VIDEO: Dick Tiger vs. Henry Hank - ATG Slugfest!!!

I've just finished uploading the near-mythical battle between Tiger and Hank, one of the best MW fights ever. For an idea of the fight, picture Hagler-Hearns for 7 rounds longer.

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This was Tiger's last fight before finally getting his first title shot against Gene Fullmer. For over a year, both titleholders (Fullmer and Pender) had shied away from defending against Tiger, and watching this fight it's easy to see why. Hank was a top 5 rated contender and a tremendous puncher; he could be outboxed, but seldom was beaten at close quarters - and few even dared to try to match him there. However, Tiger stood right in front of Hank all night long, picked off most of his punches, withstood the ones that managed to break through his guard, and pounded him right back all night long. This fight is one of the definitive showcases for Tiger's immovable strength, technical skill (if a bit unorthodox and awkward-looking), tireless workrate, and iron chin. He does miss a number of his punches - partly because of Hank's slippery head movement, and partly because of his own bad habit of head-hunting at this stage of his career - but he compensates for that by tirelessly wailing away. Note the left hook by Hank that nails Tiger flush on the chin in the final 30 seconds of the last round, and no reaction whatsover from Tiger. :shock:

 

I watched this one 2-3 weeks ago and was in awe just like you. Great fight and Hank was terrific in that fight. That fight highlights not only Tiger´s but also Hank´s class. Hank would tear through today´s mw division easily.

 

Great fight.
:good

 

Perhaps my favorite middleweight fight of alltime...one of my alltime favorites since Raging Bull recommended it to me.

I think even the General could digest how great fight this was against two top class fighters.

 

Cheers :good


Tigers left hook was so effective here

 

Great fight, much better quality than my vhs thanks for the upload. :good

Ask anyone in detroit who knows boxing and see who they'd pick at 160, hearns or hank. You might be surprised to hear the answer. If only there was footage of hank-giardello II...

 

I believe there is highlights of it.

 

The courageous Hank wings them all night ,but he can't halt the implacable juggernaut that is Tiger.That shot in the last round should have floored Tiger, the guy was made of teak.
Hank v Pavlik would be a great scrap!
Thanks for posting this.:good

 

Hank's waist movement reminds me of James Toney.

Would love to see more of Hank,really dig his style.

 

Really? Id love to get my hands on it...

 

I'll have to watch this one again but I always thought it was a bit over-rated. I thought Henry Hank's fight against Gene Armstrong was much better in terms of action or even Dick Tiger v Jose 'Monon' Gonzalez.

 

Just in awe with Tigers relentlessness. He just didnt stop. He kept the pressure on superbly in a great show of effective aggresion and Hank could not live with Tigers strength and left hooks. His defence was also good as he kept his hands in tight in an almost shell and let the punches cast off the side of his cocoon. A very underrated aspect of Tiger is his accuracy, he really was hitting the target that night.

Hank impressed me also with his good reflexes and very hard punching, thought he did his best work whilst moving, but was very rarely allowed to move.

My scorecard

Tiger: 1,3,4,6,8,9,10
Hank: 2,5
Total: 98-93 Tiger (7-2-1)

* Round 7 scored even as it was missing from my copy.

 

this fight reminds me, anyone ever see prime tiger look even slightly busted up after any one of his middleweight ventures? it's amazing how he walks out dog fights like this and the fernandez, fullmer, carter, rivero fights completely unscathed.

 

One thing I don't like about Hank was his tendency to dance and clown. This would sometimes cost him the bout, as Henry would mistakenly think he could put out the opponent later. In this bout Henry dances and lands lots of good shots, but it is Tiger who lands the more meaningful ones. Dick was a patient stalker, and when he struck, it had the perfect combination of deadly accuracy and debilitating damage.

IMO, it was Hank's movement that enabled him to last the distance. I can't think of any MW in history who could KO Dick Tiger.

 

This deserves a bump...one of my favs.