On This Day In Boxing History!

1893: Tiger Flowers Was Born! 

Theodore "Tiger" Flowers (1895–1927), famously known as "The Georgia Deacon," was a pioneering African-American boxer who became the first Black World Middleweight Champion. Renowned for his speed, elusiveness, and southpaw style, Flowers also gained fame for his devout Christian faith, carrying a Bible into the ring and earning respect both inside and outside the ropes.

Flowers was born Theodore Flowers on February 14, 1895, in Camilla, Georgia. He grew up in rural Georgia, working as a stevedore and performing other labor-intensive jobs before discovering boxing. At age 23, while living in Philadelphia, he began his professional career in 1918, demonstrating natural talent as a left-handed fighter. His devout faith earned him the nickname "The Georgia Deacon"—he served as a church deacon, carried a Bible into the ring, and reportedly recited Psalm 144 before fights.

Managed by Walk Coker from 1920, Flowers quickly became one of the most active boxers of his era, often fighting more than 30 bouts in a single year. He developed a reputation for sharp counters, quick footwork, and avoiding heavy damage. Notable victories included wins over Johnny Wilson and Battling Gahee, while losses to legends like Sam Langford and Harry Greb helped cement his place among boxing elites.

On February 26, 1926, Flowers defeated the legendary Harry Greb at Madison Square Garden, becoming the first African American to win the World Middleweight title. He defended the title successfully before losing it later that year to Mickey Walker in a controversial decision that sparked an investigation by the Illinois State Athletic Commission. Despite this setback, his victory over Greb remains a landmark moment in boxing history.

Over a brief but intense career, Flowers fought approximately 160 professional bouts, compiling an estimated 119–136 wins, 55–56 by knockout, with 15–17 losses. His aggressive yet evasive southpaw style made him a difficult opponent and a fan favorite during the "iron man" era of boxing.

Tragically, Flowers died at age 32 on November 16, 1927, following complications from surgery to remove scar tissue around his eyes. His funeral drew an estimated 75,000 people in Atlanta, a citywide tribute reflecting his profound impact on both the Black community and sports culture.

Flowers was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993 and is remembered as a trailblazer who broke racial barriers, demonstrating both athletic excellence and personal integrity during a segregated era.

Tiger Flowers

Born: February 11th, 1893

Birth Name:   Theodore Flowers

Birth Place: Camilla, Georgia

Residence: New York, New York

Pro-Debut: January 1st, 1918

Alias: Georgia Deacon

Division: Middleweight

Stance: Southpaw

Height: 5′ 10″  

Reach: 76″  

Career:1918-1927

Bouts: 141

Rounds:1079

Ko’s: 38.3%

Record: 118-15-8, 54Ko’s 

Died: Age 34, November 16th, 1927

James “Buster” Douglas vs Mike Tyson

February 11th, 1990

IBF/WBA/WBC World Heavyweight Title Fight,

Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan

February 11th

1893: Tiger Flowers Was Born

1909: Max Baer born in Omaha, Nebraska

1916: Sam Langford KO19 Harry Wills

1931: Born On This Day Larry Merchant, author/ HBO boxing commentator

1937: Fritzie Zivic KO6 Johnny Jadick

1949: Willie Pep W15 Sandy Saddler - “Fight of the Year”

1953: Kid Gavilan KO10 Chuck Davey

1956: Tiberio Mitri KO3 Laid Ben Younes

Joey Giardello TKO10 Tim Jones

1959: Joe Brown W15 Johnny Busso

1967: Salvatore Burruni W8 Tony Lopez

Chango Carmona TKO4 Eduardo

Jose Gonzalez W10 Rocky Rivero

Roger Rouse KO10 Dave Russell

1978: Carlos Palomino KO7 Ryu Sorimachi

1983: Marvin Hagler KO6 Tony Sibson

1984: Thomas Hearns W12 Luigi Minchillo

1989: Rene Jacquot W12 Donald Curry

Brian Mitchell KO8 Salvatore Bottiglieri

Napa Kiatwanchai W12 John Arief

1990: James Douglas KO10 Mike Tyson - Douglas, a 43-1 underdog, greatest upset in sports history

1991: Thomas Hearns KO2 Kemper Morton

1993: Shane Mosley age 21 debuts KO5 Greg Puente

1995: Henry Maske W12 Egerton Marcus

1996: Carlos Salazar KO6 Antonello Melis

1998: Paulie Ayala KO4 Elias Paulin

2000: Jorge Vaca W12 Juan Carlos Barreto

Manuel Calvo D12 Juan Polo Perez

Juan Antonio Aguirre W12 Wandee Chor Chareon (lAKA Wandee Singwancha

2001: Tito Mendoza W12 Julio Garcia

Ray Mercer KO7 Jeff Pegues

Juan Manuel Marquez KO7 Sen Fletcher

2002: Ratanachai Sor Vorapin (AKA Ratanachai Singwancha) KO3 Gun Tinular

Sod Looknongyangtoy (later known as Sod Kokietgym) W12 Thomas Mashaba

2003: Elena Reid W6 Linda Tenberg

Ramon Olivas W10 Leobardo Roman
Leo Lizarraga TKO1 Luis Astorga
Pepe Montoya TKO2 Othon Cstillo
LaFarrell Bunting TKO5 Joe Varela

2005: Gilberto Reyes W12 Carlos "Bolillo" Gonzalez

Javier Osvaldo Alvarez KO6 Michael Gomez

Stephen Foster KO10 Livinson Ruiz

Jackson Osei Bonsu KO5 Mikhail Krivolapov

Eric Harding W12 David Telesco

2006: Alejandro Valdez W12 Mauricio Pastrana

Marcos Maidana KO3 Sergio Javier Benitez

Joachim Alcine W12 Anderson Clayton

2009: Anthony Mundine W12 Shannan Taylor

2011: Kazuto Ioka TKO5 Oleydong Sithsamerchai

Eddie Chambers W12 Derric Rossy

Rico Ramos W10 Alejandro Valdez

Donovan George KO1 Cornelius White

Ionut Dan Ion (AKA Jo Jo Dan) TD6 Steve Forbes

2012: Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr. W12 Rodrigo Guerrero      

2023: O'Shaquie Foster W12 Rey Vargas      

Lenier Pero TKO8 Viktor Vykhryst

Mario Barrios TKO8 Jovanie Santiago