MSG To Show “Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story”

New York, NY (July 29, 2013) – MSG Network will honor legendary fighter Emile Griffith, who sadly passed away last week, by presenting Dan Klores’ critically acclaimed film Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story, on Friday, August 2 at 10:00 p.m. The film chronicles the life of Griffith, the six-time world boxing champion who fought an amazing 28 times at Madison Square Garden, including the controversial 1962 bout that resulted in the death of champion Benny “the Kid” Paret.

“Emile Griffith was courageous both in and out of the boxing ring, and fought more championship rounds at Madison Square Garden than any fighter in history,” said Daniel Ronayne, executive vice president and general manager, MSG Networks. “With his unfortunate passing last week, we are honored to bring this special film to our viewers.”

“Emile had a joy and a thirst for life and he lived in a profoundly secret world in which he had to hide not merely love but pain too,” said Klores. “He was as great a world champion as Sugar Ray Leonard, Hearns, Duran, and Basilio, but it was the 'image' of that night on network TV, of Benny Paret slowly falling to the Garden mat, beaten to death, which stayed with me since I was a 12-year-old boy that led Ron Berger, Lewis Katz and myself to make this film. What is especially noteworthy about the timing of this showing on MSG is, of course, the recent discussion about homosexuality in sport, spurred by NBA player Jason Collins.”

Ring of Fireis a moving story of love, violence and redemption that documents the life of Griffith. Not only did the tragic bout at The Garden have a lasting impact on the sport, it polarized the media, created political debate and left lives shattered in the balance. Ring of Fireexplores the events of Griffith’s life through compelling archival footage, interviews with champion boxers, journalists, historians and most movingly, through the reactions of members from both families. The film includes interviews with Paret’s wife and son, as well as noted journalists, boxers, trainers and managers, including: Jimmy Breslin, Pete Hamill, Neal Gabler, Jack Newfield, Charles Kaiser, Carmen Basilio, Jose Torres, Gene Fullmer, Juan LaPorte, Gil Clancy and Howie Albert.

MSG Networks is the exclusive local television home of the New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres, New York Liberty and New York Red Bulls, and the official regional sports networks of the New York Giants. MSG Networks also telecasts over 100 live college basketball games and over 40 live college football games from top national conferences (SEC, Big 12, Big East, Pac 12, Conference USA), as well as horse racing, boxing and award-winning original programming. In 2013, MSG Networks received 18 New York Emmy Awards, including 16 for MSG and one each for MSG+ and MSG.com. MSG’s 85 Emmys over the past six years are more than any single network or station in the region during that time.