Was thiniing about Dick Tiger's historic wins over Jose Torres today and I couldn't help but think they don't get enough credit on this board. Tiger had looked fairly spent losing to Grifitth getting bounced off the canvas even though many think he won the fight. At 37 he was something like a 12-5 underdog against Torres who was red hot after nearly beating Pastrano to death. In the first fight he systematically beat Torres with smart boxing/slugging and an impressive body attack and though the Garden rioted after he won the rematch he still fought on terms with a man much much heavier, faster, strong, and ages fresher than him, an impressive feat. Incidently he turned in another career defining win over tough Roger Rouse before getting splattered in one of boxing's most devastating kayos of all time. But I'm starting to ramble here: why doesn't this win get mentioned along with Greb vs Tunney, Langford vs Flowers, and Duran vs Leonard, other wars where an older past prime warrior turns his game around and scores a great win?
I saw both fights..I and II.I gave Tiger great props for both victories..it wasn't supposed to happen. I thought Tiger was past it when Griffith outpointed him..and decked him, but he comes back in his next fight and out hustles the bigger, faster, harder hitting young stud Torres..like the Iron Man he was..and at his age of 37. Tiger's last gasps were vs Chegui, and it cemented his legacy...even if there was a Killer Preying Mantis from Mars lurking out there named Bob Foster stalking him. He scored vs Torres throughout with those short, economical punches of his and used his low center of gravity so well. Both fights were close and Torres threw a fit after losing the rematch, but there was no doubt who won. Tiger was a masterful 15 round fighter and Torres was a bit of a front runner, IMO.
Torres was a small light heavy i always thought.A bit like Pierre Fourie, he would have been ideal for a supermiddle.
You are right....Torres fought a lot at MW first..back in the early 60's with all those good TV Friday Night fighters. Then Pastrano gave him a shot at Lthvy..big mistake by Willie. Willie always thought that left hook to the liver he received from Torres, eventually led to his own death.
Willie was shot by the time he fought Torres...he shot his wad vs Harold Johnson..it was all down hill after that...three good rounds vs Peralta, slicing him up for a tko, and he dropped the last two rounds of that fight, and sucked against Terry Downes before the freak ending...Willie getting a stoppage after two miracle kds in the 10th round.
