Dick Tiger vs Rodrigo Valdez

Does anyone know who trained Tiger, what gyms he fought out of? An incredible natural talent and seemingly a fighter that partially learned on the job, making him all the more impressive when you put him under the microscope....

 

He had a handful of amateur bouts, before turning pro'. After 16 contests in Africa, he moved to the UK in 1955. He had been inspired by Hogan Bassey's world title success. Managed by Tony Vairo, trained by Maurice Foran, he had a mixed record, due to readjusting to his new base and weight making. When he moved to New York in 1959, Jersey Jones, handled his career. Jones wrote regularly for The Ring. His trainer was Jimmy August. Interesting to note, going into the first Fullmer fight, Tiger had 12 losses on his record. A salutary reminder to those who are in awe of "undefeated" records!
Despite these losses he went onto become Undisputed World champion in 2 weight divisions, well into his 30's.

 

I would cautiously pick Valdez. Valdez was more versatile, well rounded, and smarter. While he could be drawn into brawls at times he was usually smart enough to know when he could win them and when he couldnt. When he couldnt hed box. If he did that with Tiger Id favor him. Tiger wasnt that great against guys who boxed him. Im not even sure Tiger could beat him in a brawl seeing what Valdez did to the human tank Bennie Briscoe three times. But I consider Tiger to he better than Briscoe so that might not be the best comparison. My gut is if Valdez boxes he wins, if he brawls its a pickem.

 

Ron Lipton the referee used to spar with tiger. There's stuff on you tube I believe where he describes what it's like to be in the ring with him. Pretty unnerving stuff if I remember correctly

 

Fantastic and informative post. Thank you, crixus.

Overrated and blemish free records are ridiculous and prove little, in my opinion anyway.

 

Good breakdown.

 

He was supposedly a real physical specimen/force in the ring, capable of out muscling the strongest of the strong of his own time...

 

Lipton 's opinion is he doesn't think any MW could stand and trade with Tiger. He sparred with both Carter and Tiger and breaks down the difference between the two you can probably Google the interview.
That being said I still stick with my original post picking Valdez.
Look up the interview though it describes being in camp with Carter and Sparring Tiger maybe more guys involved not sure now. Very good read though

 

Didn't Chickie Ferera also work with Tiger?

 

Good post and information robert, thank you.

 

Thanks my man

 

Where did Ron L. go? Hopefully still with us. In addition to his boxing prowess and knowledge, he was friends with Carter and, despite that, always (sadly) felt that Rueben was guilty as charged for a number of reasons he articulated on board here. After studying the case, reading, hearing Ron's input, and...writing a paper on his arrest and conviction while in college, I tend to agree.

 

He still is refereeing actually seeing him on some bigger cards now. He also teaches a boxing class in NY. I know he hopes to put a book together in the near future.

 

When Carter came to the Uk to fight Harry Scott he smuggled a revolver through customs and fired it in his hotel room.
Mickey Duff who was promoting the fight and "minding,"Carter had to smooth things over. Dylan wrote a terrific song about Carters trial,but I tend to believe he was guilty.

 

Yeah right. Lipton defended Carter's guilty ass for years, even writing an article about his supposed unjust imprisonment in Boxing Illustrated in the 1970s. Proclaiming his innocence to the high heavens. When Carter got out and became famous again after the movie Hurricane Lipton went begging him for help in getting his referees license back and when Carter gave him the cold shoulder Lipton miraculously had a change of heart saying he suspected Carter was guilty. Dont read too much in to Lipton's supposed experience with Carter, Tiger, and Griffith. He was nothing but a gym rat kid in those days who despite pretending he was a badass amateur fighter who never lost a fight was actually knocked out cold in one round (about 40 seconds to be exact) in the Golden Gloves and decided discretion was the better part of valor. That guy is more full of **** than a Christmas turkey. There used to be this sad video he posted on youtube of him sitting with a senile Joey Giardello goading Joey over and over to say nice things about him. It was pathetic. I dont doubt Tiger was the strongest inside fighter at MW ever. But I dont need Ron Lipton of all people to tell me that.