Emile Griffith Dead: Former Boxing Champion Dies At 75

[trumad]

Pretty sure H20 Man will offer up his thoughts....

-- Inside the smaller theater at Madison Square Garden about five years ago, shortly before a world title fight, Emile Griffith was introduced one more time to the crowd. He rose shakily from his seat, waved ever so briefly and then sat down.

The applause kept going.

Revered in retirement perhaps more than during his fighting days, Griffith died Tuesday at 75 after a long battle with pugilistic dementia. The first fighter to be crowned world champion from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Griffith required full-time care late in life and died at an extended care facility in Hempstead, N.Y.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/23/emilie-griffith-dies-boxing_n_3640667.html?utm_hp_ref=sports

[joeybee12]

1. Knew nothing about the guy, but read his obit yesterday...

I wouldn't say he had a troubled life, but it was full of drama...RIP

[H2O Man]

2. I just checked

the DU sports forum to see if anyone had posted about his death. I was thinking about writing an OP.

The first televised boxing match I ever saw was Griffith vs Rubin "Hurricane" Carter. The first time I met him was at ringside, at the second Frazier-Ali bout at MSG. Emile and Rubin had remained friends since their days in the ring, and Griffith supporter Rubin's efforts for a fair trial long before it was popular in the mid-70s.

I had several opportunities to meet with him in the late 1990s and early 2000s. I hadn't seen him in a few years, but we talked frequently on face Book. He suffered from dementia, as well as other ailments. He almost passed about two years ago.

There's a powerful documentary on his life, which I'd strongly recommend.

The boxing community is feeling a big loss. Emile Griffith was a champion both inside and outside the ring.

Recommended.

[trumad]

3. I'll check the documentary out.

[H2O Man]

4. A few years ago,

I asked Rubin why he had said some ugly things to Emile at their weigh-in? He said, "Well, Pat, he and I were friends. We had sparred a few times, and I knew that if he choose to, he could have out-boxed me. I needed to make him mad enough that he would attack me. And he did -- he wanted to knock me out. But I caught him first, with a body-shot. I could hear the wind come out of him."

[trumad]

5. Aww the mind game of boxing

A little story that you might enjoy.

I have a 19 year old son who thinks he's a bad ass. Several months ago he and I got into a heated argument about something stupid he did. I told him to not walk away from me and he did just that---he got into his car and told me to F off.

I walked up to the car and told him if he was Man he'd say that to my face. Well--- he got out of the car, told me to F off again---and then shoved me.

Pat---that was a big mistake on his part. I popped him one in the chest. He proceeded to come after me with haymakers from left field. Another big mistake.

I easily avoided those long haymaker bombs and peppered the shit out of him with accurate left, right punches. Put one on his chin as well. After a couple of bulls eyes he bent over, covered his head and started to run.

The funny thing about this--- I haven't fought anyone in a long long time, but the boxing part of it was like riding a bike. I boxed a bit in the Army and learned the mechanics early on. First thing you learn is fighting a guy throwing haymakers is much more preferable than fighting a guy with left, right accurate combinations.

I was actually disappointed in his fighting style because I taught him boxing mechanics when he was a kid.

Must have forgotten.

Needless to say I felt like shit after the incident....I mean,,,this is my kid. No Dad wants to light up his kid.

BUT--- the feeling of feeling like shit started to dissipate when word got back that my son was telling his friends that his Dad lit him up and he deserved it. His friends told him he was nuts for taking on his Dad.

Since then we've been great. Much more respect and I'm pretty certain he won't challenge me anytime soon.

Although---my biggest fear is when I'm 90, he'll dump my Colostomy bag over my head and push my wheel chair off a cliff with him yelling, remember that time you kicked my ass.

[H2O Man]

6. My boys & I

recently were discussing a time when they were both feeling their oats, sure they could take the Old Man on. We got the gloves on, and I sparred the younger one first. I didn't have to throw a single punch -- just let him throw until he was exhausted, missing every time. The older one came next; same general thing, until I landed a solitary jab. Not hard, just well-timed; he stepped into it, and then wobbled about, looking for something to hold on to.

As a rule, one should never be angry when they fight. I learned that rules can have exceptions. I was 15, and saw a guy on ABC's coverage of amateur boxing at the national level. Saw an ex-Marine who had fought in the Olympic trials. I remember seeing him make some mistakes, and thinking, "I'd kick his behind." So, through a promoter, I challenged him.

I remember how utterly (over-) confident I was in training. Laughing to myself doing roadwork, thinking, "I've got that fool's number." Just knowing that I'd bust him up in the main event of an important amateur card.

My brother encouraged me to "make him mad" in the pre-fight weigh-in and physical exam. Trash-talk went back-and-forth. Then, in front of everyone, I slapped him. Yeah, he was pissed off, threatening to hurt me. And I was thinking, "Got you now."

Round One: I opened with my "Ali Shuffle," which I could do very well. Then moved towards him with my hands down. He landed a very hard punch, and asked how I liked that? I said, good, do it again. He did. For three full rounds!

I did catch him numerous times. He made the mistakes I had anticipated. But he was a lot bigger than me, and although I did cut and bruise him, he sure did more damage to me! Broke a bottom-row tooth, and embedded part of the filing into my mouth piece. Now, I had been punched really hard by my father for years, and no one I'd fought had ever hit me that hard -- until Jack did.

We did not embrace after the bout, as often happens in boxing. Instead, he was yelling about wanting to deck me (he didn't -- I took every punch). In fact, later that night, we happened to go to the same McDonald's, and the trash-talk and insults began to get out of hand. Luckily for me, the fighters with each of us broke us apart. Damn, trumad, remember being a stupid teenager? I can laugh about that ass-whuppin' now, but I really wanted to box him again. For years after that, I was the angry one.

[trumad]

7. LOL---good story

Thing is---he had a semblance of boxing experience.

Get someone mad who can't box and they throw bombs from outer space. Those are the guys you can take easily with your boxing skill. Oh sure they may get a lucky punch in---but as you and I know, I'd rather get hit with a wild haymaker than an effective jab to the kisser.