Tiger Flowers
| Tiger Flowers | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Theodore Flowers |
| Nickname(s) | Georgia Deacon |
| Rated at | Middleweight |
| Nationality |
 United States |
| Born |
August 5, 1895 Camilla, Georgia |
| Died | November 16, 1927 (aged 32) New York City, New York |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 161 |
| Wins | 136 |
| Wins by KO | 56 |
| Losses | 15 |
| Draws | 8 |
| No contests | 2 |
Theodore "Tiger" Flowers (August 5, 1895 – November 16, 1927) was the first African-American middleweight boxing champion, defeating Harry Greb to claim the title in 1926. Nicknamed the "Georgia Deacon", he was a devoutly religious man who would recite a passage from Psalm 144 before every bout. The International Boxing Research Organization rated Flowers as the #12 ranked middleweight of all-time, while boxing historian Bert Sugar placed him 68th in his Top 100 Fighters catalog. The Bleacher Report named him the #6 greatest southpaw in boxing history. He was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1971, the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1976, the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990, and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993.
Theodore Flowers was the son of Lula and Aaron Flowers. Aaron and Lula Flowers were married in Camillia in December 1888. Theodore Tiger Flowers has an older Brother named Carl born August 1890. Then Theodore in August 1896. He also has two sisters O.C and Gertrude. Theodore married Willie Mae Spellers and had only one daughter by the name of Verna Lee Flowers.
Flowers began boxing professionally in 1918 at the age of 23 while working at a Philadelphia shipbuilding plant. During his career, Flowers would meet many high caliber fighters, including Sam Langford, Kid Norfolk, Jamaica Kid, and Mickey Walker. In 1924, Flowers was rated the number one contender for Harry Greb's middleweight title by Ring Magazine. Flowers earned a shot at Greb after losing a questionable decision to light heavyweight champion Mike McTigue.
On February 26, 1926, before a crowd of 16,311 at Madison Square Garden, Flowers dethroned Greb by unanimous decision, and would repeat the victory in August, although both results were considered questionable. Tiger's next bout came against Mickey Walker in Chicago. Flowers lost the bout but it was a controversial decision in the eyes of many, which would later be investigated by the Illinois Athletic Commission, but the decision would not be overturned.
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