Emile Griffith

Emile Griffith
Statistics
Real name Emile Alphonse Griffith
Rated at Welterweight
Middleweight
Nationality American
Born February 3, 1938
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Died July 23, 2013(2013-07-23) (aged 75)
Hempstead, New York, U.S.
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 112
Wins 85
Wins by KO 23
Losses 24
Draws 2
No contests 1

Emile Alphonse Griffith (February 3, 1938 – July 23, 2013) was a professional boxer from the U.S. Virgin Islands who became a world champion in the welterweight and middleweight classes. His best known contest was a 1962 title match with Benny Paret. At the weigh in, Paret infuriated Griffith, a bisexual man, by touching his buttocks and making homophobic remarks. Griffith won the bout by knockout; Paret never recovered consciousness and died in the hospital 10 days later.[1]

Career

Amateur

As a teen he was working at a hat factory on a steamy day when his boss, the factory owner, agreed to Griffith's request to work shirtless. When the owner, a former amateur boxer, noticed his frame he took Griffith to trainer Gil Clancy's gym.[2]

Griffith won the 1958 New York Golden Gloves 147 lb Open Championship. Griffith defeated Osvaldo Marcano of the Police Athletic Leagues Lynch Center in the finals to win the Championship. In 1957 Griffith advanced to the finals of the 147 lb Sub-Novice division and was defeated by Charles Wormley of the Salem Crescent Athletic Club. Griffith trained at the West 28th Street Parks Department Gym in New York City.

Professional

Griffith turned professional in 1958 and fought frequently in New York City. He captured the Welterweight title from Cuban Benny "The Kid" Paret by knocking him out in the 13th round on April 1, 1961. Six months later Griffith lost the title to Paret in a narrow split decision. Griffith regained the title from Paret on March 24, 1962 in the controversial bout after which Paret died, see below.

Griffith waged a classic three-fight series with Luis Rodríguez, losing the first and winning the other two. He defeated middleweight contender Holly Mims but was knocked out in one round by Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. Three years later, on April 25, 1966, he faced middleweight champion Dick Tiger and won a 15-round unanimous decision and the middleweight title. He also lost, regained and then lost the middleweight crown in three classic fights with Nino Benvenuti.

But many boxing fans believed he was never quite the same fighter after Paret's death. From the Paret bout to his retirement in 1977, Griffith fought 80 bouts but only scored twelve knockouts. He later admitted to being gentler with his opponents and relying on his superior boxing skills, because he was terrified of killing someone else in the ring. Like so many other fighters, Griffith fought well past his prime. He won only nine of his last twenty three fights.

Other boxers whom he fought in his career included world champions American Denny Moyer, Cuban Luis Rodríguez, Argentine Carlos Monzón, Nigerian Dick Tiger, Cuban José Nápoles, and in his last title try, German Eckhard Dagge. After 18 years as a professional boxer, Griffith retired with a record of 85 wins (25 by knockout), 24 losses and 2 draws.

Benny Paret

Griffith and Paret's third fight, which was nationally televised by ABC, occurred on March 24, 1962 at Madison Square Garden. Griffith had been incensed by an anti-gay slur directed at him by Paret during the weigh-in. He had worked in a women's hat factory, and later designed hats.[3] Paret touched Griffith's buttocks and called his opponent a maricón, Spanish slang for "faggot";[2]

Griffith had to be restrained from attacking him on the spot. The media at the time either ignored the slur or used euphemisms such as "anti-man". Griffith's girlfriend asked him about the incident saying "I didn't know about you being that way". In the sixth round Paret came close to stopping Griffith with a multi punch combination but Griffith was saved by the bell.[4] After the sixth round Griffith's trainer, Gil Clancy, later said he told him, "when you go inside I want you to keep punching until Paret holds you or the referee breaks you! But you keep punching until he does that!".[2]

In round 12 Griffith trapped Paret in a corner. Stunned after taking hard blows to the head, Paret stopped punching back and slumped to the side against the ropes although his upper body was through them and partly out of the ring. Griffith held his opponent's shoulder keeping him in position while using his free hand to hit Paret, who was no longer trying to protect himself by head movement or an arm guard. Griffith repeatedly landed right uppercuts on Paret's head. Many watching were shocked, and there were calls from ringside for the referee to halt the bout; Norman Mailer said it was the hardest he had ever seen one man hit by another. Paret then lolled back and was hit with a combination.

