing, New York City's Madison Square Garden. His life also personified the hopes, ambitions and tragedy of the Igbo ethnic group. For Tiger was of the Igbo, a people possessed of a peripatetic nature and a 'can do' spirit. He was a trader at heart and had built up an enviable portfolio of investments before the outbreak of civil conflict sent his world crashing. An avowed apostle of Biafran seccession, Tiger's propagandizing and financial support for this cause cost him dearly.
         Here is Tiger as never before explained: the blue collar warrior, ageless ringman, commercial venturer, Nigerian patriot and Biafran rebel. He rose from the guttermost to the uttermost living a kind of American dream life drama: from empty bottle trader to wealthy businessman, from Nigerian boxing booths to Madison Square Garden, from journeyman fighter to world championship fighter. The Life and Times of a Boxing Immortal is a study of human dignity in triumph and in tragedy and is a must read for boxing afficionado's and the wider reading public.
Dick Tiger elegantly attired in his trademark 'Anthony Eden' coat and Homborg hat.
A tireless supporter for the cause of Biafran seccession, Dick Tiger was commissioned into the Morale Corps of the Biafran Army in December 1967.
His fight contracts stipulated that he be introduced to boxing audiences as 'Dick Tiger of Biafra.' He also insisted on the playing of Biafra's national anthem. Tiger expended a lot of his boxing income on propaganda, food and medicines. He renounced his allegiance to Nigeria in June 1967 and handed back his MBE civil medal to the British Embassy in December 1969, charging the British, who had aided the Federals, with complicity in the 'genocide' of men, women and children.
The ramifications of his actions were costly: members of the ruling Nigerian military hierarchy never forgave him this 'transgression' and the country which made a big patriotic play out of his championship bout with Gene Fullmer has failed, inspite of postwar policies of reconciliation, to honour him in a manner befitting his accomplishments.
Neither, as has been pointed out, have those re-absorbed Biafrans who encouraged him to support their 'noble cause'
TIGER QUOTES
Richard Ihetu may have appeared to most observer's as a reticent individual. But in his  reflections on matters and reactions to sometimes provocative entreaties, he often displayed a quickness of wit and a brightness of mind. The book will be littered with a number of Tiger's quips, delivered with an inimitable brevity, intelligence, humour and poignancy. Here are a sample.

Wilfred 'Jersey' Jones, Tiger's manager, and others often teased him over what they perceived to be his tendancy to frugality. Once after Tiger had won the Worlds Middleweight Championship, members of his training camp suggested that he buy his wife a fur coat:
"Guys," Tiger reposted, "I'm from Nigeria, not Siberia."

Tiger insisted that he didnot need to follow the orthodox boxing practice of best anticipating the arrival of an opponents blows by focusing on their eyes; instead he concentrated on the position of their gloves. 'Why, it was inquired did he do this?':
"Because," he responded, "Nobody ever hit me with their eyes."

Excerpt from a letter chiding Middleweight champion Gene Fullmer for failing to take up his offer of a fight:
'I know you don't want any part of me in the ring Gene. But you have a reputation to maintain. You were recognised in 1961 as the 'Fighter of the Year.' What are they apt to call you in 1962 if you continue to dodge your oustanding challenger?'

On his frustration at Don Fullmer's 'running technique' during their bout at the Cleveland Arena:
"Maybe this being an Olympic year (1964), Fullmer decided to make this a running event...a 15,000 meter race...I trained for a fight not a marathon."

Reply to frequent enquiries about whether cannibalism was practiced in his homeland:
"We quit that years ago when the Governor-General made us sick."

On parallells between his ethnic group and the Jews:
"Our opponents call the Igbo the Jews of Africa. It is meant as an insult. I interpret it as a high compliment."
Ron Lipton in 1993 poses with his dog Sonja
A Police Officer by training, Lipton served as an investigator for the Hudson County Prosecutors office in the state of New Jersey.
His extraordinary abilities at target shooting has been utilized in the training of crack S.W.A.T. teams.
 He is also a boxing historian, top class boxing referee and has served as a boxing choreographer for plays and movies

 (Ron Lipton Collection)
A smiling Dick Tiger, resplendent in his native agbada and cap poses for the 18 year old Ron Lipton after being introduced to the Madison Square Garden audience attending the Johnny Persol-Henry Hank fight in August 1964. Tiger later signed the photo for Lipton thus: 'To Ronnie, Good luck in the Golden Glove(s), from Dick Tiger.'

(Ron Lipton Collection)
Born in Manhattan's Polyclinic Hospital, Ron Lipton would, in his teenage years, drift on to the mean streets of New York City. He gravitated to the boxing gyms and became sparring partner to a number of the great Middleweights of the era: Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, Joey Giardello, Jose Gonzalez and Dick Tiger. He entered Golden Gloves and A.A.U. competitions winning three titles.
      Lipton's friendship with Tiger began sometime in 1964 continuing until 1971 when Tiger passed away. He was one of Tiger's key spars as Tiger prepared for his title regaining match with Joey Giardello at the end of 1965. Sleeping in a cot at The New Garden Gym, Lipton rose early each morning to run around Central Park and in the afternoons tested his quick reflexes against his employer. "Rubin (Carter) would paralyse you, Emile Griffith would sharpshoot you," he recalls, "But Dick would crunch you." Remembering the way Tiger set his most dangerous punch, Lipton says, "He would be very relaxed. Then all of a sudden, his power would just spring out of his stance. He would get his entire body into the punch and then if you started to trade with him, he would get his head out of the way and the left hook would whistle through the air and if you did not move your head you would have your skull crushed. I'm serious: You would lose your life if you did not move promptly!"
       A serious student of boxing, Lipton regularly attended boxing bouts including many of Tiger's fights at the Garden. I found out that he was making no idle boast when he told me that he often sat front row at Tigers fights and observed things "no one else saw and heard ." I am most indebted for the help and assistance he rendered to me during the research of this project.
"I think of him everyday" Lipton says of Tiger. "I practice for hours on the heavy bag in my kitchen with Dick Tiger imitations. Now and then in self defence, I get into a fight because I can't get the fighter out of me and everything that I learned from him and (Rubin) Carter -but more Tiger- keeps me young. But what he means to me the most is that he was living proof to anyone that knows about boxing and fighting: You don't have to be a thug or criminal to be the toughest lion in the jungle. He was so well spoken, gentlemanly, humble, sweet and meant no one any harm. He was the strongest middleweight -and the most brave that ever lived."
Ron Lipton 2001. Complete with physique befitting for one who sparred with some of boxings toughest men
For further information on the book Dick Tiger: The Life and Times of a Boxing Immortal contact me at

 

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