Theo "Tiger" Flowers The Georgia Deacon
Harry Greb fought Tiger Flowers 3 times. The last 2 times were when Greb's sight was extremely diminished and were Greb's final bouts of his career. Here is a newspaper article describing the first encounter, 2 years before they're final two bouts:
August 22, 1924
Middleweight King Has Little Trouble In Beating Flowers
Newspaper Article Info Newspaper Name: The Oklahoman Date Printed: Aug 22, 1924 Page 12
HARRY GREB USES WHIRLWIND ATTACK TO CAPTURE EIGHT OF TEN ROUNDS
Fremont, Ohio, Aug 21.- Harry Greb, champion middleweight of the world, Thursday night retained his title, getting the newspaper decision in a ten-round no-decision bout here with Tiger Flowers of Atlanta. Greb easily outpointed his negro opponent in eight of the ten rounds.
Greb staged one of his characteristic slam-bang fights, doing practically all of the leading and forcing the battle at practically all stages. He landed his blows from any and all angles.
In the first round Flowers' southpaw boxing seemed to puzzle the champion, but after that he gauged this style correctly and was the leader in all but two rounds.
Greb drew blood from his opponent early in the contest. His hitting was cleaner and harder than Flowers' throughout the bout.
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The following Article and photo's are from the August 1980 issue of Boxing Illustrated.
When "Tiger" Flowers scored his stunning upset victory over Harry Greb on February 26, 1926, to become middleweight champion of the world, he was not only the first Negro boxer to win a title, but the first since the reign of Jack Johnson to even challenge for a championship. During the eleven years following Johnson's loss to Jess Willard there had been an "unwritten" law allowing the champions to bypass black fighters.
Flowers was the only man to ever defeat Greb, without being beaten in return. He twice scored fifteen round decisions over the "Pittsburgh Windmill". During his career of some 290 bouts, Greb lost but five decisions--two to Gene Tunney, whom he also beat and fought a pair of no-decisions with, and one in ten rounds to Tommy loughran, whom Greb beat twice. And remember that both loughran and Tunney were light-heavyweights, whereas Flowers was only a middleweight, yet no one remembers Flowers as a great fighter. A true member of the "FORGOTTEN CHAMPIONS".
Born Theo Flowers in the small farming town of Camille, Georgia, on August 5, 1895, his early years in the ring were obscure. Like many a Negro youngster in the south, he began in bootleg bouts and "battle royals". He claimed to have had his first professional fight when he was only fifteen; however, his first recorded fights were not until 1913, some eight years later when he was 22. During that year he won a fifteen-rounder over Battling Mims and a twenty-rounder from Battling Henry Williams, so he must have had quite a bit of experience behind him.
Like most bla#k fighters of his era, Flowers' bouts were mostly against others of his own race and in 1922 he was kayoed four times. Jamaica Kid, Lee Anderson, Kid Norfolk and the then-42-year-old Sam Langford turned the trick.
The following year Flowers traveled to Mexico City where he defeated "Fireman" Jim Flynn. Weight differences meant little in those days, especially to Negro fighters who usually took what they were offered, never complaining about weight or money.
Flowers beat Jamaica Kid and fought a no-decision with "Panama Joe Gans", but was again stopped by Norfolk in that year.
The year 1924 was an unbelievable one for the "Georgia Deacon" as he fought a total of 36 times without a defeat, including a pair of knockouts over Jerry Hayes and Clem Johnson on the same night. Flowers kayoed former middleweight champion Johnny Wilson in three rounds in a battle of southpaws and also halted Willie Walker, Bob Lawson, Tut Jackson, gained revenge by again stopping the Jamaica Kid and defeated George Robinson, Lee Anderson and Joe Lohman. He drew with Frankie Schoell and battled Greb to ten torrid rounds in a no-decision affair in Fremont, Ohio.
In 1925 he had twenty-five contests, winning all but four. Three of those losses were to light-heavyweights, as he was twice stopped by Jack Delaney and dropped a decision to Mike McTigue. He also lost on a foul to Lou Bogash, but kayoed Tommy Robson, Jackie Clarke, and defeated Frank Moody, Pat McCarthy, Lee Anderson and Bogash. Flowers went to no-decisions against Ted Moore, Jack Malone and Chuck Wiggins.
