WEBVTT 1 00:00:07.599 --> 00:00:12.160 Boxing has always been a brutal sport, one where injuries 2 00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:17.199 are unfortunately inevitable and careers can be cut short in 3 00:00:17.239 --> 00:00:20.960 an instant. In more recent years, steps have been taken 4 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:24.320 to protect fighters from life altering damage, but when your 5 00:00:24.440 --> 00:00:29.239 job involves taking repeated blows to the head, safety can 6 00:00:29.280 --> 00:00:33.880 only go so far. Now, imagine the sport in the 7 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:38.799 nineteen sixties, an era with fewer regulations, tougher fighters, and 8 00:00:38.920 --> 00:00:44.920 bitter rivalries. Add in personal insults, heated emotions, and two 9 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:50.759 men with everything to prove it wasn't just another fight, 10 00:00:51.759 --> 00:00:57.000 it was personal, and in this case, it also turned deadly. 11 00:00:58.719 --> 00:01:02.159 This is the story one of the most infamous and 12 00:01:02.200 --> 00:01:09.359 tragic boxing matches in history. Benny Perett versus Emil Griffith 13 00:01:09.519 --> 00:01:09.959 the Third. 14 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:15.560 My name's Ben, I'm Nicole and you're listening to Wicked 15 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:17.640 and Grim, a true crime podcast. 16 00:01:20.120 --> 00:01:28.319 The following podcast material intend for a matual audience listener discretion. 17 00:01:46.760 --> 00:01:49.879 It's a bit of a different show today. Following up 18 00:01:49.920 --> 00:01:53.319 on last week's episode that was quite a brutal case, 19 00:01:54.040 --> 00:01:57.000 we are talking about another tragic story, but one where 20 00:01:57.040 --> 00:01:59.879 you can argue there may not have even been a 21 00:02:00.120 --> 00:02:01.560 crime committed at all. 22 00:02:02.079 --> 00:02:03.959 Okay, I'm intrigued. 23 00:02:04.079 --> 00:02:04.480 Are you? 24 00:02:04.480 --> 00:02:05.400 You got me intrigued? 25 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:10.120 Color you intrigued? Yeah? What color would intrigued? Because you 26 00:02:10.120 --> 00:02:13.599 know they say green with envy? You know orange yellow 27 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:19.400 is cowardly, so orange is envy? No or sorry intrigued? 28 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:22.039 I was like, where the fuck did envy come from? 29 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:27.479 I've lost my train anyways, So yeah, orange would be 30 00:02:27.639 --> 00:02:30.639 orange with intrigued with orange? 31 00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:33.879 Okay, that doesn't work. I don't know, I don't know. 32 00:02:34.199 --> 00:02:37.439 I think that's an outdated system anyways. But regardless, it's 33 00:02:37.439 --> 00:02:40.599 an interesting case. That was my point. But I also 34 00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:43.159 wanted to say one more thing before we really get 35 00:02:43.159 --> 00:02:45.879 into this case. It's a big old thank you to 36 00:02:45.919 --> 00:02:48.759 the people who subscribe and support us over on Patreon. 37 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:53.000 And this week we had Amber Robinson, Jen Franzen, Tracy 38 00:02:53.080 --> 00:02:57.520 d Mallory, Kovalevski and Hassan all sign up and they're 39 00:02:57.520 --> 00:03:02.360 getting that good good access to Patreon. Steph that good, good, 40 00:03:02.639 --> 00:03:06.560 good good, you know, get all that good good. Oh man, Okay, 41 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:08.520 what would you would you not describe it as good good? 42 00:03:09.039 --> 00:03:10.840 What would you describe it as well? 43 00:03:10.919 --> 00:03:12.639 Pretty good? We just did a pre show and we 44 00:03:12.680 --> 00:03:15.199 talked about some shit we did. We talked about good 45 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:18.000 I feel spaghetti meat Pauls. We talked about that we did, 46 00:03:18.080 --> 00:03:20.120 and how I'm off work right now, which not doing 47 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:23.919 very interestingly. But yeah, they get a little bit more 48 00:03:25.960 --> 00:03:28.560 like deep dive into they know us more. I guess 49 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:30.639 you could say, touche. Yeah. 50 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:32.479 Plus they get that exclusive episode at the end of 51 00:03:32.479 --> 00:03:34.560 the month, which we got to figure out because that's 52 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:35.199 coming up too. 53 00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:39.560 That is what date is it today? The seventeenth of 54 00:03:39.560 --> 00:03:41.919 March seventeenth. Oh for a minute there, I was like, 55 00:03:42.000 --> 00:03:43.919 is that the right month? Holy shit, I need to 56 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:46.319 go back to work. My brain is not functioning. 