An obscure boxer for sure, he only had four fights, all of them in Nigeria. What makes him stick out, and how, is that he beat Dick Tiger three times. Twice on points and once by a TKO. All fairly early in Tiger's career, but still. He had two other fights besides that. Both against "Blackie Power". One resulting in his only loss, the other he avenged that loss with a TKO. Does anyone know anything about this guy? Were the fights with Tiger filmed? Was he just one nobody that got lucky (three time, anyway) or was he a potential great that just quit?
I thought this was about the other tommy West. A welterweight who might have been the man if he had not had the misfortune to be contemprary with Joe Walcott, Tommy Ryan and Billy Smith.
Adeyinka Makinde bio of Tiger might answer some of your questions. I will say, Tiger took a long time to develop into the fighter who was King at 160lbs and 175. I am quite sure that if you had told the Lancashire crowd that was watching Tiger in 55/56, that they were looking at a future two divsion World Champ, they would of institutionalised you! So to be honest, I would suspect West was hardly a great loss to the boxing world, but that is just an opinion/guess on circumstantial evidence.
I have now read the Tiger Bio (how old is this thread!) West started as an amateur 147lber at the Faji Boys Club, Lagos. After what the Daily Times said was a fabulous career, West turned pro with much fanfare in May 1952 West was a tall slimline southpaw textbook stylist, and his first fight with Tiger was greeted with boos and catcalls when he received the decision. In their rematch West was decked early in the first. In the fourth Tiger was stung into action after receiving a huge left hook, and a two fisted all attack all but finished off West, who was saved by the bell. But Tiger injured a thumb during the attack. The fight was still in balance going into the seventh when Tiger threw his hands up to signal he could not continue, due to his injured thumb. Their third fight was again close, with the feeling being if the fight was not limited to six rounds, Tiger would of stood an excellent chance of winning. West was due to go to Liverpool, England later that month... All the above information comes from Adeyinka Makinde's biography of Dick Tiger, a good read IMO. Two months later West died in bizarre circumstances, when grief stricken due to the unexpected death of an elder brother, he refused all food and drink and died in a Doctors two days later of a fever. As for other questions it would seem Blackie Power was considered the lesser of the three, and no the fights were not filmed, Makinde seems to of got the information from the local press.
Anyways, I doubt he was up to much. The wins over Tiger say a lot more about Tiger's tremendous lack of experience at the time than anything to do with West's ability.
Forgot to post the link before here it is > http://www.eastsideboxing.com/ade0012.html BTW Tiger must have been in some pain to quit.
No, seemingly not, everyone was in shock, particularly when you take into account his future career. Tiger had merely 'sprained' his thumb...
I've tried that also because of a punch, and while it hurts and is very annoying I can't imagine it hurting so much that you wouldn't be able to fight on. That being said to my knowledge the bout was scheduled for 15 rds, so it might have been reasonable if he knew he couldn't give his best with 8 rds to go
