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Emile Griffith

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Boxer

The Resume

    (February 3, 1938-July 23, 2013)
    Born in Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands (US)
    85 wins (23 by knockout), 24 losses, 2 draws
    World Welterweight Champion (April 1-September 30, 1961; March 24, 1962-March 21, 1963; June 8, 1963-April 25, 1966)
    World Middleweight Champion (April 25, 1966-April 17, 1967; September 29, 1967-March 4, 1968)
    Ring magazine's Boxer of the Year (1964)
    Trained boxers Wilfred Benitez and Juan Laporte
    Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (1990)
    Subject of the documentary 'Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story' (2005)

Why he might be annoying:

    In a title bout (March 24, 1962), he beat Benny 'the Kid' Paret into a coma; Paret died ten days later.
    He had continued punching Paret even after Paret lost consciousness and was held up just by the ropes.
    There were rumors that the beating may have been fueled by Paret taunting him as a 'marcion' (a Cuban slang equivalent of 'faggot') during the pre-match weigh-in.
    He cut the single 'A Little Bit More' for Columbia Records.
    Like many boxers, he stayed in the ring well past his prime, losing 14 of his last 23 bouts.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He had never intended to become a boxer, but while working shirtless one day in a hat factory, the owner, an ex-boxer, noticed his physique and recommended him to trainer Gil Clancy.
    Bert Sugar said he had 'shoulders you could serve dinner for six on.'
    Three months before the fatal fight, Paret had been badly beaten by Gene Fullmer, probably suffered brain damage, and should not have been allowed back in the ring.
    One trainer said, 'Fullmer ate the meal, but Emile picked up the check.'
    He received death threats from Paret supporters.
    He was beaten by five men wielding bats and chains outside a New York City gay bar and was hospitalized for four months (1992).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 110 Votes: 42.73% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 83 Votes: 50.60% Annoying