Dick Tiger vs. Nino Benvenuti on Youtube - massively underappreciated performance

[My2Sense]

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IMO this fight one of the most underappreciated performances by any fighter ever. It's the kind of win that normally leaves a lasting imprint on the minds of boxing fans and seals a fighter's legacy as an ATG. In its own time, it was every bit the equivalent of Hopkins-Pavlik - an ancient ex-MW champ capping his legacy with a shocking, one-sided win over his hot young successor as champ. Given that Benvenuti has since gone down as a great champion and HOFer in his own right, this result should've gained even greater stature over time, but instead the opposite has happened: it's been virtually forgotten. I simply don't hear anyway talk about it anymore - even when Tiger is brought up (which actually isn't often outside of this site) this fight and its significance are often overlooked.

Expanding on my Hopkins-Pavlik parallel, here is the background of this fight:
Tiger had moved up to 175 after losing his MW title on hotly disputed decision to Emile Griffith (as Hopkins did after losing to Taylor), and upset Jose Torres to win the LHW title (as Hopkins did vs. Tarver). Meanwhile, Benvenuti had won the MW title by beating Tiger's conqueror Griffith (as Pavlik did to Taylor). Tiger defended his LHW title a couple of times, but then lost it on a crushing KO to Bob Foster. That KO loss, plus his age (he was around 40) appeared to have taken a toll on Tiger, as he was down twice in his next fight against fringe contender Frankie DePaula. Meanwhile, Benvenuti was looking to break into the light-heavy ranks and eyeing an eventual megafight with Foster (I suppose similar to how Pavlik was looking ahead to possible big fights with Calzaghe or other super-middles/light-heavies), and he chose this old, weary ex-champ as a stepping stone toward that goal. Benvenuti was heavily favored to win (as Pavlik was over Hopkins), but Tiger surprised him and the boxing world as a whole by completely shutting him down and schooling him (as Hops did to Pavlik). This fight not only was a stinging blow to Benvenuti's reputation (at least for the time being, anyway), but it brought his LHW campaign to a screeching halt. To his credit, Benvenuti did offer Tiger a shot at his MW title afterward, but Tiger declined it on the grounds that he didn't believe he could make 160 anymore.

My reason for focusing so much on a Tiger/Hopkins parallel is this: Why is it that Hopkins' upset win was hailed as something of a defining moment for him, while Tiger's win (under very similar circumstances and against an even more accomplished and heralded opponent) is so widely overlooked today?

[Bioyhh]

It's just one of those curiosities of fickle history. As you say, Dick Tiger's name and career just doesn't resonate much among more casual fans of boxing. Some athletes just get overlooked, for numerous reasons. But you're right: this was a great performance by Tiger. And that's one of the beautiful things about boxing: the rich history of the sport allows enthusiasts to discover overlooked gems like this.

[Rise Above]

I havent seen this fight before. Will watch it now.

[Boxed Ears]

Thanks for posting this. :good

[red cobra]

I think the worst knock against Benvenuti was that he was guilty of being somewhat erratic. I don't know how things would have been any different if the middleweight title was on the line...Benvenuti may have redeemed himself as he did on other occasions after losing to a guy. I'm not really sure. There's a slight parallel here between this fight and SSR'S loss to another tiger..Ralph Tiger Jones...I think most people who hold Sugar in high regard would have bet that he would have avenged that loss with the title on the line..maybe Nino would have too against Dick Tiger..again, I'm not sure.

[Shake]

He looks really bad against Tiger here, though. Tiger's just out-timing him, out-levelling him constantly. He changes up his approach, but it's not the approach that's faulty, it's sharpness and intensity in which Dick Tiger dwarfs him in this match.

[Mantequilla]

Benvenuti was as inconsistent as Toney, after brecoming champ.Couldn't be relied on to give a good performance at all.


That said i agree, this was a mighty performance from Tiger and though Nino may have been out of sorts, he was far better than someone like Pavlik

[McGrain]

That said i agree, this was a mighty performance from Tiger and though Nino may have been out of sorts, he was far better than someone like Pavlik


Which fighters from the last 5 years do you admire the most Mantequilla?

[McGrain]

Agree with everything in the OP My2Sense.

[red cobra]

A great performance by Tiger...inconsistancy on Nino's part or not..I still say there's a parallel with SRR vs. Ralph Tiger Jones...and the "Tiger" part is just coincidental.

[Flea Man]

My2Sense; good thread, and looking forward to watching this, obviously I was aware of the win before but hadn't thought about it like that, seems a very valid standpoint.

[Mantequilla]

Which fighters from the last 5 years do you admire the most Mantequilla?

As in fighters that established themselves from then on, or still counting Hopkins/Mosley/Mayweather and co...


I admire and enjoy loads of active fighters to be honest, even ones i don't/didn't think were any good.If i wasn't getting anything out of most fights i wouldn't be watching the sport anymore.

Pac, Marquez and Calzaghe would probably be my most highly rated fighters that a good number of defining fights in that time period.Hopkins too of course if we can still count him.

