Benny Paret

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Benny Paret
Benny "the kid" Paret in fighting pose before his death.jpeg
Statistics
Real nameBernardo Paret
Nickname(s)the Kid
Weight(s)Welterweight
NationalityCuban
Born(1937-03-14)March 14, 1937
Santa Clara, Cuba
DiedApril 3, 1962(1962-04-03) (aged 25)
Manhattan, New York City, New York
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights50
Wins35
Wins by KO10
Losses12
Draws3

Bernardo "Benny the Kid" Paret (March 14, 1937 – April 3, 1962) 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 twenty-nine 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]

In popular culture[]

Paret's death was chronicled in a 1962 protest song by folksinger 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]

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.[14]

A semi-fictionalized 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 album Ghosts Of The Great Highway. The album builds several songs around the stories of boxers who died early deaths.[15]

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[]

Professional record summary hide
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 United States Virgin Islands Emile Griffith TKO 12 (15) Mar 24, 1962 United States Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. Lost NBA, NYSAC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles;
Paret died on April 3, 1962 from injuries sustained in the fight[16]
49 Loss 35–11–3 United States Gene Fullmer KO 10 (15) Dec 9, 1961 United States Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. For NBA middleweight title
48 Win 35–10–3 United States Virgin Islands Emile Griffith SD 15 Sep 30, 1961 United States Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. Won NBA, NYSAC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles
47 Loss 34–10–3 United States Virgin Islands Emile Griffith KO 13 (15) Apr 1, 1961 United States Convention Center, Miami Beach, Miami, Florida, U.S. Lost NBA, NYSAC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles
46 Loss 34–9–3 Mexico Gaspar Ortega UD 10 Feb 25, 1961 United States Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
45 Win 34–8–3 Panama Luis Federico Thompson UD 15 Dec 10, 1960 United States Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S. Retained NBA, NYSAC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles
44 Loss 33–8–3 United States Denny Moyer SD 10 Aug 16, 1960 United States Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
43 Win 33–7–3 United States Garnet Hart KO 6 (10) Jul 12, 1960 United States Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
42 Win 32–7–3 United States Don Jordan UD 15 May 27, 1960 United States Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Won NBA, NYSAC, The Ring, and lineal welterweight titles
41 Draw 31–7–3 Panama Luis Federico Thompson PTS 12 Mar 25, 1960 United States Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
40 Win 31–7–2 United States Charley Scott SD 10 Jan 29, 1960 United States Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
39 Win 30–7–2 United States Charley Scott UD 10 Dec 18, 1959 United States Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
38 Win 29–7–2 United States Bob Provizzi UD 10 Nov 16, 1959 United States Academy of Music, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
37 Draw 28–7–2 Puerto Rico José Torres PTS 10 Sep 26, 1959 Puerto Rico Sixto Escobar Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
36 Loss 28–7–1 Mexico Gaspar Ortega SD 10 Aug 7, 1959 United States Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
35 Win 28–6–1 United States Rudy Sawyer UD 10 Jun 1, 1959 United States St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
34 Loss 27–6–1 United States Eddie Thompson SD 10 Apr 20, 1959 United States St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
33 Loss 27–5–1 United States Cecil Shorts MD 10 Mar 2, 1959 United States St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
32 Win 27–4–1 Argentina Victor Zalazar UD 10 Jan 19, 1959 United States St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
31 Win 26–4–1 Argentina Victor Zalazar SD 10 Dec 15, 1958 United States St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
30 Win 25–4–1 United States Barry Allison UD 10 Nov 24, 1958 United States St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
29 Win 24–4–1 Puerto Rico Andy Figaro KO 1 (10) Nov 10, 1958 United States St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
28 Loss 23–4–1 Cuba Luis Manuel Rodríguez SD 10 Aug 9, 1958 Cuba Coliseo de la Ciudad, Havana, Cuba
27 Win 23–3–1 Mexico Augustin Rosales TKO 8 (10) Jun 21, 1958 Cuba Coliseo de la Ciudad, Havana, Cuba
26 Win 22–3–1 United States Eddie Armstrong UD 10 Jun 9, 1958 United States St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
25 Draw 21–3–1 United States Bobby Shell PTS 6 May 19, 1958 United States St. Nicholas Arena, Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
24 Win 21–3 Cuba Tony Armenteros PTS 10 Mar 8, 1958 Cuba Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
23 Loss 20–3 Cuba Luis Manuel Rodríguez UD 10 Feb 8, 1958 Cuba Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
22 Win 20–2 Cuba Rolando Rodriguez PTS 8 Jan 25, 1958 Cuba Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
21 Win 19–2 Cuba Regino Bravo KO 3 (8) Jan 4, 1958 United States Arena Trejo, Havana, Cuba
20 Win 18–2 Cuba Rolando Rodriguez KO 5 (8) May 25, 1957 Cuba Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
19 Win 17–2 Cuba Carlos Chibas PTS 8 May 4, 1957 Cuba Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
18 Loss 16–2 Cuba Guillermo Diaz PTS 8 Apr 6, 1957 Cuba Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
17 Win 16–1 Cuba Rolando Rodriguez PTS 8 Mar 23, 1957 Cuba Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
16 Win 15–1 Cuba Oscar Campos UD 8 Mar 9, 1957 Cuba Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
15 Win 14–1 Cuba Oscar Campos PTS 10 Feb 1, 1957 Cuba Santa Clara, Cuba
14 Loss 13–1 Cuba Rolando Rodriguez KO 2 (8) Oct 22, 1956 Cuba Santa Clara, Cuba
13 Win 13–0 Cuba Carlos Chibas KO 2 (8) Oct 13, 1956 Cuba Santa Clara, Cuba
12 Win 12–0 Cuba Leocadio Villafanas KO 3 (8) Aug 9, 1956 Cuba Santa Clara, Cuba
11 Win 11–0 Cuba Carlos Chibas PTS 8 Jul 21, 1956 Cuba Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
10 Win 10–0 Cuba Tony Caspita PTS 8 Jun 6, 1956 Cuba Santa Clara, Cuba
9 Win 9–0 Cuba Reinaldo Cabellero KO 3 (6) Mar 16, 1956 Cuba Santa Clara, Cuba
8 Win 8–0 Cuba Jose Delgado KO 4 (6) Jan 27, 1956 Cuba Santa Clara, Cuba
7 Win 7–0 Cuba Joaquin Castillo PTS 6 Dec 23, 1955 Cuba Santa Clara, Cuba
6 Win 6–0 Cuba Jose Delgado PTS 6 Dec 2, 1955 Cuba Santa Clara, Cuba
5 Win 5–0 Cuba Sandalio Santana PTS 6 Oct 26, 1955 Cuba Santa Clara, Cuba
4 Win 4–0 Cuba Miguel Cutino TKO 4 Oct 22, 1955 Cuba Palacio de Deportes, Havana, Cuba
3 Win 3–0 Cuba Joel Morales PTS 4 Sep 8, 1955 Cuba Santa Clara, Cuba
2 Win 2–0 Cuba Esmerido Moya KO 1 (4) Aug 11, 1955 Cuba Santa Clara, Cuba
1 Win 1–0 Cuba Oscar Campos PTS 6 Apr 16, 1954 Cuba Santa Clara, Cuba

