Ground Breaking Boxers

Dick Tiger

Original name Richard Ihetu was born on 14th August 1929, in Amaigbo, Orlu, Nigeria. One of four children, he came from a poor urban environment but was not deterred by the challenges which lay ahead. His drive and determination led him to excel at his chosen career. British Military Officers stationed in Nigeria facilitated the boxing skills of Dick Tiger and his love of the sport. In 1952, he won the Nigerian Middleweight division championship. In 1955, after he had conquered the Nigerian boxing scene, he left the shores of his homeland, Nigeria and emigrated to Liverpool, England where there was an already well-established Igbo community. He signs a management deal with Peter Banasko, the well-known and well-respected former Liverpool boxing champion. Despite losing his first four bouts, that self believe and determination drove him to improve rapidly to such an extent on 27th March 1958, at the Liverpool Stadium he knocked out Pat McAteer to become the British Commonwealth middleweight champion. This win would lay the foundation for future success over the next twelve years, where he would go onto achieve the greatest of accolades by winning six World Boxing Council (WBC) Light Heavy Weight titles between 1962 and 1968.