57 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:49.639 Yeah, we're almost three months into twenty twenty five. Let 58 00:03:49.719 --> 00:03:50.719 that reality sink in. 59 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:51.599 Yeah. 60 00:03:51.680 --> 00:03:53.919 I had an existential crisis with that thought the other day. 61 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:55.719 So did you really a little bit? 62 00:03:55.759 --> 00:03:58.560 I was like, holy fuck, Well, I feel like the 63 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:00.840 beginning of the month sucks. Sorry, the beginning of the 64 00:04:00.919 --> 00:04:04.199 year sucks compared to the middle and end generally. 65 00:04:04.439 --> 00:04:07.199 I mean, summer is on its way, so we'll we'll 66 00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:09.960 enjoy twenty twenty five when the sun shining and it's 67 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:12.599 nice and bol But for now, let's talk about this story, 68 00:04:12.599 --> 00:04:16.600 shall we. Let's do her so boxing in the nineteen 69 00:04:16.680 --> 00:04:19.240 fifties and the early nineteen sixties was one of the 70 00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:22.600 most exciting and popular sports in the world. It was 71 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:25.759 known as the Golden Age of boxing, when fighters were 72 00:04:25.800 --> 00:04:29.240 seen as larger than life figures, Championship bouts were major 73 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:33.079 national events, and boxing was deeply ingrained in American culture. 74 00:04:33.959 --> 00:04:36.959 The sport was at its peak, both in terms of 75 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:40.480 public interest and the level of competition. The fighters were 76 00:04:40.519 --> 00:04:43.920 just outstanding. In the nineteen fifties. In particular, it was 77 00:04:43.959 --> 00:04:48.319 dominated by legendary fighters who were still are still celebrated today. 78 00:04:48.519 --> 00:04:52.600 The heavyweight division had Rocky Marciano, the undefeated champion who 79 00:04:52.639 --> 00:04:56.600 retired in nineteen fifty six with a perfect record of 80 00:04:56.720 --> 00:05:00.920 forty nine wins and zero losses. Not to mention this 81 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:04.439 individual by the name of Rocky Marciano, he inspired the 82 00:05:04.480 --> 00:05:09.360 fictional character of Rocky Balboa, including his name and his 83 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:12.879 fighting style. And just before we hit record in this episode, 84 00:05:13.160 --> 00:05:15.600 I said, this is a boxing episode, and Nicole's like, 85 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:20.279 you mean like Rocky bal like Adrian, yeah, and you 86 00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:23.839 were referencing Rocky and I'm like, what do you mean Rocky, 87 00:05:23.879 --> 00:05:26.600 And You're like, h Balboa, like the only Rocky, And 88 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:28.759 I'm like what about Rocky Marciano and you're like, no, 89 00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:34.240 Rocky Balboa. Rocky Marciano is the original Rocky. He inspired 90 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:37.120 Rocky Balboa. So it was kind of funny that that happened, 91 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:41.600 But I digress. In the lighterweight classes, fighters like Sugar 92 00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:44.800 Ray Robinson, considered by many to be the greatest boxer 93 00:05:44.879 --> 00:05:49.240 of all time, and Jake Lamota were huge draws. I 94 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:51.439 don't know if I said Jake's last name right. I'm 95 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:55.600 not a huge boxing individual so but regardless, During this era, 96 00:05:55.720 --> 00:05:59.360 boxer boxing was structured around the New York State Athletics 97 00:05:59.399 --> 00:06:04.839 Commission known as the NYSAC and the National Boxing Association 98 00:06:05.360 --> 00:06:07.680 n BA. Not what we know today is the end 99 00:06:08.040 --> 00:06:12.879 okay now. There were few weight divisions and only one 100 00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:17.519 world championship per division, making the title fights extremely prestigious. 101 00:06:18.120 --> 00:06:20.639 The sport was raw, it was brutal, and while they 102 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:23.920 were rules in place, fights were often allowed to continue 103 00:06:24.399 --> 00:06:28.720 longer than they really honestly should have. This was also 104 00:06:28.800 --> 00:06:31.639 a time when boxing was deeply connected to organized crime. 