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "The Lineal Welterweight Champs". Cyber Boxing Zone. Archived from the original on 2009-06-15. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  2. ^ "Benny "Kid" Paret: Lest We Forget". Archived from the original on 2007-02-28. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Segundo, Al. "A Sour Memory of the "Sweet Science"". Archived from the original on August 14, 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  4. ^ "The Great Rivalries". Archived from the original on 2006-06-28. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c The Great Rivalries CBS Sports
  6. ^ "Emile Griffith Benny Paret KO Dies". YouTube. Retrieved 2017-04-21.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Smith, Gary (April 18, 2005). "The Shadow Boxer". CNN. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c Mulvaney, Kieran (May 4, 2006). "Don't believe the hype? How 'bout the slights?". Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  9. ^ Shapiro, Michael (1983-03-23). "PARET TRAGEDY: A SHARED BURDEN". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-01-10.
  10. ^ Goldstein, Richard (2013-07-23). "Emile Griffith, Boxer Who Unleashed a Fatal Barrage, Dies at 75". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-01-09.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story". Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  12. ^ Gil, Turner (April 1962). "Benny "Kid" Paret" (PDF). Broadside. p. 5. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  13. ^ "Broadside Ballads, Vol. 1". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
  14. ^ ""Muerte en el Ring"". Retrieved March 4, 2018.
  15. ^ "Mark Kozelek". Archived from the original on 2007-07-02. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
  16. ^ "Benny (Kid) Paret - BoxRec".

External links[]

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Don Jordan 		World Welterweight Champion
27 May 1960 – 1 Apr 1961 		Succeeded by
Emile Griffith
Preceded by
Emile Griffith 		World Welterweight Champion
30 Sep 1961 – 24 Mar 1962 		Succeeded by
Emile Griffith
Status
Preceded by
Marcel Cerdan 		Latest born world champion to die
April 3, 1962 – February 15, 1970 		Succeeded by
Carlos Cruz
Retrieved from ""