He started off 1926 with his upset triumph over Greb, and came back to prove that it wasn't a fluke by again outfighting Greb over fifteen rounds in Madison Square Garden on August 19th, in what turned out to be Greb's last fight. He was to die following an eye operation two months later.
In between the Greb fights, Flowers kept busy with six bouts including a return to mexico where he kayoed Lee Anderson in two rounds.
In October he lost in nine rounds on a foul to Maxie Rosenbloom in Boston, then was signed to defend his title against Mickey Walker.
Although he was the champion, Flowers was also black--and when Walker's manager, the crafty "Doc" Kearns, made the match he set the terms, which were for the fight to be held in Chicago, where the law only allowed ten-round bouts. Kearns figured that Flowers might be too strong for Walker over fifteen rounds, and he was right.
Mickey got off to an early lead and, despite a strong rally by Flowers, won the title on a decision.
Although it was a close and exciting fight, Kearns did not give Flowers a return match.
Like Greb, Flowers was suffering from eye trouble, and like Greb it is impossible to know just how long he fought with it and how badly his sight was impaired. He kept active in 1927 with eighteen fights, losing only to Leo Lomski whom he spotted a dozen pounds. Flowers turned in wins over Chuck Wiggins, Joe Anderson, Jock Malone, Pete Latzo and twice drew with Rosenbloom that year, then on November 12th he kayoed Leo gates in four rounds.
Four days later he was dead, dying in much the same manner as had Greb the previous year, following an operation on his eyes to correct the sight problem.
His listed fights were 149, of which he won 115, scoring 49 kayoes and boxing six draws. He fought fourteen no-decision battles, and he had one no-contest, lost but three decisions--twice on fouls--and was stopped eight times. However, it is safe to assume that he had fought well over 200 battles and was still a top-notch ringman when he died at age 32.
Flowers must rate among the top left handers of all time and, while over-shadowed publicity-wise by the likes of Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Jack Johnson, Joe Walcott, Joe Gans, George Dixon, Sam Langford, "Sugar Ray" Robinson, Henry Armstrong and other great black fighters, he must be ranked on a par with them, yet despite his fine ring record and top-flight ability, he is still a "forgotten champion."
Article and photo's are from the August 1980 issue of Boxing Illustrated.
(click here for his fights against Greb)
Tale Of The Tape Born: Aug 5,1895 Birth Place: Camille, Georgia Weight: 157-169 lbs. Height: 5' 10" Died: Nov 16, 1927. NewYork Manager: Walk Miller
RING RECORD : 115 wins - 13 losses - 14 ND's -6 draw - (149 total bouts)
