BWAA Acknowledges Death of Emile Griffith

It is with great sadness and regret that the BWAA acknowledges the passing of former three-division champion and all-time great, Emile Griffith at age 75. Griffith died Tuesday in New York after suffering from recent health issues. The former champion, a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, retired with a record of85-24-2 with 23 knockouts. He fought 10 world champions and boxed 339 title-fight rounds, more than any other fighter in history.He was a regularat Madison Square Garden, where he boxed 28 times. Of course, he also has history with our organization, winning the BWAA’s “Fighter of the Year” award in 1963. He is credited with oneof the wittier lines in boxing history, claiming that “a funny thing happened to me on the way here” the night he accepted his award. Griffith was making reference tobeing stopped by Rubin “Hurricane” Carter in one roundbetween the time he was named the “Fighter of the Year” and whenthe dinner washeld. Griffith had been a welcome and warm presence in New York boxing circles and a fixture at ringside, always eager to sign autographs, make jokesand take pictures with fans and mediamembers alike. The thoughts and condolences of the BWAA are with his family.