Dick Tiger, whose real name was Richard Ihetu, was a Nigerian professional boxer who fought from August 14, 1929, until December 14, 1971. He was the undisputed middleweight and light-heavyweight champion. As a two-time undisputed world middleweight champion, Tiger contributed to the survival of boxing throughout the boxing industry’s downturn in the 1950s.
On October 23, 1962, Tiger defeated Gene Fullmer to win the WBA middleweight title. In 1966, he defeated José Torres of Puerto Rico to win the light heavyweight belt.
Because of his participation in the Biafran movement, he was banned by the Yakubu Gowon regime in the 1960s. However, as soon as news of his condition reached Nigeria, the same head of state promptly removed the ban. At the age of 42, he passed away in Aba, Nigeria, on December 14, 1971, from liver cancer.
