“RING OF FIRE” REVIEW, THE EMILE GRIFFITH STORY
My hearing Emile Griffith’s name on the radio recently brought me about a faint remembrance of who the ex-champion was. However, when Ron Berger, director and producer of “Ring of Fire” came on the show and talked about the infamous Griffith-Benny Paret bout, a lot of discussion started about the fight by old-school sports fans like the host NBA Hall of Fame member Rick Barry. Being a die-hard boxing fan, I felt it was my duty to learn of the circumstances surrounding the fight.
NETWORK WITH BLACK “KOJAK” AIRS EMILE’S STORY!
Last Wednesday, April 20, the USA Network aired commercial free, the documentary about Emile Griffith entitled, “Ring of Fire.” The beginning of the documentary explained Griffith’s upbringings and how he got into the sport. Having gone 85-24-2, with 23KO’s, Emile was discovered by his manager Howie Albert and trained by Gil Clancy. Griffith received his first title shot against Cuban Benny “Kid” Paret, the welterweight champion, in 1961. Griffith knocked out Paret in the 13th round.
GRIFFITH BESTED IN REMATCH WITH BENNY
Described by friends and family as a kindhearted individual, Emile was happy just being called champ. Losing his title by Split Decision back to Paret just six months later, this set up the highly anticipated rubber match on national television. On March 24, 1962, millions of people gathered around the television to watch Emile’s attempt to regain the welterweight championship from Paret who ended up 36-12-3, (11KO’s). Griffith won most of the rounds until the sixth, when Paret dropped Griffith with a left hook and almost won the fight.
THAT FATAL ROUND HAPPENED SO FAST!
However, in the 12th round, Griffith would land a massive overhand right that had Paret out on his feet. But Benny Paret wouldn’t go down and he laid on the ropes as Griffith landed a series of left hooks in succession. A defenseless Paret slumped to the corner and Griffith followed up with additional vicious straight lefts and rights, bouncing Paret’s head around like a double end bag.
RUBY WAS A BIT SLOW PULLING THE TRIGGER!
Now these series of events happened in no more than 30 seconds, and referee Ruby Goldstein tried in vain to stop Griffith from landing that final and fatal right hand. Paret fell to the canvas as slow as melting ice and it was clear Benny was in bad shape. He slipped into a coma and died 10 days later as a result of injuries sustained during the fight.
TV DEATH OF PARET ALMOST KILLED SPORT!
The aftermath of the fight almost buckled boxing to its knees. This was the first fight on national television that resulted in a boxer dieing in the ring. Boxing was regaining popularity during the early 60s and many people, like Rick Barry remember that fight like it was yesterday. Politicians tried to twist the tragedy into a political issue, trying to ban boxing as a sport. The fight caused the television network to suspend broadcasting live fights.
TRAGIC EVENT CAUSES LOTS OF OPINIONS AND SPINNING
Trainers, fighters, and managers in the documentary try to find reasons or blame as to why this happened. One side is that Griffith was at fault for not backing off when he had Paret out. Recently, I saw Zab Judah backed off of Corey Spinks after he had Spinks out. Many fighters in the past have looked to the referee to step in before doing more damage.
EMILE SAYS HE NEVER SAW THE PAIN!
Griffith explained that he had his eyes focused on Paret’s chest and had no idea how hurt he was. The barrage took less than 30 seconds, where Griffith landed 20-30 unanswered, clean, and devastating shots to Paret’s head. Before the fight, a lot controversy arose when Paret made derogatory statements in Latin to Griffith, questioning his sexuality in the most disrespectful way possible. This could have possibly lit a fire under the Griffith. Remember, in the 60’s people thought a homosexual boxer was an oxymoron!
MANY POINT FINGER AT REFEREE GOLDSTEIN
The referee was also blamed for not stepping in at the right time to prevent unnecessary damage. Ruby Goldstein had the reputation of stopping fights too early in the past. Goldstein was the most recognized referee around. However, the most telling evidence that can’t be argued was that 100 days earlier, Paret was badly beaten and knocked out by middleweight Gene Fulmer. Fulmer described his fight with Paret as the biggest beating he ever gave a fighter. Paret’s wife remembered that Benny called her telling her he was not physically ready to fight Griffith, but since his manager Manuel Alfaro had invested so much money into the fight, Benny felt he had no choice but to fight.
EMILE AND PARET’S FAMILY STILL HURTING
The real victims in this story were Paret’s family and Griffith himself. Benny Paret left behind his wife and young son. Griffith as a fighter was never the same. He was considered a decent puncher before the Paret fight. Footages of his fights after Paret, showed Emile backing off when his opponent would wilt. Griffith would wake up in a cold sweat time and again from the nightmare of that fateful event. Over 40 years after that fight, the images still haunt both Emile and the fans who watched the fight.
TEARJERKER ENDING WET MANY, MANY EYES!
With an ending that will bring tears to anyone, “Ring Of Fire” truly opens (and in some cases dampens) the eyes of boxing fans to a side of boxing no fighter ever wants to experience!
CAESARS POST FIGHT VIDEO & “RING TALK RADIO”
What’s new besides our posting three original articles this morning at www.RingTalk.com? How about the Video, as we present the post-fight press conference Saturday night with Shane Mosley & Calvin Brock. Here’s the video link http://www.ringtalk.com/video.asp On Wednesday, we will launch a special on NBC’s “The Contender” that will include video interviews with “Sugar Ray” Leonard, and two of the remaining fighters in Jesse Brinkley and Joey Gilbert.
NBC’S “THE CONTENDER” SPECIAL SHOW LEONARD, JOEY, JESSE, & JIMMY LENNON JR. ON RADIO!
“Sugar Ray” Leonard, Jesse Brinkley, Joey Gilbert, they were part of the “Ring Talk Radio” mix Sunday night along with ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr. who is really is a chip off the old block! We discuss his late father, Jimmy Lennon Sr., his life in radio and as a TV star, Lennon Sr. was a crooner from the family that produced the famous “Lennon Sisters.” Boxing writer Dave Bitar of www.FightWorld.us also dropped by for a segment of the two-hour show. Hit the following link and you’ll realize why this show has been informing and entertaining people for almost 19 years! Click here to listen to “Ring Talk Radio” http://www.ringtalk.com/audio.asp
