To one of boxings best - RIP
I consider myself fortunate as a boxing fan because I have followed most of his colorful and checkered career
Certainly, he was among the best welterweights and middleweights and among the best fighters ever. He fought in a very competitive era at 147 up to 160 lbs. where I think no other fighters except perhaps Sugar Ray Robinson had. He alternately fought between the welterweights and the middleweights which would explain many of his losses. He fought a virtual who's who in the welterweights and middleweights from the early 60s well into the late 70s.
At 147 lbs. he faced the likes of Gaspar Ortega ( twice 2-0), Denny Moyer ( twice, 2-0 ), Florentino Fernandez, Luis Manuel Rodriguez ( 5 times, 4-1 ), Benny Paret ( twice, 1-1 ), Isaac Logart, Ralph Dupas, Don Fullmer ( twice, 2-0 ), Stan Harrington, Manuel Gonzales (twice 2-0), Jose Stable, Gyspsy Joe Harris, Armando Muniz, Ernie The Red Lopez ( twice, 2-0 ) and Jose Napoles (L). In his brief reign at junior middleweights, he fought the likes of Ted Wright and Chris Christensen At middleweights, he fought the likes of Holy Mimms, Rubin Carter (L), Dick Tiger ( twice, 2-0 ), Joey Archer ( twice, 2-0), Nino Benvenuti (thrice 1-2 ), Tom Bogs, Carlos Monzon ( twice, 0-2), Tony Mundine (L), Tony Licata (L), Benny Briscoe ( twice, I win, 1 draw, ), Vito Antoufermo (L) and Alan Minter (L).
His record is spiked with close, entertaining fights against the best Cuban pro fighters of the time like Logart, Fernandez, Stable, Paret ( that resulted in a ring death ), Rodriguez ( what a rivalry ) and Napoles. I don't know of any American top fighter, or any Western fighter for that matter who had as many top notch Cuban opponents in their resume.
And many even accused him of being gay.
God bless you and rest in peace Champ!
I remember him most fromn,the fight with Benny Paret. Griffith won by way of a brutal 12th round TKO to regain the World Welterweight Championship. Paret slipped into a coma and died ten days later.
We must all meet the reaper one day and it was Emile Griffins time:
Sad day for boxing. Rest in peace to this legend.
Yep. All Time Great
He was open about his sexuality btw. RIP
R.I.P to a great fighter. he has achieved immortality through boxing.
Always a gentleman and boxing great....................gave us lots of entertainment R I P
I think so
AMEN to that R.I.P.
RIP Champ. one of the all time greats
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☆☆☆☆ ☆CHAMPION☆☆☆☆☆
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The sad news of the passing of boxing legend Emile Griffith made known today.
To one of boxings best - RIP
