HEAVY MATCH: Emile Griffith (right) weighs in with Benny “Kid” Paret before the fight that would lead to Paret’s death and forever haunt Griffith. (AP)
Dan Klores was 12 years old when he watched on television as Emile Griffith literally beat the life out of Benny “Kid” Paret at Madison Square Garden in 1962. It inspired Klores to make the film “Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story,” released in 2005.
“I always liked Emile as a fighter,” Klores told The Post. “But I couldn’t forget that image in that whole left hand corner of the television screen and all that it led to with people all over the news calling for boxing to be banned.”
Griffith, a six-time world champion who dominated the New York boxing landscape in the 1960s, died in his sleep Monday night. He was 75. In his honor, the MSG Network will rebroadcast the Sundance award-winning documentary “Ring of Fire” Friday at 10 p.m.
Directed by Klores and Ron Berger, “Ring of Fire” was shot in 2003-04 when Griffith was in the throes of early dementia and had trouble recalling events. But he had an ever-present smile that suggested he was content with life.
“He was a man of joy and a man of happiness,” Klores said. “He loved to dance. He loved to drink and he liked to party and spend his money. At the same time he had this incredible secret that he was taught to be ashamed of.”
Griffith fought 28 times at Madison Square Garden. But the memory of Paret slumping to the canvas after absorbing a barrage of punches is the lasting memory of Griffith’s career. Paret, who died 10 days later without regaining consciousness, had made a derogatory comment about homosexuals to Griffith before the fatal bout. The slur filled Griffith with something he seldom brought into the ring: rage. In “Ring of Fire,” Griffith addressed being a bisexual since his teens.
During his career, Griffith’s sexual orientation was masked by promoters who had him pictured with models, portrayed him as a womanizer and even arranged a brief marriage with former heavyweight champion Joe Frazier serving as the best man.
“He was haunted by his secret, haunted by society, who told him he was not normal, and wounded by a tragedy,” Klores said. “Yet, he was a guy who gave his family and friends everything he had. Emile Griffith believed in life.”
Griffith’s wake will be held Friday at the Malverne Funeral Home in Malverne, N.Y., with two viewings, from 3-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A church mass will be held the next day, Aug. 3, at 9:45 a.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in West Hempstead.
* Two-time welterweight champion Andre Berto returns to the ring tonight to face veteran Mexican fighter Jesus Soto Karass in San Antonio. Showtime will broadcast the bout as part of a tripleheader. Berto (28-2, 22 KOs) has lost two of his last three fights and needs a victory to re-establish himself as an elite boxer. He lost his WBC welterweight title to Victor Ortiz in April 2011. After earning the IBF welterweight title with a win over Jan Zaveck in September 2011, Berto lost that crown to Robert Guerrero last November.
“I am in great shape, and I have everything to bring to the table,” Berto said. “I have the speed; I have the power; I have the explosiveness; and I’m going out there and do what I know how to do.”
Soto Karass (27-8-3, 17 KOs) is a journeyman known for his toughness.
“My only prediction is it’s going to be a war,” he said. “I’m going to leave my heart in there.”
* Tickets are available for next Saturday’s boxing card at Mohegan Sun, where Curtis Stevens takes on Saul Roman for the NABF middleweight title. Also on the card, Eddie Chambers challenges Thabiso Mchunu, while Tomasz Adamek battles Dominick Guinn. NBC Sports Network’s “Fight Night” will telecast beginning at 10:30 p.m.