105 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:35.079 The mob had strong influence over many fighters. Managers, and 106 00:06:35.160 --> 00:06:39.720 even referees fixed fights. Shady dealings and pressure from promoters 107 00:06:39.759 --> 00:06:43.600 were actually fairly common, and fighters often had little control 108 00:06:43.600 --> 00:06:44.439 over their careers. 109 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:48.040 Holy shit, just listening to that, I'm like, wow, things 110 00:06:48.040 --> 00:06:51.920 have changed. But then I'm also have they yeah, you know, 111 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:54.800 you think they have. But then I think maybe people 112 00:06:54.839 --> 00:06:56.160 are just better at hiding it now. 113 00:06:56.439 --> 00:07:00.560 Probably now. By the nineteen fifties, television brought boxing into 114 00:07:00.600 --> 00:07:05.319 homes across America. Gillette's Friday Night Fights became a household event, 115 00:07:05.399 --> 00:07:08.439 showcasing some of the best boxers of all time. The 116 00:07:08.480 --> 00:07:11.560 exposure made boxing more lucrative, with more fighters getting the 117 00:07:11.639 --> 00:07:16.079 chance to compete for titles and earn national recognition. However, 118 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:20.360 the increased number of televised fights also oversaturated the sport 119 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:25.000 and led to more brutal matchups. Boxers were sometimes pushed 120 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:28.519 to fight too, often taking more punishment than they should have, 121 00:07:28.839 --> 00:07:31.199 not even fully recovering before entering the ring. 122 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:32.879 Once again, yikes. 123 00:07:33.000 --> 00:07:34.959 Now, back then, you know, it was like you good 124 00:07:34.959 --> 00:07:37.360 to go, sport, I got this, just let me add 125 00:07:37.399 --> 00:07:40.879 them right. Nowadays it's like doctor analyzes you. You get 126 00:07:40.920 --> 00:07:42.800 a cat scan, you get an MRI, and. 127 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:43.639 It's like you cleared. 128 00:07:43.879 --> 00:07:46.199 Yeah, you're concussed and you've got to be cleared. And 129 00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:48.439 it's like you're out for the next like two years 130 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:51.519 like that sort of thing. They didn't really know back 131 00:07:51.560 --> 00:07:53.839 then the extent of these injuries like we do today. 132 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:55.439 Oh yikes, that's not good. 133 00:07:55.879 --> 00:07:58.920 Yeah, and not to mention whether then you were not fighter. 134 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:03.079 Safety wasn't much of a priority, so it was common 135 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:05.680 for boxers to suffer long term health effects in their 136 00:08:05.720 --> 00:08:07.120 careers as a result. 137 00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:09.920 Well, the crowd probably went wild, like the more brutal 138 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:13.199 you know, the matches got and stuff, right, So. 139 00:08:13.480 --> 00:08:16.680 Yeah, it gets exciting, right yeah. Now, one of these 140 00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:19.720 boxers in his golden era was a man by the 141 00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:23.480 name of Benny Peret. His nickname was Kid so Benny 142 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:27.480 Kid Peret now Benny was born on March fourteenth, nineteen 143 00:08:27.600 --> 00:08:30.639 thirty seven in Santa Clara, Cuba. He grew up in 144 00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:33.840 a tough environment where money was scarce an opportunity was 145 00:08:33.960 --> 00:08:36.960 rather limited. Like many young men in his situation, he 146 00:08:36.960 --> 00:08:40.240 saw boxing as a way out. His journey into boxing 147 00:08:40.360 --> 00:08:45.639 was was shaped by more necessity rather than choice, let's say. Now, 148 00:08:45.639 --> 00:08:48.120 growing up in Santa Clara, he lived in poverty like 149 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:50.960 many young men of his time, and life was tough. 