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Benny Paret

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Benny "Kid" Paret
Born
Bernardo Paret

(1937-03-14)March 14, 1937
Santa Clara, Cuba
DiedApril 3, 1962(1962-04-03) (aged 25)
New York City, U.S.
Cause of deathBrain hemorrhaging from punches to his head in his match on March 24, 1962
NationalityCuban
Other namesKid
Statistics
Weight(s)Welterweight
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights50
Wins35
Wins by KO10
Losses12
Draws3

Bernardo Paret (March 14, 1937 – April 3, 1962), known as Benny Paret and Benny "Kid" Paret, was a Cuban welterweight boxer who won the World Welterweight Championship twice in the early 1960s.[1]

Paret's death occurred 10 days after injuries sustained in a March 24, 1962, title defense against Emile Griffith, televised live and seen by millions on ABC's Fight of the Week. Paret had a lifetime record of 35 wins (10 knockouts), 12 losses and 3 draws.[2]

Boxing career

Paret won the welterweight title for the first time on May 27, 1960, by defeating Don Jordan. In his first defense of the title, Emile Griffith knocked him out in the thirteenth round on April 1, 1961.[3] Paret recaptured the crown on September 30, 1961, in a split-decision over Griffith.[4] Barely two months later, Paret took on middleweight champion Gene Fullmer and was knocked out in the tenth round, being behind on all three judges' scorecards.[3]

Last fight and death

Main article: Benny Paret vs. Emile Griffith III

Although Paret had been battered in the two fights with Griffith and the fight with Fullmer, he decided that he would defend his title against Griffith three months after the Fullmer fight. Paret–Griffith III was booked for Madison Square Garden on Saturday, March 24, 1962, and was televised live by ABC. In round six, Paret nearly knocked out Griffith with a multi-punch combination, but Griffith was saved by the bell.[5]

In the twelfth round of the fight, Don Dunphy, who was calling the bout for ABC, remarked, "This is probably the tamest round of the entire fight."[6] Seconds later, Griffith backed Paret into the corner before he unleashed a massive flurry of punches to the champion's head.[7]

It quickly became apparent that Paret was dazed by the initial shots and could not defend himself, but referee Ruby Goldstein allowed Griffith to continue his assault. Finally, after 29 consecutive punches, which knocked Paret through the ropes at one point, Goldstein stepped in and called a halt to the bout.[8]

Paret collapsed in the corner from the barrage of punches (initially thought to be from exhaustion), fell into a coma, and died ten days later at Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan from massive brain hemorrhaging.[5][9][10] Paret was buried at Saint Raymond's Cemetery in the borough of the Bronx in New York City.

The last fight between Paret and Griffith was the subject of many controversies. It is theorized that one of the reasons Paret died was that he was vulnerable due to the beatings he took in his previous three fights, all of which happened within twelve months of each other. New York State boxing authorities were criticized for giving Paret clearance to fight just several months after the Fullmer fight. The actions of Paret at the weigh-in before his final fight have come under scrutiny. It is alleged that Paret taunted Griffith by calling him maricón (Spanish slang for "faggot").[7]

Griffith wanted to fight Paret on the spot but was restrained. Griffith would come out as bisexual in his later years, but in 1962 allegations of homosexuality were considered fatal to an athlete's career and a particularly grievous insult in the culture both fighters came from. The referee Ruby Goldstein, a respected veteran, came under criticism for not stopping the fight sooner. It has been argued that Goldstein hesitated because of Paret's reputation of feigning injury and Griffith's reputation as a poor finisher.[5][8]

Another theory is that Goldstein was afraid that Paret's supporters would riot.[8] The incident, combined with the death of Davey Moore a year later for a different injury in the ring, would cause debate as to whether boxing should be considered a sport. Boxing would not be televised on a regular basis again until the 1970s.[11]

The fight also marked the end of Goldstein's long and respected career as a referee, as he was unable to find work after that.[citation needed] The fight was the centerpiece of a 2005 documentary entitled Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story. At the end of the documentary, Griffith, who had harbored guilt over the incident over the years, is introduced to Paret's son. The son embraced Griffith and told him he was forgiven.[11]

Paret's death was chronicled in a 1962 protest song by folk singer Gil Turner. The song, "Benny 'Kid' Paret", was published in Broadside magazine that same month and was recorded later in the year by Turner's group, The New World Singers, for the 1963 Folkways album Broadside Ballads, Vol. 1.[12][13]

A 1962 poem by Australian ex-boxer Merv Lilley urged us to remember Benny Paret "when they're lacing leather on."[14]

The emotive poem "Muerte en el Ring" ("Death in the Ring") by Afro-Peruvian poet Nicomedes Santa Cruz recounts Paret's life to the moment of his last breath.[15]

A semifictionalized story of the fight was told live by radio dramatist Joe Frank in the 1978 program "80 Yard Run" on WBAI in New York and replayed several times subsequently on NPR. In it, Frank cast Griffith rather than Paret as the defending champion and makes no mention of Paret's recent fights or his prior history with Griffith. In the dramatized version, Griffith dominates the fight from the beginning, with the fight ending in the middle rounds and Paret dying later that night.