At this point Ruby Goldstein stepped in, thereby awarding Griffith a win by technical knockout. Immediately after the referee intervened, Paret, who had remained on his feet throughout, slowly slid to the floor. He was carried from the ring on a stretcher and died ten days later in hospital without regaining consciousness. Goldstein had a reputation as a tender-minded referee who stopped bouts at an early stage; admirers said he may have been suffering after-effects from a heart attack. He never refereed again. Paret's manager was also criticised for not retiring his boxer with a timely throwing in of the towel during the beating.

Griffith told a television interviewer "I'm very proud to be the welterweight champion again. I hope Paret is feeling very good." When the seriousness of the situation become known, Griffith went to the hospital where Paret was being treated and unsuccessfully attempted for several hours to gain entry to Paret's room. Following that he ran through the streets while being insulted by passers-by. He would later receive hate mail from Paret supporters who were convinced Griffith intentionally killed Paret.[2]

New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller created a seven-man commission to investigate the incident and the sport.[2] ABC, which televised the fatal bout, ended its boxing broadcasts and other U.S. networks followed; the sport would not return to free television until the 1970s. Griffith reportedly felt guilt over Paret's death and suffered nightmares about Paret for 40 years.[2]

The fight, and the widespread publicity and criticism of boxing which accompanied it, became the basis of the 2005 documentary Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story. In the last scene of Ring of Fire, Griffith was introduced to Paret's son. The son embraced the elderly fighter and told him he was forgiven. However, Paret's widow Lucy (died 2004) refused to meet him.

Trainer

Griffith trained other boxers, including Wilfred Benítez and Juan Laporte of Puerto Rico. Both won world championships. Griffith, Monzon, Benvenuti, Rodriguez, Tiger, Nápoles and Benítez are members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame. From 1979-80, he was in Denmark serving as the coach of the Danish Olympic boxing team.

Personal life

Luis Rodrigo Griffith, Emile's adopted son and caretaker, at the after party of the world premiere of Terence Blanchard's opera Champion on June 15, 2013.

In 1971, two months after they met, Griffith married Mercedes "Sadie" Donastorg, who was then a member of the dance troupe "Prince Rupert and the Slave Girls". Griffith adopted Donastorg's daughter.[2] After retiring from boxing, Griffith worked as a corrections officer at the Secaucus, New Jersey Juvenile Detention Facility.

In 1992, Griffith was viciously beaten and almost killed on a New York City street after leaving a gay bar near the Port Authority Bus Terminal. He was in the hospital for four months after the assault. It was not clear if the violence was motivated by homophobia.[5]

Griffith was quoted in Sports Illustrated as saying "I like men and women both. But I don't like that word: homosexual, gay or faggot. I don't know what I am. I love men and women the same, but if you ask me which is better ... I like women." [2]

Death

Griffith died July 23, 2013, at a care facility in Hempstead, New York. In his final years, he required full-time care and suffered from dementia pugilistica. His adopted son, Luis Rodrigo Griffith, was his primary caregiver.[6]