150 00:08:51.320 --> 00:08:53.159 He had to work from an early age to help 151 00:08:53.159 --> 00:08:55.720 support his family. He didn't have the luxury school or 152 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:58.639 former training any sort of profession, so we needed a 153 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:01.120 way to make a living, and that's you know. Of course, 154 00:09:01.159 --> 00:09:04.960 when boxing came in, boxing was common. It was a 155 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:08.080 common escape for Cubans who wanted to rise above their circumstances, 156 00:09:08.120 --> 00:09:10.919 and Benny was no exception. He first got into fight 157 00:09:11.000 --> 00:09:13.679 simply as a way to prove himself in rough neighborhoods, 158 00:09:14.039 --> 00:09:16.720 you know, and defending himself around where he grew up. 159 00:09:17.120 --> 00:09:19.399 But over time he realized he had a natural ability 160 00:09:19.440 --> 00:09:23.279 to take his hits and keep going. He was tougher 161 00:09:23.320 --> 00:09:28.399 than most, with an iron chin and relentless endurance. He 162 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:32.159 started training at local gyms, learning the fundamental fundamentals, but 163 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:35.440 he was never the most technical of fighters. What set 164 00:09:35.480 --> 00:09:39.440 him apart was his heart and his determination. Before long, 165 00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:44.600 he entered amateur competitions, fighting amongst other young Cuban boxers 166 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:47.799 trying to make a name for themselves. His scrappy, aggressive 167 00:09:47.799 --> 00:09:51.960 style caught the attention of trainers and promoters alike. He 168 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:55.039 had a natural toughness, toughness as I mentioned, and it 169 00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:58.399 made him really stand out amongst everyone He fought, and 170 00:09:58.440 --> 00:10:03.279 eventually he made the decision to turn professional now to 171 00:10:03.320 --> 00:10:05.559 truly make it into boxing, he knew he had to 172 00:10:05.639 --> 00:10:09.519 leave Cuba, so he relocated to New York City, where 173 00:10:09.559 --> 00:10:13.320 boxing was thriving, and quickly became or certain quickly began 174 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:15.080 building his new career. 175 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:18.519 Go Benny go eh. 176 00:10:18.559 --> 00:10:21.639 His work ethic and willingness to fight anyone that they 177 00:10:21.639 --> 00:10:24.519 put in front of him put him on a fast 178 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:27.440 track to the top, and within a few years he 179 00:10:27.639 --> 00:10:29.840 was world champion. 180 00:10:30.240 --> 00:10:31.200 Oh wow. 181 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:34.559 Yeah. It was on May twenty seventh, nineteen sixty that 182 00:10:34.600 --> 00:10:38.120 he achieved that dream, defeating Don Jordan to become the 183 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:42.879 world welterweight champion. But in boxing's success is never guaranteed 184 00:10:42.919 --> 00:10:45.559 for long, and in April of nineteen sixty one, he 185 00:10:45.559 --> 00:10:48.399 would defend his title for the first time and fight 186 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:52.799 a man named Emil Griffith, a talented and powerful fighter 187 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:57.039 for the first time now. Emil Griffith was born on 188 00:10:57.080 --> 00:11:02.039 February third, nineteen thirty eight, in Saint Thomas, Us, Virgin Islands, 189 00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:06.159 one of eight children. His early life was marked by hardship, and, 190 00:11:06.279 --> 00:11:08.559 like many large families in the Caribbean at the time, 191 00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:12.879 there wasn't much money to go around. His mother, Emilda 192 00:11:13.000 --> 00:11:16.600 eventually left the Virgin Islands to find work within the 193 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:19.120 country on the mainland of the United States, settling in 194 00:11:19.159 --> 00:11:23.120 the Big Apple itself, New York City. She planned to 195 00:11:23.159 --> 00:11:28.240 send for her children when she could, and eventually she did. 196 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:30.720 She sent for a Meal when he was just twelve 197 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:34.120 years old, to join her over in New York to 198 00:11:34.120 --> 00:11:37.080 start his new life. Now, when he arrived, he had 199 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:39.519 no real direction. At first, he had no plans of 200 00:11:39.559 --> 00:11:42.320 becoming a boxer. In fact, he was more interested in 201 00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:45.480 fashion and design. He found work in a hat factory, 202 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:49.919 shaping and steaming women's hats. However, fate would step in 203 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:54.519 one day when his boss, Howie Albert, noticed Emial's athletic 204 00:11:54.799 --> 00:11:58.960 build amongst the workers. Albert, you see, was a boxing 205 00:11:58.960 --> 00:12:01.320 trainer on the side and thought the young man might 206 00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:04.399 have potential as a fighter given his frame. So one 207 