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Decades After Tragedy in the Ring, Boxer Meets Son of Opponent He Fatally Knocked Out

Published 02/16/2023, 9:30 AM EST

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The meeting between Emile Griffith and Benny Paret’s son many years after Emile had fatally knocked out Benny in the ring is a touching display of humanity. Recently, an old video of Emile Griffith meeting Benny Paret Jr. surfaced, touching the hearts of a lot of people. In a video clip, Emile apologizes to Benny’s son, to which he responds that there are no hard feelings. The gesture and expression of compassion from Emile to Benny’s son is a powerful reminder of how important it is to make amends for past wrongs and forgive ourselves and others.

The fight between Emile Griffith and Benny Paret was a brutal one. The fight was marked with resentment and anger. Both fighters showed a great deal of hostility towards one another. The fight undoubtedly remains one of the most infamous moments in the history of boxing.

Paret’s son states that there are no hard feelings

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In the video, Emile is seen walking toward Benny Paret Jr and then shake his hand. Paret says, “Mr. Griffits, it’s a pleasure meeting you sir.”  Emile’s voice breaks as he asks, “Are you the Kid (Benny Paret’s)… son?” Both men had tears in their eyes, clearly experiencing the pain caused by the unfortunate event years ago. However, even after that, Paret tells Emile that he was forgiven, he says, “There’s no hard feelings here…”

After this, both of them broke into tears and went into a hug, and Emile thanked Paret. Paret then tells that his father’s death has been hard on his mother. To which Emile replies that he understands what she went through. “Only thing I can say is… There’s no hard feelings.“ Emile thanks him again and goes for a hug once again.

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When the video of reconciliation went viral, it touched the heartstrings of a lot of people. Despite going through such a tragedy, Paret Jr. still managed to forgive Emile.

Read More- ‘He Beat Him to Death’: Joe Rogan Left Stunned While Watching Boxer Die in the Ring After Taking Flurry of Punches

The Infamous Bout between Emile Griffith and Benny Paret

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Benny Paret was a Cuban boxer who fought against Emile Griffith in 1962. Unfortunately, he suffered a tragic death during the match. The fight was intense, and Paret was taking a lot of hits. In the twelfth round, Griffith hit him with a vicious left hook that caused him to lose consciousness. The referee didn’t stop the fight immediately, and Griffith landed some more punches before the fight was finally halted.

Paret was taken to the hospital, where he remained in a coma for ten days before passing away. The tragic incident sparked a national conversation about the brutality of boxing and whether it should be banned. The fight was broadcasted live on national television, and many people saw Paret’s gruesome injuries.

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The incident deeply affected Griffith, who struggled with guilt and depression in the aftermath of the fight. He retired from boxing for a while and later dedicated his life to advocating for the safety of boxers. The death of Benny Paret was a tragic reminder of the dangers of professional boxing, and it prompted many changes to the sport to improve the safety of the athletes.

Watch This Story- 5 Young Boxers Who Died After Suffering Damage in the Ring

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Written by:

Chirag Radhyan

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Chirag Radhyan is a Boxing Writer at EssentiallySports. He has a Bachelor’s degree in English Honors and is a keen follower of Western Boxing. His journey of love for the sport bloomed in his puberty when he first saw a video of the fight where Mike Tyson TKO'ed Donovan in the seventh round.
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