Media representations

Professional boxing record

85 Wins (23 Knockouts), 24 Defeats (2 Knockouts), 2 Draws, 1 No Contest[8]
Res. Record Opponent Type Rd., Time Date Location Notes
Loss 85-24-2 United Kingdom Alan Minter PTS 10 1977-07-30 Monaco Stade Louis II, Fontvieille
Loss 85-23-2 United States Mayfield Pennington SD 10 1977-07-16 United States Commonwealth Convention Center, Louisville, Kentucky
Loss 85-22-2 France Joel Bonnetaz PTS 10 1977-04-15 France Périgueux, Dordogne
Win 85-21-2 Republic of Ireland Christy Elliott MD 10 1977-02-02 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 84-21-2 Germany Frank Reiche TKO 10 (10) 1976-12-04 Germany Ernst Merck Halle, Hamburg
Win 83-21-2 Panama Dino Del Cid TKO 4 (10) 1976-10-24 Colombia Cartagena
Loss 82-21-2 Germany Eckhard Dagge MD 15 1976-09-18 Germany Deutschlandhalle, Charlottenburg, Berlin For WBC World Light Middleweight title
Draw 82-20-2 United States Bennie Briscoe PTS 10 1976-06-26 Monaco Stade Louis II, Fontvieille
Loss 82-20-1 Algeria Loucif Hamani PTS 10 1976-02-09 France Paris, Île-de-France
Win 82-19-1 Argentina Jose Roberto Chirino UD 10 1975-11-07 United States Coliseum Theatre, Latham, New York
Loss 81-19-1 South Africa Elijah Makathini PTS 10 1975-08-09 South Africa Orlando Stadium, Soweto, Transvaal
Win 81-18-1 United States Leo Saenz UD 10 1975-07-23 United States Capitol Centre, Largo, Maryland
Loss 81-18-1 Argentina Jose Luis Duran UD 10 1975-05-31 Colombia Coliseo El Pueblo, Cali
Win 80-17-1 Canada Donato Paduano UD 10 1974-12-10 Canada Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec
Loss 79-17-1 Italy Vito Antuofermo UD 10 1974-11-22 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 79-16-1 United States Bennie Briscoe MD 10 1974-10-09 United States The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 78-16-1 Chile Renato Garcia PTS 10 1974-05-25 Monaco Stade Louis II, Fontvieille
Loss 77-16-1 United States Tony Licata UD 12 1974-02-05 United States Boston Arena, Boston, Massachusetts For NABF Middleweight title
Loss 77-15-1 Australia Tony Mundine UD 12 1973-11-19 France Palais des Sports, Paris, Île-de-France
Win 77-14-1 United States Manuel González MD 10 1973-11-01 United States Curtis Hixon Hall, Tampa, Florida
Loss 76-14-1 Argentina Carlos Monzón UD 15 1973-06-02 Monaco Stade Louis II, Fontvieille For WBC & WBA World Middleweight titles
Draw 76-13-1 France Nessim Max Cohen PTS 10 1973-03-12 France Palais des Sports, Paris, Île-de-France
Loss 76-13 France Jean-Claude Bouttier DQ 7 (10) 1972-12-18 France Paris, Île-de-France
Win 76-12 United States Joe DeNucci SD 12 1972-10-11 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Win 75-12 United States Joe DeNucci SD 10 1972-09-16 United States Hynes Auditorium, Boston, Massachusetts
Win 74-12 United States Ernie Lopez UD 10 1972-03-30 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
Win 73-12 France Jacques Kechichian PTS 10 1972-02-21 France Paris, Île-de-France
Win 72-12 Mexico Armando Muñíz UD 10 1972-01-31 United States Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, California
Win 71-12 United States Danny McAloon UD 10 1971-12-10 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Loss 70-12 Argentina Carlos Monzón TKO 14 (15), 2:32 1971-09-25 Argentina Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Distrito Federal For WBC & WBA World Middleweight titles
Win 70-11 France Nessim Max Cohen UD 10 1971-07-26 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 69-11 United States Ernie Lopez MD 10 1971-05-03 United States Nevada Sports Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win 68-11 Mexico Rafael Gutierrez UD 10 1971-03-23 United States San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California
Win 67-11 United States Juan Ramos TKO 7 (10) 1971-03-05 United States Virgin Islands Lionel Roberts Stadium, Saint Thomas
Win 66-11 United States Nate Collins UD 10 1970-11-10 United States Cow Palace, Daly City, California
Win 65-11 United States Danny Perez UD 12 1970-10-17 United States Virgin Islands Lionel Roberts Stadium, Saint Thomas
Win 64-11 Nigeria Dick Tiger UD 10 1970-07-15 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 63-11 Denmark Tom Bogs PTS 10 1970-06-04 Denmark Valby-Hallen, Copenhagen
Win 62-11 Trinidad and Tobago Carlos Marks UD 12 1970-03-11 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 61-11 United States Doyle Baird UD 10 1970-01-28 United States Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
Loss 60-11 Cuba José Nápoles UD 15 1969-10-17 United States The Forum, Inglewood, California For WBC & WBA World Welterweight titles
Win 60-10 United States Art Hernandez SD 10 1969-08-15 United States Sioux Falls Arena, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Win 59-10 United States Dick DiVeronica TKO 7 (10), 1:28 1969-07-11 United States Blue Cross Arena, Syracuse, New York
Win 58-10 United States Stanley Hayward UD 12 1969-05-12 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 57-10 United States Andy Heilman UD 10 1969-02-03 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Loss 56-10 United States Stanley Hayward SD 10 1968-10-29 United States The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 56-9 United States Gypsy Joe Harris UD 12 1968-08-06 United States The Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 55-9 United States Andy Heilman MD 12 1968-06-11 United States Oakland Arena, Oakland, California
Loss 54-9 Italy Nino Benvenuti UD 15 1968-03-04 United States Madison Square Garden, New York Lost The Ring, WBC & WBA World Middleweight titles
Win 54-8 United States Remo Golfarini TKO 6 (10) 1967-12-15 Italy Palazzo Dello Sport, Rome, Lazio Retained The Ring World Middleweight title
Win 53-8 Italy Nino Benvenuti MD 15 1967-09-29 United States Shea Stadium, Queens, New York Won The Ring, WBC & WBA World Middleweight titles
Loss 52-8 Italy Nino Benvenuti UD 15 1967-04-17 United States Madison Square Garden, New York Lost The Ring, WBC & WBA World Middleweight titles
The Ring magazine's "Fight of the Year" (1967)
Win 52-7 United States Joey Archer UD 15 1967-01-23 United States Madison Square Garden, New York Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA World Middleweight titles