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:06.759 day he took a meal to a local gym, handed 208 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:08.600 him a pair of gloves, and told him to try 209 00:12:08.639 --> 00:12:12.440 out boxing. A meal, always up for a challenge, went 210 00:12:12.440 --> 00:12:14.279 along with it, even though he wasn't sure if it 211 00:12:14.320 --> 00:12:16.679 was for him. He wasn't much of a fighter, but 212 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:18.080 as soon as he got in the ring, it was 213 00:12:18.159 --> 00:12:22.360 clear he had something special. He was naturally fast, strong, 214 00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:26.240 and coordinated, with a powerful punch and a smooth, graceful 215 00:12:26.240 --> 00:12:30.919 movement that made him the fighter he would become. With 216 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:34.000 no previous experience, he impressed trainers and quickly fell in 217 00:12:34.039 --> 00:12:37.159 love with the sport. Once he started training seriously, a 218 00:12:37.240 --> 00:12:40.200 Meal's raw talent turned into skill. He fought as an 219 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:43.759 amateur boxer, learning the fundamentals and honing his technique. He 220 00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:49.120 even won the nineteen fifty eight New York's Golden Gloves Championship. Now, 221 00:12:49.159 --> 00:12:51.919 later that year he turned professional under the management of 222 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:56.399 Howie and would become both his trainer and his mentor. 223 00:12:57.480 --> 00:12:59.679 In just three years, he went from a hat factory 224 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:04.399 worker to a top contender in the world welterweight division. 225 00:13:04.759 --> 00:13:08.080 Holy in three years that seems like fast. 226 00:13:08.279 --> 00:13:11.639 Yeah, it was a quick rise through the ranks, and 227 00:13:11.759 --> 00:13:16.440 yeah it would lead to a title shot. So this 228 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:21.240 is by early nineteen sixty one, Benny Perett was at 229 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:23.240 the top of the welterweight division. At this time, he 230 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:27.120 had just won that title. Okay, he's now the welterweight champion. 231 00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:31.000 And he was tough, aggressive, and he never backed down 232 00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:34.799 from a challenge. And his next opponent was Emil Griffith 233 00:13:35.639 --> 00:13:39.080 as we talked about being a rising star, so he 234 00:13:39.159 --> 00:13:42.360 had a completely different style, faster and more technical impact, 235 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:47.320 real knockout power. But both of them were real, real 236 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:52.159 threats to each other. The fight began, but sorry. The 237 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:54.679 fight between the two men was scheduled for April first, 238 00:13:54.759 --> 00:13:58.320 nineteen sixty one, at Miami Beach Conventional Hall. As a 239 00:13:58.320 --> 00:14:02.399 defending champion, Benny was confident, but many experts believed Meal 240 00:14:02.519 --> 00:14:04.919 had the tools to take him down. It seemed like 241 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:07.480 a big match, and both men had their own skills 242 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:13.120 and reasons why fans thought that they would be the victor. Now, 243 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:15.639 the day finally came and the tension in the air 244 00:14:15.879 --> 00:14:18.039 was high as fans yelled from the stands and people 245 00:14:18.039 --> 00:14:20.919 turned on TVs and radios across the nation tuning in. 246 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:24.559 Both men entered the ring and the match began with 247 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:28.600 the ring of a bell. From the opening moments, it 248 00:14:28.639 --> 00:14:31.679 was clear that Emil had the edge on speed and skill. 249 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:35.039 He moved around the ring smoothly, landing clean punches while 250 00:14:35.080 --> 00:14:38.159 staying out of Benny's reach. Now, Benny, true to his style, 251 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:42.080 kept coming forward, trying to turn the fight into a slugfest, 252 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:45.399 but Emil refused to let it happen. He stuck to 253 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:49.039 his game plan, using sharp combinations and footwork to stay 254 00:14:49.039 --> 00:14:52.679 in control. As the rounds went on, Emil's punches started 255 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:55.639 taking the toll on Benny, and by the thirteenth round, 256 00:14:56.120 --> 00:15:00.000 Benny was visibly slowing down and Emil saw his moment. 