Tiger Flowers
Theodore “Tiger” Flowers was the first African American to win the world Middleweight title, beating the fabled “Pittsburgh Windmill,” Harry Greb, by unanimous decision in a dirty fight that included gouging as tactics.
Dubbed the “Georgia Deacon,” flashing a smile full of gold teeth, Flowers was known to be a quiet, humble man and devout Christian outside the ring. Inside the ring, Flowers was ferocious. He faced many of the hall of famers of his era and even defeated quite a few.
He eventually lost the title to hall of fame contemporary, Mickey Walker, by a controversial decision that was investigated and upheld.
While campaigning for a rematch with Walker, Flowers died in 1927 from the same procedure that claimed Greb’s life a year earlier; the removal of scar tissue around the eyes.