Win 51-7 United States Joey Archer MD 15 1966-07-13 United States Madison Square Garden, New York Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA World Middleweight titles
Win 50-7 Nigeria Dick Tiger UD 15 1966-04-25 United States Madison Square Garden, New York Won The Ring, WBC & WBA World Middleweight titles
Win 49-7 United States Johnny Brooks UD 10 1966-02-03 United States Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win 48-7 United States Manuel González UD 15 1965-12-10 United States Madison Square Garden, New York Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA World Welterweight titles
Win 47-7 United Kingdom Harry Scott RTD 7 (10) 1965-10-04 England Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London
Win 46-7 United States Gabe Terronez TKO 4 (10), 2:45 1965-09-14 United States Kearney Bowl, Fresno, California
Loss 45-7 United States Don Fullmer UD 12 1965-08-19 United States Fairgrounds Coliseum, Salt Lake City, Utah
Win 45-6 United States Eddie Pace UD 10 1965-06-14 United States Hawaii International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
Win 44-6 Cuba Jose Stable UD 15 1965-03-30 United States Madison Square Garden, New York Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA World Welterweight titles
Loss 43-6 United States Manuel González SD 10 1965-01-26 United States Houston, Texas
Win 43-5 United Kingdom Dave Charnley TKO 9 (10), 1:56 1964-12-01 England Empire Pool, Wembley, London Retained The Ring World Welterweight title
Win 42-5 United Kingdom Brian Curvis UD 15 1964-09-22 England Empire Pool, Wembley, London Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA World Welterweight titles
Win 41-5 Cuba Luis Manuel Rodríguez SD 15 1964-06-12 United States Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA World Welterweight titles
Win 40-5 United States Stan Harrington KO 4 (10) 1964-04-14 United States Hawaii International Center, Honolulu, Hawaii Retained The Ring World Welterweight title
NC 39-5 Italy Juan Carlo Duran NC 7 (10) 1964-03-11 Italy Sports Palace, Rome, Lazio
Win 39-5 United States Ralph Dupas KO 3 (12) 1964-02-10 Australia Sydney Stadium, Sydney, New South Wales
Loss 38-5 United States Rubin Carter TKO 1 (10), 2:13 1963-12-20 United States Civic Arena, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Win 38-4 Puerto Rico Jose Monon Gonzalez MD 10 1963-10-05 Puerto Rico Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan
Win 37-4 United States Holly Mims UD 10 1963-08-10 United States Convention Center, Saratoga Springs, New York
Win 36-4 Cuba Luis Manuel Rodríguez SD 15 1963-06-08 United States Madison Square Garden, New York Won The Ring, WBC & WBA World Welterweight titles
Loss 35-4 Cuba Luis Manuel Rodríguez UD 15 1963-03-21 United States Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles Lost The Ring, WBC & WBA World Welterweight titles
Win 35-3 Denmark Christian Christensen TKO 9 (15) 1963-02-03 Denmark Forum Copenhagen, Copenhagen
Win 34-3 Argentina Jorge Fernandez TKO 9 (15) 1962-12-08 United States Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained The Ring, WBC & WBA World Welterweight titles
Win 33-3 United States Ted Wright PTS 15 1962-10-17 Austria Stadthalle, Vienna
Win 32-3 United States Don Fullmer UD 10 1962-10-06 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 31-3 United States Denny Moyer SD 10 1962-08-18 United States Sports Arena, Tacoma, Washington
Win 30-3 United States Ralph Dupas UD 15 1962-07-13 United States Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada Retained The Ring & World Welterweight titles
Win 29-3 Cuba Benny Paret TKO 12 (15), 2:09 1962-03-24 United States Madison Square Garden, New York Won The Ring & World Welterweight titles
Win 28-3 United States Johnny Torres UD 10 1962-02-03 United States Virgin Islands Lionel Roberts Stadium, Saint Thomas
Win 27-3 Cuba Isaac Logart MD 10 1961-12-23 United States St. Nicholas Arena, New York
Win 26-3 United States Stanford Bulla KO 4 (10) 1961-11-04 Bermuda Hamilton
Loss 25-3 Cuba Benny Paret SD 15 1961-09-30 United States Madison Square Garden, New York Lost The Ring & World Welterweight titles
Win 25-2 The Bahamas Yama Bahama UD 10 1961-07-29 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 24-2 Mexico Gaspar Ortega TKO 12 (15), 0:48 1961-06-03 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles Retained The Ring & World Welterweight titles
Win 23-2 Cuba Benny Paret KO 13 (15), 1:11 1961-04-01 United States Miami Beach Convention Hall, Miami Beach, Florida Won The Ring & World Welterweight titles
Win 22-2 Cuba Luis Manuel Rodríguez SD 10 1960-12-17 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 21-2 South Africa Willie Toweel TKO 8 (10), 3:00 1960-10-22 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 20-2 Cuba Florentino Fernández UD 10 1960-08-25 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 19-2 Argentina Jorge Fernandez UD 10 1960-07-25 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 18-2 Argentina Jorge Fernandez SD 10 1960-06-03 United States St. Nicholas Arena, New York
Loss 17-2 United States Denny Moyer SD 10 1960-04-26 United States Pacific Livestock Pavilion, Portland, Oregon
Win 17-1 United States Denny Moyer SD 10 1960-03-11 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 16-1 Mexico Gaspar Ortega SD 10 1960-02-12 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 15-1 Mexico Roberto Peña UD 10 1960-01-08 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 14-1 United States Ray Lancaster UD 10 1960-01-08 United States Academy of Music, New York
Loss 13-1 United States Randy Sandy SD 10 1959-10-26 United States Academy of Music, New York
Win 13-0 Cuba Kid Fichique UD 10 1959-08-07 United States Madison Square Garden, New York
Win 12-0 United States Willie Stevenson UD 10 1959-05-25 United States St. Nicholas Arena, New York
Win 11-0 United States Mel Barker UD 10 1959-04-27 United States St. Nicholas Arena, New York
Win 10-0 United States Bobby Shell UD 10 1959-03-23 United States St. Nicholas Arena, New York
Win 9-0 United States Barry Allison TKO 5 (10), 2:44 1959-02-23 United States St. Nicholas Arena, New York

