NOW THERE IS A SMILE ON THE TIGER'S FACE

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30058, 16 February 1963, Page 9

NOW THERE IS A SMILE ON THE TIGER'S FACE

A QUIET, well-mannered Nigerian is prepared to step in where the world championships committee has abjectly failed, and clear up the present chaotic state of the middle-weight boxing division. Owner himself of one-half of the world title (that recognised by the National Boxing Association) he now only waits the opportunity to meet the owner of the other half (Chart recognised by Europe) to win undisputed right to wear a crown that has been split in two for longer than is good for boxing. The Nigerian, who is also Empire champion, is Dick Ihetu. but better known as Dick Tiger, who stood on the sidelines for so long waiting a chance to prove his superiority and be acknowledged as the world champion that there were times when hie patience was sorely pressed and he wondered whether there was any justice left in boxjng But after promise after promise bad been broken. Tiger recently got his longawaited chance; he took it, with both hands, by beating the N.8.A.-recognised champion. Gene Fullmer. Thera must of necessity be more delay before the middleweight division is finally straightened out, for Tiger will next week fulfil a re-turn-fight clause in the contract, and once more dispute superiority with Fullmer.

However, so convincing was the Nigerian in the first contest, and so confident is he that be can win again, that his supporters are now only marking time for this preliminary to be tidied up. so that Tiger can enter the ring with bis co-bolder. Paul Pender, and so round off a saga liberally sprinkled with triumph and frustration.

The list of men who have become victims of the 32-year-old Tiger include most of the big names in the middle-weight class—Fullmer, Terry Downes, Pat McAteer. Florentino Fern-

andez. Joey GiardeUo, Henry Hank and Wilf Greaves. They have been the recent rungs on which Tiger has climbed to the top of the ladder, but further down the list, at the beginning of bis career, are picturesque names that addcolour to the sport.

These were opponents, from his native city of Aba, in Eastern Nigeria, who made the young Dick Ihetu dedicate his life to fighting. Names like Easy Dynamite, Super Human Power. Koko Kid and Mighty Joe. Dick Ihetu became the champion of them, and six years later he left behind in Nigeria his mother, sister and four brothers, changed his fighting name to Dick Tiger (given to him because of his crouching, springing style) and went tn England to find new opponents. After a sorry start of three successive defeats, he blossomed into a fighting tiger. He won the Empire title from McAteer, forced the retirement of Downes (who recently won from and then loot back to Pender the European half of the world title) and finally ran out of opposition in Britain after three years of campaigning. It was inevitable that if Tiger was to complete his apprenticeship he must go to America, and this he did, under the astute management of a New York newspaperman. Jersey Jones. Now the pace grew hotter and the opponents tougher, but the more Tiger fought the more be learned. Those who bad not seen him fight since his days in Britain were amazed by the improvement. His enormous stamina, strength and twofisted punching. combmed with 100 per cent, arttack, worries, unsettles and undermines his opponents. Once more, however. Tiger found his demand bad exceeded the supply, and the men he most wanted to fight—Fullmer, Pender and Downes - bad apparently become bard of bearing when Tiger’s name was mentioned.

With the years creeping on. the Nigerian almost gave up hope. “He’ll get a title shot,” a critic said, ‘•when he’s 70.’’ Fortunately, Tiger did not have to wait that long. Fullmer accepted to defend his title, and a new champion was made. Tiger, married and with four children, is now being inundated with requests for fights. Fullmer wants bis chance of taking revenge; Downes has issued a challenge; Pender is awaiting the outcome of the return fight. It has been a lang road travelled by the Nigerian, who in his neat dark suit and black Homburg hat looks more like a business executive than a fighter. But in a sport noted for its hard luck stories, its personal grief, its tragedies and its racketeers. Tiger’s story has had a happy ending. Now there is a smile on the Tiger’s face.