This is quoted from Wikipedia: "Dick Tiger was one of the great fighters to come out of the This content is protected This content is protected . Tiger became a two-time undisputed world middleweight titlist. This content is protected This content is protected This content is protected Tiger earned an undisputed Light-Heavyweight world championship. In 1962, Tiger won the world middle weight boxing championship. Tiger inspired other Nigerians to go into boxing." My question is: What boxing industry recession the was during the 1950s? Are we talking about the whole decade or just the late 50s? Was there a drought of talent?
There was a tax issue. Basically, boxing promotions were double-taxed, there were fewer shows and many made a loss during this era in the UK. For some reason everywhere Tiger went, people loved him, and he was the same in Liverpool and throughout the UK. He was a draw, promoters were comfortable staging him - but he, too, struggled to get work during this time.
Also, TV hurt boxing in the mid to late 50's, as it did movie theaters and other live entertainment. It's before my time but what I've heard is that the type of guys who'd have been passed over in the 40's, boxing's glory days were now center stage due to how they might come across to the masses. So you had a lot of white guys, alot of I guess attractive guys, getting big fights and big deals. I'm sure the mob didn't disapprove, since they backed any move that would make the game easier to manipulate... What eventually happened, and this is I think where sports has it all over traditional entertainment venues, is that justice prevailed. If a guy couldn't fight, sooner or later the jig was up and the fans just weren't having it. Unlike the music or film industries where shortcomings are more subtle and easier to miss, as long as it's not tampered with, there's more justice, more truth in sports than in other walks of life.
Mcgrain you know your stuff!!! Ingo-Floyd 2,almost didnt happen this was one of the reasons. Also guys COULD only fight once a year!! Chintax you know your stuff too,moyer,akins,archer mims good fighters for tv money helped sour game .Dont get me wrong these were great fighters they just went 10 for tv commercials teddy Brennan mjatchmaking different. As far far as Tiger goes he was great, also glad guys like henry hank sonny liston(remember him) were around.:good:happy
