Emile Alphonse Griffith

Emile Alphonse Griffith was a professional boxer from the United States Virgin Islands who won World Championships in the weight classes of welterweight, junior middleweight, and middleweight.

Griffith won the 147-pound Open Championship at the New York Golden Gloves in 1958. Griffith won the championship by defeating Osvaldo Marcano of the Police Athletic League's Lynch Center in the finals. Griffith reached the finals of the 147-pound Sub-Novice class in 1957 but was upset by Charles Wormley of the Salem Crescent Athletic Club. Griffith trained at New York City's West 28th Street Parks Department Gym.

Griffith made his pro debut in 1958 and fought frequently in New York City. On April 1, 1961, he knocked out Cuban Benny "The Kid" Paret in the 13th round to win the Welterweight title. Six months later, Griffith was defeated by Paret in a close split decision. Griffith reclaimed the title from Paret on March 24, 1962, in a contentious fight in which Paret died.

Griffith and Luis Rodrguez had a famous four-fight series, with Griffith winning the first three and losing the second. He beat middleweight contender Holly Mims before being knocked out in the first round by Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. On April 25, 1966, three years later, he faced middleweight champion Dick Tiger and won a 15-round unanimous decision and the middleweight title. In three memorable fights with Nino Benvenuti, he too lost, won, and finally lost the middleweight title.

Griffith was selected Fighter of the Year in 1963 and 1964 by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He was placed #33 on Ring Magazine's list of the greatest 80 fighters of the last 80 years in 2002. He was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural class in 1990.

Born: February 3, 1938
Died: July 23, 2013

Nationality: American