Benny Paret was a boxer born in Santa Clara, Cuba on March 14, 1937. Known in boxing as Benny the "Kid" Paret, he died in New York City on April 3, 1962 as a result of injuries sustained in a fight with Emile Griffith. Prior to the weigh-in for their third fight (Griffith won the first bout; Paret won the second), Paret taunted Griffith and questioned his manhood.
The fight was a seesaw battle, and Paret actually knocked Griffith down in the sixth round. Griffith struggled to get to his feet, but eventually was able to regain his composure. In the twelfth round, Griffith unleashed a barrage of 18 unanswered punches that left Paret defenseless against the ropes. Paret fell into a coma and died ten days later. Referee Ruby Goldstein was blamed by many for not stopping the fight soon enough. As a result of the tragic outcome, boxing would not be seen on live television for the ensuing ten years.
Paret had a lifetime record of 35-12-3 (10 KO).
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