Paret is also one of many boxers named in the lyrics of Sun Kil Moon's 2003 album Ghosts of the Great Highway. The album builds several songs around the stories of boxers who died early deaths.[16]

The story of Emile Griffith and Paret's death has been turned into an Opera in Jazz, Champion. It premiered on the campus of Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri, on June 15, 2013. The opera was written by composer Terence Blanchard, with a libretto by playwright Michael Cristofer, who went on to develop the stage play "Man in the Ring" on the same subject. The play premiered at the Court Theatre in Chicago in 2016.

Professional boxing record

50 fights 35 wins 12 losses
By knockout 10 4
By decision 25 8
Draws 3
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
50 Loss 35–12–3 Emile Griffith TKO 12 (15) Mar 24, 1962 Madison Square Garden, New York City, U.S. Lost NYSAC, NBA, The Ring welterweight titles;
Paret died from injuries sustained in the fight[17]
49 Loss 35–11–3 Gene Fullmer KO 10 (15) Dec 9, 1961 Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. For NBA middleweight title
48 Win 35–10–3 Emile Griffith SD 15 Sep 30, 1961 Madison Square Garden, New York City, U.S. Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
47 Loss 34–10–3 Emile Griffith KO 13 (15) Apr 1, 1961 Convention Center, Miami Beach, Miami, Florida, U.S. Lost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
46 Loss 34–9–3 Gaspar Ortega UD 10 Feb 25, 1961 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
45 Win 34–8–3 Luis Federico Thompson UD 15 Dec 10, 1960 Madison Square Garden, New York City, U.S. Retained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
44 Loss 33–8–3 Denny Moyer SD 10 Aug 16, 1960 Madison Square Garden, New York City, U.S.
43 Win 33–7–3 Garnet Hart KO 6 (10) Jul 12, 1960 Madison Square Garden, New York City, U.S.
42 Win 32–7–3 Don Jordan UD 15 May 27, 1960 Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Won NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring welterweight titles
41 Draw 31–7–3 Luis Federico Thompson PTS 12 Mar 25, 1960 Madison Square Garden, New York City, U.S.
40 Win 31–7–2 Charley Scott SD 10 Jan 29, 1960 Madison Square Garden, New York City, U.S.
39 Win 30–7–2 Charley Scott UD 10 Dec 18, 1959 Madison Square Garden, New York City, U.S.
38 Win 29–7–2 Bob Provizzi UD 10 Nov 16, 1959 Academy of Music, New York City, U.S.
37 Draw 28–7–2 José Torres PTS 10 Sep 26, 1959 Sixto Escobar Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
36 Loss 28–7–1 Gaspar Ortega SD 10 Aug 7, 1959 Madison Square Garden, New York City, U.S.
35 Win 28–6–1 Rudy Sawyer UD 10 Jun 1, 1959 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, U.S.
34 Loss 27–6–1 Eddie Thompson SD 10 Apr 20, 1959 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, U.S.
33 Loss 27–5–1 Cecil Shorts MD 10 Mar 2, 1959 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, U.S.
32 Win 27–4–1 Victor Zalazar UD 10 Jan 19, 1959 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, U.S.
31 Win 26–4–1 Victor Zalazar SD 10 Dec 15, 1958 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, U.S.
30 Win 25–4–1 Barry Allison UD 10 Nov 24, 1958 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, U.S.
29 Win 24–4–1 Andy Figaro KO 1 (10) Nov 10, 1958 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, U.S.
28 Loss 23–4–1 Luis Manuel Rodríguez SD 10 Aug 9, 1958 Coliseo de la Ciudad, Havana, Cuba
27 Win 23–3–1 Augustin Rosales TKO 8 (10) Jun 21, 1958 Coliseo de la Ciudad, Havana, Cuba
26 Win 22–3–1 Eddie Armstrong UD 10 Jun 9, 1958 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, U.S.
25 Draw 21–3–1 Bobby Shell PTS 6 May 19, 1958 St. Nicholas Arena, New York City, U.S.
24 Win 21–3 Tony Armenteros PTS 10 Mar 8, 1958 Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
23 Loss 20–3 Luis Manuel Rodríguez UD 10 Feb 8, 1958 Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
22 Win 20–2 Rolando Rodriguez PTS 8 Jan 25, 1958 Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
21 Win 19–2 Regino Bravo KO 3 (8) Jan 4, 1958 Arena Trejo, Havana, Cuba
20 Win 18–2 Rolando Rodriguez KO 5 (8) May 25, 1957 Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
19 Win 17–2 Carlos Chibas PTS 8 May 4, 1957 Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
18 Loss 16–2 Guillermo Diaz PTS 8 Apr 6, 1957 Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
17 Win 16–1 Rolando Rodriguez PTS 8 Mar 23, 1957 Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
16 Win 15–1 Oscar Campos UD 8 Mar 9, 1957 Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
15 Win 14–1 Oscar Campos PTS 10 Feb 1, 1957 Santa Clara, Cuba
14 Loss 13–1 Rolando Rodriguez KO 2 (8) Oct 22, 1956 Santa Clara, Cuba
13 Win 13–0 Carlos Chibas KO 2 (8) Oct 13, 1956 Santa Clara, Cuba
12 Win 12–0 Leocadio Villafanas KO 3 (8) Aug 9, 1956 Santa Clara, Cuba
11 Win 11–0 Carlos Chibas PTS 8 Jul 21, 1956 Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
10 Win 10–0 Tony Caspita PTS 8 Jun 6, 1956 Santa Clara, Cuba
9 Win 9–0 Reinaldo Cabellero KO 3 (6) Mar 16, 1956 Santa Clara, Cuba
8 Win 8–0 Jose Delgado KO 4 (6) Jan 27, 1956 Santa Clara, Cuba
7 Win 7–0 Joaquin Castillo PTS 6 Dec 23, 1955 Santa Clara, Cuba
6 Win 6–0 Jose Delgado PTS 6 Dec 2, 1955 Santa Clara, Cuba
5 Win 5–0 Sandalio Santana PTS 6 Oct 26, 1955 Santa Clara, Cuba
4 Win 4–0 Miguel Cutino TKO 4 Oct 22, 1955 Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
3 Win 3–0 Joel Morales PTS 4 Sep 8, 1955 Santa Clara, Cuba
2 Win 2–0 Esmerido Moya KO 1 (4) Aug 11, 1955 Santa Clara, Cuba
1 Win 1–0 Oscar Campos PTS 6 Apr 16, 1954 Santa Clara, Cuba

