Comments Thread For: Emile Griffith - Hall of Famer Passes Away at Age 75

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Emile Griffith, a former world champion in the welterweight and middleweight divisions, and a member of the Hall of Fame - passed away on Tuesday at the age of 75. He fought from 1958 to 1977 and had 112 matches. During his career, Griffith had 22 world title fights. One of the most high-profile and difficult moments in the career was his 3-part series with Cuban Benny Kid Paret.

In the first fight Griffith won by knockout, but in the second Paret took revenge with a split decision. In March 1962, the trilogy bout saw Paret take many punishing blows from Griffith in the twelfth round and the referee intervened too late. After the fight, Paret went into a coma and died 10 days later without ever regaining consciousness.
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[Xyei]

Didn't expect to hear this today. RIP champ. He was a great fighter.

[JAB5239]

Very sad. I spoke with Emile's son several times through PM on facebook and he always commented how much the well wishes meant to his father. RIP champ!

[black.ink]

R.I.P. Emile.

One of the true Welterweight greats.

[D-MiZe]

RIP Griffith

In honour, I intend on watching several of his greatest fights, could my BoxingScene brethren assist me in what fights to watch?

[BafanaBafana]

R.I.P. Emile Griffith , ATG and lineal Welterweight and Middleweight champion.

[JAB5239]

RIP Griffith

In honour, I intend on watching several of his greatest fights, could my BoxingScene brethren assist me in what fights to watch?

Not sure I would watch it in his honor as it always haunted him, but the 3rd Benny Paret fight is brutal. The second Luis Rodriguez fight is close, Gaspar Ortega.

[rckdees]

R.i.p. Champ

[edgarg]

Emile Griffith, a former world champion in the welterweight and middleweight divisions, and a member of the Hall of Fame - passed away on Tuesday at the age of 75. He fought from 1958 to 1977 and had 112 matches. During his career, Griffith had 22 world title fights. One of the most high-profile and difficult moments in the career was his 3-part series with Cuban Benny Kid Paret.

In the first fight Griffith won by knockout, but in the second Paret took revenge with a split decision. In March 1962, the trilogy bout saw Paret take many punishing blows from Griffith in the twelfth round and the referee intervened too late. After the fight, Paret went into a coma and died 10 days later without ever regaining consciousness.
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I saw that documentary, it was more Schtik than anything else. It wasn't true that Griffith had to continue boxing because he had nothing else he could do. Whilst he was boxing, and before the Paret series he had made a fairly successful thing as a women's hat designer which turned out well later in life. At least these were the reports. I didn't read any book about him or "life story" etc.

Paret's son coming on at the end of the video should have shown everybody that it was just more PR.

I liked Griffith's boxing, and saw many of his fights against all the top fighters, many of whom were champions. I remember him beating **** Tiger and two terrific matches with Luis Rodriguez. and others with Nino Benvenuti.

The BUMPFH about losing his KO inclinations is false. He was regarded as a good but not heavy puncher and in fact I've just checked Boxrec to confirm my recollections. Paret was his 7th KO, and "after Paret" he got nearly 3 times that many KOs.

[edgarg]

RIP Griffith

In honour, I intend on watching several of his greatest fights, could my BoxingScene brethren assist me in what fights to watch?

His two fights with Luis Rodriguez stand out for me. Also his Benvenuti fights.