60 years ago

Dick Tiger vs Emile Griffith

25th April 1966

Fight Details

Date: 25th April 1966
Venue: , ,
Title: WBC & WBA World Middleweight Titles
Referee: Arthur Mercante

Fighters

Dick Tiger

Record: 53-16-3

Weight: 160 lbs

Emile Griffith

Record: 49-7-0

Weight: 150½ lbs

Fight Summary

On April 25, 1966, Emile Griffith stepped up to challenge middleweight champion Dick Tiger at Madison Square Garden. Griffith, weighing 151 lbs to Tiger's 160 lbs, pulled off a unanimous decision over 15 rounds.

The judges' scores revealed a tight contest: Referee Arthur Mercante saw it 9-5 for Griffith, Judge Tony Castellano's card initially showed a 7-7-1 tie but favoured Griffith on supplementary scoring, and Judge Frank Forbes had it 7-6 for the challenger.

Tiger, a slight 8-5 favourite coming into the bout, was defending both the WBA and WBC Middleweight Titles. The ninth round proved pivotal as Griffith floored Tiger—the first time in Tiger's career he'd been knocked down.

The Garden crowd of 14,934 responded with boos to the final decision, a verdict many saw as controversial. Most ringside sportswriters—17 out of 22—felt Tiger had done enough to win. The gate for the night totalled $147,536, marking a notable financial success, even if the decision left a bitter taste for many fans.

Gym Rat Assessment

Dick Tiger faced Emile Griffith at Madison Square Garden on 25 April 1966. The fight was about control, not spectacle, which suited Tiger. Over fifteen rounds, each tried to set the pace and range. Tiger did this more often.

Griffith was the sharper, more fluid boxer early on. He used movement and combinations to pick his moments. When he could get in and out, he had success. But maintaining that rhythm against Tiger’s pressure was the issue.

Tiger was methodical. He edged forward behind a steady jab and kept a tight guard, then worked the body whenever he got close. Nothing was flashy, just consistent, educated pressure. As the rounds went on, that began to tell; Griffith’s movement slowed slightly, and that was all Tiger needed to start closing the distance more effectively.

Once inside, Tiger had the advantage. He was stronger and more economical. Every shot had intent. Griffith still had moments, but he couldn’t sustain them over the full fifteen rounds.

Technically, it was a lesson in consistency. Griffith needed space and rhythm, but Tiger denied both often enough to take control. Over the distance, his pressure and body work secured a well-earned decision in a competitive contest.