GRIFFITH, EMILE (ALPHONSE)

born Feb. 3, 1938, U.S. Virgin Islands professional U.S. boxer who won world championships on five occasions, an achievement surpassed only by Sugar Ray Robinson's total of six. Griffith was encouraged to become a boxer by his employer, the owner of the hat factory where Griffith worked. In 1958, after winning the New York City and Intercity Golden Gloves amateur welterweight (147-pound) titles, he began his professional career. He held the welterweight professional championship three times, winning it from Benny (Kid) Paret by a 13-round knockout on April 1, 1961; losing it to Paret by a 15-round decision on Sept. 30, 1961; regaining it by a 12-round knockout of Paret on March 24, 1962 (Paret died after that fight); surrendering it to Luis Rodrguez by a 15-round decision on March 21, 1963; and recapturing it once more by a 15-round decision over Rodrguez on June 8, 1963. On April 25, 1966, Griffith won the world middleweight (160-pound) title by outpointing champion Dick Tiger in 15 rounds. His attempt to retain both championships (contrary to U.S. boxing rules) was disallowed, and he relinquished the welterweight title. On April 17, 1967, he was defeated by Nino Benvenuti on points in a 15-round middleweight title match. On September 29 of that year he won the 160-pound championship for the second time by outscoring Benvenuti in 15 rounds, but he lost it again to Benvenuti by a 15-round decision on March 4, 1968. Griffith retired from the ring in 1977.