Benny Paret vs. Emile Griffith III

Benny Paret vs. Emile Griffith III was the third meeting between Benny "Kid" Paret and Emile Griffith, for the welterweight boxing championship, held at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Saturday, March 24, 1962. Paret came into the match as the reigning welterweight champion; this would be the deciding rubber match.

DateMarch 24, 1962 (1962-03-24)
VenueMadison Square Garden, New York City
Title(s) on the lineNBA/Ring/Lineal Welterweight Championship
Tale of the tape
Boxer Benny Paret Emile Griffith
Nickname "Kid"
Hometown Santa Clara, Cuba Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Pre-fight record 35-11-3 (10 KO) 28-3-0 (10 KO)
Height 5 ft 7.5 in (171 cm) 5 ft 7.5 in (171 cm)
Weight 146.25 lb (66 kg) 144 lb (65 kg)
Recognition NBA/Ring/Lineal
Welterweight Champion
Result
Griffith winner by KO, round 12, 2:09

The match was broadcast live by ABC on its live weekly boxing sports program, Fight of the Week. The fight was both notable and controversial for the punishment Paret took in the ring at the hands of Griffith which led to his loss by knockout in round 12 of a scheduled 15 rounds. Paret died in the hospital from his injuries 10 days later. The match has been cited as one of the reasons for the decline of boxing as a mainstream televised sport, and led to political calls for bans on boxing bouts.

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