Mike Gracia

Sandy Koozell

Emile Alphonse Griffith (February 3, 1938 – July 23, 2013)

(AP) – Emile Griffith, the elegant world champion whose career was
overshadowed by the fatal beating he gave Bennie Paret in a 1962
title bout that darkened all of boxing, died Tuesday.

He died at an extended care facility in Hempstead, N.Y, according
to the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Griffith struggled with pugilistic dementia and required full-time care
late in life. He was the very first boxer from the U.S. Virgin Islands to
become world champion and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in
1990.

 
Ed Donahue

Vanessa Lynn Williams turned 50 in March