54 years ago

Date: 16th May 1967

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, USA

Title: WBC & WBA World Light-heavyweight Titles

Dick Tiger
( 55 - 17 - 3 )
Weight: 167 lbs

Jose Torres
( 39 - 2 - 1 )
Weight: 173 lbs

 A crowd of 12,674 at Madison Square Garden, New York came to see the WBC and WBA world light-heavyweight title rematch between champion Dick Tiger and the man he took the titles from, Puerto Rican Jose Torres. Sadly, the pro-Puerto Rican fans were not happy with the split decision that went against their hero, sparking a riot that injured eleven spectators.

Torres entered the rematch as an 8 to 5 favourite and started by attacking from the first bell. Tiger, the shorter, stockier fighter, won the early going, fighting on the inside and building up a good lead by the 11th round. In the 12th, Torres staggered the 37-year-old Nigerian and went on to win the final four rounds to make it a close call.

Scores: Harold Valan 8-7 | Johnny Dran 8-7 | Joe Eppy 7-8.

Tiger made one more successful defence of the title six months later against Roger Rouse and then lost to Bob Foster by 4th round knockout.

Dick Tiger, the former undisputed middleweight and light-heavyweight world champion died of liver cancer on 14 December 1971, aged 42.