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Lineal Welterweight Champs". Cyber Boxing Zone. Archived from the original on June 14, 2009. Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  2. ^ "Benny "Kid" Paret: Lest We Forget". Archived from the original on February 28, 2007. Retrieved May 21, 2007.
  3. ^ a b Segundo, Al. "A Sour Memory of the 'Sweet Science'". Archived from the original on August 14, 2006. Retrieved May 21, 2007.
  4. ^ "The Great Rivalries". Archived from the original on June 28, 2006. Retrieved May 21, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c The Great Rivalries CBS Sports
  6. ^ "Emile Griffith Benny Paret KO Dies". YouTube. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  7. ^ a b Smith, Gary (April 18, 2005). "The Shadow Boxer". CNN. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2007.
  8. ^ a b c Mulvaney, Kieran (May 4, 2006). "Don't believe the hype? How 'bout the slights?". Retrieved May 21, 2007.
  9. ^ Shapiro, Michael (March 23, 1983). "PARET TRAGEDY: A SHARED BURDEN". The New York Times. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  10. ^ Goldstein, Richard (July 23, 2013). "Emile Griffith, Boxer Who Unleashed a Fatal Barrage, Dies at 75". The New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  11. ^ a b "Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story". IMDb. Retrieved May 22, 2007.
  12. ^ Gil, Turner (April 1962). "Benny "Kid" Paret" (PDF). Broadside. p. 5. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  13. ^ "Broadside Ballads, Vol. 1". AllMusic. Retrieved February 5, 2011.
  14. ^ Lilley, Merv (1962). "Benny Paret". What about the People?. National Council of the Realist Writer Groups.
  15. ^ ""Muerte en el Ring"". Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  16. ^ "Mark Kozelek". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on July 2, 2007. Retrieved May 22, 2007.
  17. ^ "Benny (Kid) Paret - BoxRec".
Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Preceded by NYSAC welterweight champion
May 27, 1960 – April 1, 1961 		Succeeded by
NBA welterweight champion
May 27, 1960 – April 1, 1961
The Ring welterweight champion
May 27, 1960 – April 1, 1961
Undisputed welterweight champion
May 27, 1960 – April 1, 1961
Preceded by
Emile Griffith
 NYSAC welterweight champion
September 30, 1961 – March 24, 1962
NBA welterweight champion
September 30, 1961 – March 24, 1962
The Ring welterweight champion
September 30, 1961 – March 24, 1962
Undisputed welterweight champion
September 30, 1961 – March 24, 1962
Records
Preceded by Latest born world champion to die
April 3, 1962 – February 15, 1970 		Succeeded by
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