257 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:04.399 The thirteenth round, Hey, that is just crazy. How many 258 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:05.559 rounds are in boxing? 259 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:06.879 Yes, it's wild. 260 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:09.279 Oh the damage that you can do in that time. 261 00:15:10.039 --> 00:15:13.919 Now, he landed a massive right upper cup, snapping Benny's 262 00:15:13.960 --> 00:15:17.120 head back and sending him crashing to the canvas. The 263 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:22.279 referee started the count. It was over. Benny couldn't get up. 264 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:25.840 Emil Griffith had just won the fight by knockout and 265 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:31.799 claimed his first world title. He was the welterweight champion now. 266 00:15:31.799 --> 00:15:35.000 Despite the loss, Benny wasn't one to back down. A 267 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:38.759 rematch was immediately offered. On the night of the first match, 268 00:15:39.080 --> 00:15:43.159 or at least discussed. Emil's corner commended Benny as a 269 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:45.240 fighter and his skill and said that they would welcome 270 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:49.159 another bout between the two of them. Just six months later, 271 00:15:49.600 --> 00:15:53.759 on September thirtieth, nineteen sixty one, he officially challenged Emil 272 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:58.480 again in a rematch at Madison Square Garden. This time, though, 273 00:15:58.519 --> 00:16:02.000 he fought a different fight, staying more composed and outworking 274 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:05.240 a Meal out in the later rounds and after fifteen 275 00:16:05.559 --> 00:16:09.240 grueling rounds. This time, Benny would be the victor as 276 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:13.360 he won the fight by split decision, reclaiming his title 277 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:17.279 in a controversial decision that many believe a meal should 278 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:19.000 have resulted in victory. 279 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:23.399 Okay, So, but split decision means that some judges felt 280 00:16:23.440 --> 00:16:24.440 the other way, right. 281 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:28.799 Yeah, I'm pretty sure. Again, I'm not a huge boxing individual, 282 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:32.320 but I know, like mixed martial arts, there's usually three judges, 283 00:16:32.639 --> 00:16:35.879 so each judge scores about and then you know there's 284 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:39.320 it's like best of three. Basically, two judges voted. 285 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:41.879 For Benny and one exactly. 286 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:44.519 That's split decision unanimous is all judges vote for the 287 00:16:44.559 --> 00:16:48.480 same person? Okay, Okay, Now, this is exactly what everyone 288 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:53.000 in the boxing industry dreamed of, hyped up fighters on 289 00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:57.240 both like, you know, each side of the spectrum, different 290 00:16:57.240 --> 00:17:01.000 fighters they're both winning about and going into obviously what 291 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:02.559 would be a third fight, right. 292 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:05.079 Yeah, well yeah, you have to talk like it's a 293 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:05.759 tie right now. 294 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:08.680 Really exactly and some people are saying, this guy should 295 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:10.240 have won, and other people are like, well, this guy 296 00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:13.519 did win. You know, it's a line in the sand. 297 00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:16.559 It's a promoter's dream. 