As for fighters who have stepped into world class in the past five years or are still really carving a legacy...i got to say not many have made much of an impact talent-wise...certainly not a lot of the ones the usual hype was telling me i should be impressed with...LAcy,Cotto,Haye,Margarito, Pavlik,taylor, Dawson...meh...lots to enjoy watching there but not highly rated by me.Froch i've always thought was very mediocre, Witter likewise.I liked Hatton at one point actually, but since the Kostya fight he's proven to be one of the worst world level British champs i've ever seen.Marquez and vasquez trilogy was awesome, but i was never a big fan of either.Solid fighters though.

I've got a soft spot for Nishioka, but he might not count.Hasegawa is a good fighter and still seems to be improving, but his comp has been poor...the lighterweights in general are a wasteland.I really rate Abraham as a puncher, but not as an overall fighter so far.Mijares was good and promising for a while, though i was wary of him and not as high as fools like Amsterdam.Maybe he'll redeem himself however.Bradley, i like..he's a consummate pro imo, if not the most gifted.

[Flea Man]

I also like Bradley, who has shown versatility. I like that.

This decade at least has cemented certain fighters into the top 50, so has probably not been a waste :good

[McGrain]

Pac, Marquez and Calzaghe would probably be my most highly rated fighters that a good number of defining fights in that time period.Hopkins too of course if we can still count him.

That's interesting because I would say you low-balled Joe Calzaghe a little bit - and i'm certainly not his biggest fan.

I liked Hatton at one point actually, but since the Kostya fight he's proven to be one of the worst world level British champs i've ever seen.Marquez and vasquez trilogy was awesome, but i was never a big fan of either.Solid fighters though.

Agree with you. Hatton gave us some great nights though. And i'd say that Marquez-Vasquez III is maybe my favourite fight to watch in colour.

.Mijares was good and promising for a while, though i was wary of him and not as high as fools like Amsterdam.

:lol:

Those were the days.

Have you had a look at straweight #1 Roman Gonzalez? Interesting prospect I think.

[Sweet Pea]

I like Gonzalez as well. He seems very technically sound, compact with his punches, and economical in his approach. Varies his attack up from head to body nicely, and has some cracking left hooks and uppercuts. He's a bit of a plodder, though.

On a different note, we need to stop de-railing this thread.

[McGrain]

On a different note, we need to stop de-railing this thread.


I do understand, but as someone who's put up his fair share of marginal threads (which this thread shouldn't be but is) i think i can say it's good that it's gone off on a tangent. Increases the exposure. My2Sense has put up his own fair share of specialist threads and i'm sure he'll agree.

[Mantequilla]

Tiger had great feints.He knew how to lunge right in on you after a few as well.Not just there for defensive purposes.

[McGrain]

He's also at his defensive best here, a high mobile guard varied with a lower crouch with a static guard. He also shows great anticipation.

[My2Sense]

There's a slight parallel here between this fight and SSR'S loss to another tiger..Ralph Tiger Jones...I think most people who hold Sugar in high regard would have bet that he would have avenged that loss with the title on the line..

I don't know about that. I don't think a lack of motivation or conditioning was the reason for his loss to Jones. I think the biggest factors against him were his age, and possibly he hadn't fully shaken off the ring rust after only his second fight back from the layoff. In dropping his title three times in subsequent years, he showed he was still plenty vulnerable even with his title on the line.

[My2Sense]

An interesting side-note on the Tiger-Benvenuti fight:

Back when Tiger was MW champ (after regaining the title from Giardello), Benvenuti was actually his #1 contender. Tiger mulled over fighting Benvenuti, but ultimately chose to make his first defense against Griffith, who was more well-known and presented a bigger money opportunity in the States. Ironically, if his fights against them are any indication, choosing Griffith over Benvenuti may well have been the biggest mistake of Tiger's career.

[Flea Man]

I think its good when a thread goes off on a tangent; it shows the seed has sparked debate.

[red cobra]

An interesting side-note on the Tiger-Benvenuti fight:

Back when Tiger was MW champ (after regaining the title from Giardello), Benvenuti was actually his #1 contender. Tiger mulled over fighting Benvenuti, but ultimately chose to make his first defense against Griffith, who was more well-known and presented a bigger money opportunity in the States. Ironically, if his fights against them are any indication, choosing Griffith over Benvenuti may well have been the biggest mistake of Tiger's career.
The fight that really sparked my interest in boxing was Griffith-Tiger I.
Griffith intrigued the hell out of me with the tactics he used plus being the first guy to deck Tiger. I know it was a close and disputed fight, but a lot of this has to do with popular sentiment favoring the honest, uncomplicated and straight-forward slugger vs the tricky boxer. Griffith was beautiful in that fight and showed more than any other contest why he belongs in the Boxing Hall of Fame. Yes it may have been a mistake for Tiger to choose Griffith, but there seems to be an over-asssumption here that Tiger would have beaten Nino every time out..and I'm suggesting that just maybe Nino could have turned the tables with the title on the line..like he was able to do with all his other losses up to that point..pre-Monzon.