Buy used: $31.66

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery Wednesday, December 27 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35

Arrives after Christmas. Need a gift sooner? Send an Amazon Gift Card instantly by email or text message.

Select delivery location

Used: Good | Details

Sold by TheMidnightRead

Fulfilled by Amazon

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

Follow the author

Adeyinka Makinde

Follow

Dick Tiger: The Life & Times of a Boxing Immortal Paperback – May 1, 2005

by Adeyinka Makinde (Author)

4.6 19 ratings

See all formats and editions

Dick Tiger was perhaps the greatest fighter to come out of the African continent. Emerging from an environment devoid of substantive traditions in boxing, he would overcome a litany of obstacles before becoming a two-time undisputed world middleweight titlist and an undisputed light heavyweight champion. ‘The Life and Times of a Boxing Immortal,’ the first comprehensive biography of Dick Tiger, puts the man in the context of his times. A migrant fighter to Liverpool, the repository of West African born fighters who kept the British game alive during the industry wide recession of the 1950s, Tiger later moved to America where he established a marquee value seldom attained by non-American fighters and where he played a prominent role as an ‘in-house’ fighter at the ‘Mecca of Boxing,’ New York City’s Madison Square Garden. His life also personified the hopes, aspirations and the tragedy of the Igbo ethnic group. An avowed apostle of Biafran secession from Nigeria,! Tiger’s support would cost him dearly. Here is Dick Tiger as never before explained: The ‘blue collar’ fighter, ageless ringman, commercial venturer, Nigerian patriot and Biafran rebel. From empty bottle trader to wealthy realtor, from Nigerian boxing booths to Madison Square Garden, from journeyman fighter to world championship fighter; ‘The Life and Times of a Boxing Immortal’ is a compelling study of human dignity in triumph and in tragedy.

Length

312
Pages
Language

EN
English
Publisher

Word Association
Publication date

2005
May 1
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.8 x 8.3
inches
ISBN-10

9781595710420
ISBN-13

978-1595710420
See all details

Editorial Reviews

Review

...una straordinaria biografia... -- MondoBoxeo.com (Italy), November 2005

Makinde's research is impressive... -- Boxing News (United Kingdom), August 2006

The author is to be commended for his exhaustive research... -- The Ring (USA), November 2005

...has added considerably to (Dick Tiger's) legacy...he tells Tiger's story with understated flair...(the book) is a compelling and inspiring read. -- The Fist (Australia), July 2006

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1595710426
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Word Association (May 1, 2005)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 312 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781595710420
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1595710420
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #7,510,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,346 in Boxer Biographies
- #2,842 in Boxing (Books)
- #103,393 in Community & Culture Biographies

Customer Reviews:
4.6 19 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

Important information

To report an issue with this product, click here.

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Adeyinka Makinde

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Adeyinka Makinde was born in Lagos, Nigeria and is based in England. He trained as a barrister and is a lecturer in law.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5

19 global ratings

3 star

0%

2 star

0%

1 star

5%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Phillsphan

Fascinating Biography of a Great Fighter

Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2019

Verified Purchase

Having been a big fan of Tigers when I was young, this was a fascinating source to relieve that age and learn more details of his life.

Helpful

Chris

A great story on a great man

Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2018

Verified Purchase

A great story on a great man. Great research and effort went into this book.

Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2014

Verified Purchase

A long overdue bio of one of the great middleweight champs. Until the last couple years of his career, no one could go toe to toe with the Tiger and come away unscathed. Even "Hurricane" Carter bit the canvas three times when he tried to slug it out with Dick Tiger. Dick Tiger was a polished gentleman, yet a relentless and ferocious puncher in the ring. In the Golden Age of great middleweight and welterweight fighters, Tiger stands out as one of the best. Great input by Ron Lipton who sparred with the top fighters of that era and who knew Dick Tiger well.

Helpful

Gerard Mcgrellis

Great Black History Book

Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2009

This Book was a journey from Africa to the United States with battles and victories. Dick Tiger never quit he kept fighting and pulling himself up from the rough fight that life dealt him. This book would make a great movie. We can all learn the lesson of staying tough in hard times. You will overcome challenges with discipline and persistence.

Helpful

Professional Boxing Referee Ron Lipton, Retired Police Officer, College Teacher

Highest quality saga of one of the ring's great warriors

Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2005

One of the best stories I have ever read, so much behind the scenes material it makes the most interesting and historical reading for anyone of any age. Great Introduction by Tiger's friend and former sparring partner, my father referee Ron Lipton, who really loved Tiger and told me about him since I was a boy.

One of the most complete researched books I have ever read, they should make it into a movie. This man fought the toughest people who ever lived in his division and was such a kind person. Truly amazing. Great job by Adeyinka Makinde.

Brett Lipton

8 people found this helpful

Helpful

Cheryl Robinson

Enlightening

Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2006

A comprehensive biography of Richard "Dick Tiger" Ihetu, two-time undisputed world middleweight champion and one-time undisputed light heavyweight champion. He was a humble man from humble beginnings in Nigeria, who went from Liverpool's boxing booths to New York City's Madison Square Garden. Makinde delves into Dick Tiger's life and explains the most intricate situations that allow us to know one of the greatest fighters of all times-a real history lesson.

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Robert C. Scudder

Dick Tiger Revisited

Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2005

Fine biography! Not much was really known about Tiger until this book was published. Even I, a long-time boxing afficianado, was unaware of many of the things in this work. Excellent!

4 people found this helpful

Helpful

Peter

Excellent look at a champion

Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2008

I must admit that I have only seen 3 of his fights (the disaster against Bob Foster and his fights with Gonzalez and Fullmer 1.) but he came across as a tough guy.

Perhaps not the most naturally gifted fighter but one who made up for it with courage and perseverance.

The book is a good read. Gives the life of Tiger very well, I guess my only little disappointment was the lack of personal stories in it. Would have liked a little more insights into the man from Ron Lipton.

Nevertheless this is a minor quibble, a good book.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

bibliophile 1961

hold that tiger!!!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 7, 2016

Verified Purchase

A story of bravery, eccentricity and battling against the odds. I first became aware of dick tiger when as a 7 year old, I saw a poster in a barbers shop in Liverpool, advertising his fight v gene fullmer, unaware that he had lived five minutes walk as did I, from that barbers shop. I became fascinated with this mans career after reading that he had defeated British world champ terry downes what I didn't know was his stance on Biafra, his decency and resultant early demise. A book that every genuine fight fan should read!!

2 people found this helpful

Mrs Alison Laing

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2016

Verified Purchase

Great

One person found this helpful

Mr. Paul Martin

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 28, 2015