298 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:18.960 A lot of money is being made. 299 00:17:18.799 --> 00:17:22.119 One hundred percent. So it's no surprise that since there was, 300 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:25.960 you know, of course, this whole tension building up, that 301 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:30.279 there would be a third match where everything would come 302 00:17:30.400 --> 00:17:31.119 to a head. 303 00:17:31.279 --> 00:17:32.359 Oh boy. 304 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:35.640 They would meet again in March nineteen sixty two for 305 00:17:36.079 --> 00:17:40.160 the match, a fight that would go down in history. However, 306 00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:43.680 this time it would go down in history for all 307 00:17:44.240 --> 00:17:49.599 the wrong reasons. Now, we can't talk about the fight, 308 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:52.559 that third fight between the two of them, without first 309 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:56.000 identifying a few more events leading up to it. See, 310 00:17:56.039 --> 00:17:59.759 Benny entered the fight already worn down from an unusually 311 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:03.680 ruling schedule. Just three months earlier, in December of nineteen 312 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:08.559 sixty one, he had challenged Gene Fomer for the middleweight championship, 313 00:18:08.839 --> 00:18:12.599 which means he moved up a weight class, so he 314 00:18:12.680 --> 00:18:16.319 had to put on weight to fight this guy who 315 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:19.200 was naturally bigger than him. 316 00:18:19.480 --> 00:18:21.799 Okay, I'm surprised that he would do that. 317 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:25.319 This is something that fighters do. They changed weight classes 318 00:18:25.359 --> 00:18:27.000 and try for that other championship. 319 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:29.799 Like I get that, but when you're kind of focusing 320 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:33.279 on this other match, and I'm surprised they would have 321 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:35.720 a fight in between. Yeah, is what I'm saying. 322 00:18:36.119 --> 00:18:38.839 Well, back in this day, you know what, that's what 323 00:18:38.880 --> 00:18:44.359 they did. Yeah, true, Now, Fuller sorry, Fulmer brutalized him. 324 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:48.079 This is where he sits naturally. This is his weight class, 325 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:51.519 his weight division, and he's the champion. So I mean 326 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:53.680 he's bumping up to try and fight him and challenge him, 327 00:18:53.680 --> 00:18:56.920 and he got destroyed. He was stopped in the tenth 328 00:18:57.000 --> 00:19:00.759 round in a one sided beating. Yead of taking time 329 00:19:00.759 --> 00:19:03.799 off to recover from that, though, Benny immediately signed on 330 00:19:03.880 --> 00:19:07.519 to defend the welterweight title against a Meal. This meant 331 00:19:07.559 --> 00:19:09.799 he was still recovering from the damage that he'd taken 332 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:13.039 against Fulmer in that middleweight fight, making him far more 333 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:15.480 vulnerable than he'd been in previous fights. 334 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:17.839 Shit, he needed more time in between. 335 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:22.839 Yeah. Now. The tension between Benny and Emal also exploded 336 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:27.119 on the night before their fight. So this is the 337 00:19:27.160 --> 00:19:29.920 weigh ins. They weigh in and sure they make their 338 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:32.400 weight class. And this is what you know, Like the press, 339 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:34.359 you don't take the photos they stamp face to face 340 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:36.920 sort of thing, and when they stood face to face 341 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:39.839 for that stare down, things reached a boiling point in 342 00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:46.440 tension that you could cut, probably with a spoon. Like seriously, 343 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:51.359 Benny mocked Emial's masculinity, and in front of everyone called 344 00:19:51.400 --> 00:19:56.319 him quote marri con, probably butchering that it's a Spanish word, 345 00:19:56.480 --> 00:19:59.759 which is a homophobic Spanish slur. And though I do 346 00:19:59.880 --> 00:20:02.519 know condone the use of this word, I do feel 347 00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:05.799 it as imperative to this story to say it in 348 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:08.599 its exact translation, to get the full understanding of what 349 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:11.319 sort of slurry's being called and the state of mind 350 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:14.480 when he was being called this. So for that reason 351 00:20:14.519 --> 00:20:17.680 I will be saying it marri Con means faggot. 