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Benny Paret was a boxing|boxer born in Santa
Clara, Cuba|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 televised title bout with
Emile Griffith for the welterweight championship. 

Prior to the weigh-in for their third fight
(Griffith won the first bout; Paret won the
second), Paret taunted Griffith and, according to
a Sports Illustrated article in April 2005, hissed
at him: "Maricon (a Spanish insult meaning
"faggot"), I'm going to get you and your husband."
Griffith, a closeted homosexual, flew into a rage
and tried to go after his opponent before friends
restrained him.

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
after a spent Paret fell into the ropes but became
entangled, unable to fall and helpless against
Griffith's fusillade.  As a result of the tragic
outcome - believed to be the first live death on
American television - boxing would not be seen on
free TV for the ensuing ten years.

Paret had a lifetime record of 35-12-3 (10 KO).

The fatal bout, and its effects on Emile
Griffith's career and life, are the subject of the
documentary "Ring of Fire."

==External links==
*http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=sto
ry_1-5-2004_pg3_6 An article about Paret's last
fight by Norman Mailer

To be merged:
Benny "Kid" Paret (b. Bernardo Paret on March 13,
1937, d. April 3, 1962) was a Cuban welterweight
boxer.  Paret was a two time world welterweight
champion whose final boxing record included 36
wins (11KOs), 12 losses and 3 draws.  He
unsuccessfully challenged Gene Fullmer for the
world middleweight title on December 9, 1961. 
Paret absorbed a brutal beating from the bigger
and stronger Fullmer and was Koed in round 10. 
Many believe he never fully recovered from the
Fullmer fight, and should not have fought another
match so soon after the bout.   

On March 24, 1962 Paret defended his world
welterweight championship against Emile Griffith
in Madison Square Garden.  The bout was televised
on network television as part of a then popular
weekly fight program.  

Griffith had fought Paret twice previously.  On
April 1, 1961 Griffith dethroned Paret by scoring
a thirteen round KO.  Paret upset Griffith when he
bounced back to capture a split  15 round decision
over Griffith to recapture the crown.  The two
were not fond of each other, and Paret taunted
Griffith at the weigh in for their third encounter
and questioned his manhood.

The third Paret-Griffith match was an exciting
fight.  Although Griffith seemed in control, Paret
would often fight back, knocked Griffith down and
came close to knocking Griffith out.  The fight
ended in the thirteenth round when Griffith
trapped Paret in a corner and rained a multitude
of unanswered punches on the defenseless Paret. 
It appeared as if Paret had become hung up in a
corner of the ring, with one of his arms draped
over a ring rope.  Either Paret's indomitable
will, or the rope supporting his body, kept him up
and in front of Griffith's barrage.  The referee,
Ruby Goldstein, finally jumped in to stop the
match.  Paret then slowly slumped to the canvas
and never regained consciousness.  He died on
April 3, 1962 as a result of the injuries he
suffered in the fight.