Dave Tiberi

I will never, ever forget the look on Dave Tiberi’s face when the decision was announced that he had lost to James Toney in their fight for the IBF Middleweight Title in Atlantic City on February 8, 1992. The scoring went like this: Judge Frank Brunette, 117-111; Judge William Lerch, 112-115; Judge Frank Garza, 112-115. A point was deducted from Tiberi for a low blow in round six. Judge Brunette was the only one in the house not asleep that night. Tiberi smothered Toney against the ropes and kicked his butt throughout most of the fight.

The utter disbelief that swept through the Taj Mahal that evening reverberated throughout the boxing world. The decision triggered an investigation into unjust decisions in boxing. This investigation, aided by Tiberi, led to the Boxing Safety Act in 1997. Tiberi retired after that fight in total disgust.

There is far more to this story, and it warrants separate and in-depth treatment to give it its due. Suffice it to say the look of disgust and the look of astonishment on Tiberi’s and Toney’s faces, respectively, said it all. Plain and simple, it was an atrocious decision and temporarily broke the spirit of a decent man of faith who had worked hard his entire adult life to achieve the pinnacle of his profession. I’ll never forget one of the most shameful moments in boxing history, and it almost sent me away from the sport.