58 years ago
Dick Tiger vs Jose Torres II
Date: 16th May 1967
Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, USA
Title: WBC & WBA World Light-heavyweight Titles
Referee: Harold Valan
Dick Tiger
(
55
-
17
-
3
)
Weight: 167 lbs
Jose Torres
(
39
-
2
-
1
)
Weight: 173 lbs
On May 16, 1967, Madison Square Garden in New York City played host to a highly anticipated rematch for the WBC and WBA world light-heavyweight titles between champion Dick Tiger of Nigeria and former titleholder Jose Torres of Puerto Rico. The bout, which drew a crowd of 12,674, ended in controversy and chaos, with Tiger retaining his titles via a hotly disputed split decision that sparked a riot among the pro-Torres contingent.
Torres, entering as an 8-5 favourite, came out aggressively from the opening bell, engaging Tiger in a fierce battle for the first three rounds. However, the shorter, stockier Tiger managed to assert control in the middle rounds by working on the inside, building a substantial lead by the 11th. The tide turned dramatically in the 12th when Torres, his back against the wall, staggered the 37-year-old champion with a sweeping left-right combination to the jaw. This pivotal moment ignited Torres, who went on to capture the final four rounds on all scorecards, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish.
The final scorecards reflected the bout's razor-thin margin: referee Harold Valan and Judge Johnny Dran scored 8-7 for Tiger, while Judge Joe Eppy saw 8-7 for Torres. The split decision in Tiger's favour starkly contrasted with an unofficial ringside poll of 15 sportswriters, favouring Torres by a count of 8-7. The controversial outcome and Torres' late surge proved to be the catalyst for the ensuing mayhem.
After the decision, bottles, chair fragments, and various projectiles rained down on the ring and ringside areas. The melee resulted in injuries to eleven spectators, who required treatment at nearby hospitals, though fortunately, none were seriously hurt. This incident marked the third riot in 21 months involving a Puerto Rican fighter, prompting Madison Square Garden to impose an indefinite ban on Puerto Rican boxers headlining main events.
The financial figures for the event were notable, with the live gate generating $104,459 and television rights adding another $60,000. For Tiger, this marked his first successful defence of the titles he had wrested from Torres in their initial encounter. The Nigerian champion would go on to make one more defence, outpointing Roger Rouse later that year, before losing the belts to Bob Foster via a fourth-round knockout in May 1968.