Honors

Named The Ring Fighter of the Year for 1964.

Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its initial year (1990) and the World Boxing Hall of Fame.

A park has been named in Griffith's honor in his native Virgin Islands.

See also

Footnotes

  1. "The night boxer Emile Griffith answered gay taunts with a deadly cortege of punches", theguardian.com; accessed January 30, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "The Shadow Boxer", sportsillustrated.cnn.com, April 18, 2005.
  3. I've Got a Secret episode (April 12, 1961) in which Irene and Lorraine Berlin displayed hats designed by Griffith, youtube.com; accessed January 30, 2016.
  4. The Great Rivalries, CBSSports.com; accessed January 30, 2016.
  5. Klores, Dan (2012-03-31). "Emile Griffith, Benny Paret and the Fatal Fight". The New York Times.
  6. "Former boxing champion Emile Griffith dies at 75". Fox News. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  7. Jarlath Regan (7 March 2016). "Lenny Abrahamson". An Irishman Abroad (Podcast) (129 ed.). SoundCloud. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  8. Emile Griffith's Professional Boxing Record. BoxRec.com. Retrieved on 2011-09-29.

Further reading

External links

Achievements
Preceded by
Benny (Kid) Paret
World Welterweight Champion
The Ring Welterweight Champion

1 April 1961– 30 September 1961
Succeeded by
Benny (Kid) Paret
World Welterweight Champion
The Ring Welterweight Champion

24 March 1962– 21 March 1963
Succeeded by
Luis Rodríguez
Inaugural Champion WBC Welterweight Champion
8 December 1962 – 21 March 1963
WBA Welterweight Champion
8 December 1962 – 21 March 1963
Preceded by
Luis Rodríguez
World Welterweight Champion
The Ring Welterweight Champion
WBC Welterweight Champion
WBA Welterweight Champion

8 June 1963 – 25 April 1966
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Curtis Cokes
Preceded by
Dick Tiger
World Middleweight Champion
The Ring Middleweight Champion
WBC Middleweight Champion
WBA Middleweight Champion

25 April 1966 – 4 March 1968
Succeeded by
Nino Benvenuti
Preceded by
Nino Benvenuti
World Middleweight Champion
The Ring Middleweight Champion
WBC Middleweight Champion
WBA Middleweight Champion

29 October 1967 – 4 March 1964
Titles in pretence
New title World Light Middleweight Champion
Austrian Boxing Board of Control Recognition

17 October 1962 – 1963
Vacated
Title terminated
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, May 06, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.