1918 Billy Hooper Brunswick, Ga KO 11 Kid Fox KO 2 "Battling" Henry Williams W 20 Battling Hazel KO 8 Rufus Cameron W 10 Battling Mims W 15 1919 Battling Mims W 10 Rough House Baker KO 3 Billy Hooper W 20 1920 Tiger Moore KO 2 Andy "Kid" Palmer KO 3 Sailor Darden W 15 Battling Mims W 10 1921 Billy Hooper W 10 Battling Mims W 10 "Mexican" Kid Brown KO 8 Battling Troupe KO 3 "Mexican" Kid Brown KO 2 Whitey Black KO 1 Battling Mims W 10 Kid Williams KO 3 "Mexican" Kid Brown KO 1 Oct 24 Whitey Black Memphis, Tn W 8 Oct Battling Gahee Atlanta, Ga W 10 Nov 7 Battling Gahee Memphis, Tn W 8 Dec 15 "Panama" Joe Gans Atlanta, Ga LK 5 1922 "Evansville" Jack Ray KO 2 Kid Norfolk LK 3 Feb 21 Gorilla Jones Juarez, Mx KO 4 Mar 7 Jim Barry Juarez, Mx D 15 Mar 21 "Mexican" Kid Brown Juarez, Mx KO 1 Mar 28 Jim Barry Juarez, Mx KO 5 Apr 11 Billy Britton Juarez, Mx W 15 May 9 Lee Anderson Juarez, Mx LK 7 May 16 Frankie Murphy Juarez, Mx W 15 Jun 5 Sam Langford Atlanta, Ga LK 2 Jul 26 Jamaica Kid Covington, Ky LT 2 Aug 22 Andy "Kid" Palmer Juarez, Mx W 15 Kid Paddy KO 1 Kid Davis KO 1 Battling Norfolk Memphis, Tn D 8 Battling Gahee Memphis, Tn W 8 Eddie Palmer Memphis, Tn W 8 Dec 13 Eddie Palmer New Orleans, La TK 10 Dec 22 Frankie Carbone Juarez, Mx WF 10 1923 Feb 21 Bob Lawson Nashville, Tn W 8 Feb 28 Battling Mims Nashville, Tn W 8 Mar 19 "Evansville" Jack Ray Nashville, Tn KO 3 Apr 20 Jamaica Kid Toledo, Oh ND 12 May 8 Kid Norfolk Springfield, Oh LK 1 May 15 Tom King Juarez, Mx W 15 May 25 "Panama" Joe Gans Toledo, Oh ND 12 Jul 3 James "Tut" Jackson Atlanta, Ga W 12 Jul 18 James "Tut" Jackson Springfield, Oh ND 12 Jul 31 Whitey Black Detroit, Mi ND 10 Sep 3 Jamaica Kid Atlanta, Ga W 10 Sep 17 "Fireman" Jim Flynn Mexico City, Mx LT 5 Nov 27 George Robinson Atlanta, Ga D 12 Dec 6 Rufus Cameron Albany, NY KO 4 Dec 28 Sailor Darden Atlanta, Ga W 12 1924 Jan 23 Herbert Moore Nashville, Tn KO 2 Jan 30 Sam Goodrich San Antonio, Tx W 12 Feb 18 Bob Lawson Toledo, Oh TK 10 Feb 24 Battling Gahee Barberton, Oh ND 12 Mar 3 Jamaica Kid Fremont, Oh ND 12 Mar 19 Bob Lawson Nashville, Tn KO 6 Mar 29 Lee Anderson New York, NY W 12 Apr 9 Dave Thornton Nashville, Tn KO 2 Apr 19 Jimmy Darcy New York, NY W 10 Apr 29 George Robinson Atlanta, Ga W 12 May 3 Ted Jamieson New York, NY W 12 May 14 Willie Walker New York, NY W 12 Jun 20 Battling Gahee Fremont, Oh ND 10 Jun 27 Jamaica Kid Grand Rapids, Mi ND 10 Jul 3 Lee Anderson Atlanta, Ga WF 11 Jul 21 Jamaica Kid Covington, Ky WF 3 Aug 2 Jack Townsend New York, NY KO 11 Aug 12 Oscar Mortimer San Antonio, Tx KO 4 Aug 21 Harry Greb Fremont, Oh ND 10 Sep 1 James "Tut" Jackson Martin's Ferry, WV KO 8 Sep 15 Jamaica Kid Columbus, Oh ND 12 Sep 22 Lee Anderson Columbus, Oh ND 12 Sep 29 James "Tut" Jackson Canton, Oh KO 2 Sep 30 Battling Gahee Zanesville, Oh TK 4 Oct 11 Jamaica Kid New York, NY TK 9 Oct 21 Cleve Hawkins