352 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:22.279 Oh okay, So Benny, Benny was the one that called 353 00:20:22.680 --> 00:20:23.759 a meal this a meal? 354 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:27.839 This, yes, okay, and in front of press, in front 355 00:20:27.839 --> 00:20:31.079 of everybody, now. 356 00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:33.720 Like unnecessary, there's no reason for it. Really. 357 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:36.880 Well, see, Emil had long been rumored to be bisexual 358 00:20:37.519 --> 00:20:41.279 and like a hyper masculine world of boxing. Not only that, 359 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:43.680 but we are in the early nineteen sixties as well, 360 00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:49.359 when it's extremely frowned upon. This was seriously insulting. It 361 00:20:49.480 --> 00:20:53.559 was a pure demeaning act to say in front of everyone, 362 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:57.039 and it enraged a Meal so so much so that 363 00:20:57.079 --> 00:20:59.240 he actually had to be held back from attacking Benny 364 00:20:59.359 --> 00:21:00.759 on the spot. 365 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:02.680 But honestly just going to fire him up. 366 00:21:02.759 --> 00:21:04.920 Really well, it really did, because he wanted to fight 367 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:07.319 him then and there, and he was looking forward to 368 00:21:07.319 --> 00:21:10.599 stepping in the ring. And Emial had every intention to 369 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:14.119 punish Benny for what he said. And that is a 370 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:16.960 quote directly from a Meal himself. 371 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:20.319 Yeah, well, I mean like he insulted him. It kind 372 00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:22.079 of makes sense. I don't think that would have been 373 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:23.880 in Benny's benefit whatsoever. 374 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:28.000 I agree now. Promoters, of course took advantage and played 375 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:30.839 up the bad blood between the two fighters, and Madison 376 00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:34.839 Square Garden was packed with thousands of fans eager to 377 00:21:34.839 --> 00:21:40.079 see the third match, the ultimate grudge match, take place 378 00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:44.119 between the two The fight was also broadcast live on 379 00:21:44.200 --> 00:21:47.279 national television, making it one of the most highly anticipated 380 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:50.599 bouts of the year. When the bell rang for the 381 00:21:50.599 --> 00:21:55.279 first round between the two fighters, Benny was immediately exhausted. 382 00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:59.519 He had already been overworked, having fought five times in 383 00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:04.200 the past year alone, including the punishing loss to Folmer 384 00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:07.359 dang he was nowhere near the top of his game 385 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:10.440 and in his mind, sorry, his mind and his body 386 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:14.119 were just drained. But he was still determined to prove himself. 387 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.880 He was still going to go out, and he was 388 00:22:15.920 --> 00:22:19.519 still determined to fight to his full extent and keep 389 00:22:19.880 --> 00:22:24.640 that belt under his name. A Meal, on the other hand, 390 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:28.920 was focused and angry. He was still bitter about the 391 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:31.920 split decision lost with their second fight, and now had 392 00:22:31.960 --> 00:22:35.720 a personal vendetta after the way in slurs being slung 393 00:22:35.759 --> 00:22:39.680 his way. A Meal came out sharp, landing quick punches 394 00:22:39.720 --> 00:22:43.599 while moving around the ring. Benny, however, was aggressive from 395 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:45.960 the start, pushing forward and trying to rough a Meal 396 00:22:46.039 --> 00:22:49.000 up in the middle. Unlike their first two fights, where 397 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:51.720 a Meal had dictated the pace early, this time, Benny 398 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:55.480 seemed determined to set that tone and let Emil know 399 00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:58.920 he wasn't going to be backing down. By the third round, 400 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:02.000 Benny managed to land a hard punch that stunned a Meal, 401 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:05.920