Emile Alphonse Griffith Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018
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 by touching his buttocks and calling him a homosexual. Griffith won the bout by knockout; Paret never recovered consciousness and died in the hospital 10 days later.
After Paret, I never wanted to hurt a guy again... I was so scared to hit someone, I was always holding back.
2
I kill a man and most people understand and forgive me. However, I love a man, and to so many people this is an unforgivable sin; this makes me an evil person.
#
Fact
1
In 1992, Griffith was severely beaten by five teenage thugs after leaving a gay bar near Port Authority Bus Terminal, in the Times Square area (Manhattan, New York City). Heavily injured, he somehow got off the pavement, took the subway to Queens where his cries and moans awakened Luis Rodrigo Griffith, his lover and "adopted son," asleep in their basement enclave. He was taken to Elmhurst General Hospital where he spent four months. The injuries sustained in the assault where: broken ribs, jaw and spleen; brain damage, compounded by more than 200 prizefights, was severe; and his kidneys were damaged so badly that he was near death. The assailants were never caught. The incident started a sharp decline in his health as he struggled with pugilistic dementia and required full-time care late in life.
2
Inducted into the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame.
3
Griffith defeated Benny Paret, called "Kid", for the world welterweight championship on 1 April 1961. He lost the September 30 rematch by a split decision. They fought again on 24 March 1962. Griffith won by TKO when referee Ruby Goldstein stopped the fight in the 12th round. Paret collapsed in his corner of the ring and lapsed into a coma. He died 10 days later on 3 April 1962.
4
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.
5
In his career, he fought 10 world champions and boxed 339 title-fight rounds.
6
Career record of 85-24-2 (23 KOs). He also had one no contest.
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story
2005
Documentary source: archive photographs
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
HBO Boxing
2013
TV Series documentary in memory of - 1 episode
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
A Fighting Chance
2012
Documentary
Himself
Out in Manhattan
2008
Documentary
Himself
Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story
2005
Documentary
Himself
The Fight
2004
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself - World Welterweight Champion
Dick Tiger vs. Emile Griffith
1970
Himself
World Heavyweight Championship: Muhammad Ali vs. Zora Folley
1967
TV Movie
Himself - Guest
Fight of the Week
1961-1962
TV Series
Himself - Guest / Himself
David Brinkley's Journal
1962
TV Series
Himself
I've Got a Secret
1961
TV Series
Guest
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
ESPN Friday Night Fights
2011
TV Series
Himself
Triumph and Tragedy: The Ray Mancini Story
2007
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Terminal Bar
2003
Documentary short
Himself
Known for movies
Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story (2005) as Miscellaneous Crew
Out in Manhattan (2008) as Himself
World Heavyweight Championship: Muhammad Ali vs. Zora Folley (1967) as Himself - Guest
$1.6 Million