Atlanta, Ga KO 3 Oct 23 Joe Lohman Hamilton, Oh WF 4 Nov 1 George Robinson New York, NY W 12 Nov 10 Jerry Hayes Philadelphia, Pa KO 2 Nov 10 Hughie Clemons Philadelphia, Pa KO 2 Nov 27 Clem Johnson Canton, Oh ND 12 Dec 1 Battling Gahee Columbus, Oh KO 2 Dec 9 Johnny Wilson New York, NY TK 3 Dec 15 Jack Townsend New York, NY KO 5 Dec 26 Frankie Schoell Buffalo, NY D 6 1925 Jan 1 Joe Lohman Brooklyn, NY TK 3 Jan 5 Billy Britton Boston, Ma TK 4 Jan 7 Dan O'Dowd Providence, RI TK 6 Jan 16 Jack Delaney New York, NY LK 2 Jan 28 Tommy Robson Boston, Ma TK 8 Jan 29 Bill Savage Providence, RI KO 1 Feb 2 Ted Moore Newark, NJ ND 12 Feb 5 Jamaica Kid Dayton, Oh KO 10 Feb 14 Jackie Clark New York, NY TK 5 Feb 16 Lou Bogash Boston, Ma LF 3 Feb 26 Jack Delaney New York, NY LK 4 Mar 16 Sailor Darden Toledo, Oh ND 12 Mar 20 Lou Bogash Boston, Ma W 10 Apr 29 Sailor Darden Savannah, Ga KO 5 May 4 Battling Mims Macon, Ga KO 5 May 18 Pal Reed Boston, Ma W 10 May 26 Lou Bogash Bridgeport, Ct W 10 Jun 4 Jock Malone East Chicago, In ND 10 Jun 8 Lee Anderson Philadelphia, Pa W 10 Jun 20 Lee Anderson New York, NY WF 3 Jun 26 Jack Stone Elizabeth, NJ KO 4 Jul 20 Pat McCarthy Boston, Ma W 10 Jul 24 Lou Bogash Aurora, Il ND 10 Aug 21 "Allentown" Joe Gans Grand Rapids, Mi ND 10 Aug 28 Jock Malone Boston, Ma W 10 Sep 7 Ted Moore Cleveland, Oh NC 6 Oct 23 Jock Malone St. Paul, Mn ND 10 Oct 28 Chuck Wiggins East Chicago, In ND 10 Nov 30 Benny Ross Buffalo, NY W 6 Dec 10 Frank Moody Boston, Ma W 10 Dec 23 Mike McTigue New York, NY L 10 1926 Feb 26 Harry Greb New York, NY W 15 Apr 16 "Allentown" Joe Gans Wilkes-Barre, Pa W 10 Jun 18 "Young" Bob Fitzsimmons Jersey City, NJ ND 10 Jun 28 Ray Neuman Boston, Ma W 10 Jul 11 Lee Anderson Juarez, Mx KO 2 Jul 24 Eddie Huffman Los Angeles, Ca W 10 Aug 10 Battling McCreary Atlanta, Ga WF 3 Aug 19 Harry Greb New York, NY W 15 Sep 16 Happy Hunter Memphis, Tn KO 3 Oct 15 Maxie Rosenbloom Boston, Ma LF 9 Nov 22 Eddie Huffman Chicago, Il W 10 Dec 3 Mickey Walker Chicago, Il L 10 1927 Jan 3 James "Tut" Jackson Grand Rapids, Mi KO 10 Jan 22 Leo Lomski Los Angeles, Ca L 10 Jan 24 Lee Anderson Denver, Co W 4 Feb 18 Lou Bogash Boston, Ma W 10 Mar 29 George "Soldier" Jones Atlanta, Ga KO 1 Apr 29 Chuck Wiggins Buffalo, NY W 10 May 13 Chuck Wiggins Grand Rapids, Mi ND 10 May 27 Eddie Huffman Boston, Ma W 10 Jun 17 Bob Sage Detroit, Mi W 10 Jul 4 Maxie Rosenbloom Chicago, Il D 10 Jul 28 Bing Conley Norwalk, Ct W 10 Aug 11 Harry Dillon Portland, Or W 10 Aug 16 Jock Malone Seattle, Wa W 6 Sep 1 Joe Anderson New York, NY W 10 Sep 30 Pete Latzo Wilkes-Barre, Pa W 10 Oct 17 Joe Lohman Canton, Oh W 10 Nov 9 Maxie Rosenbloom Detroit, Mi D 10 Nov 12 Leo Gates New York, NY TK 4 IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON TIGER FLOWERS PLEASE E-MAIL ME return to Harry Greb Website Home Page