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Emile Griffith "Death" Gloves from Benny "Kid" Paret Fight (From the Ring Magazine Archive)
These very singular and very historic fight gloves go "hand in glove" with triumph and tragedy, having covered the ferocious fists of Emile Griffith on one of boxing's darkest nights -- March 24, 1962, when he took the welterweight crown from Benny "Kid" Paret in Madison Square Garden by giving Paret a beating that wound up costing him his life. The spendid chocolate brown leather Everlast mitts attest to the barbaric nature of a sport in which the object is to knock one's opponent senseless -- as well as to a great champ who did just that, with tragic consequences, simply by doing his job. This was their 3rd title fight, with Griffith taking the 1st and Paret the 2nd. In the rubber match, Griffith staggered Paret in round 12. With Paret defenseless on the ropes, referee Ruby Goldstein failed to stop it and Griffith kept pummeling. Paret, knocked unconscious, was later taken to a hospital and died days later. Recriminations flew for months before Griffith was exonerated and the blame put on Goldstein. Both gloves are initialed by a member of the New York State Athletic Commission. The original laces are intact and the gloves are smooth and generally unmarked, with no tears. The Everlast labels carry traces of soil and sweat. Gloves were originally donated to The Ring Magazine and displayed at their offices. Each bears the white-painted inscription, done by Ring Magazine, "Emile Griffith TKO Benny Paret For World's Welterweight Championship March 24, 1962 Madison Square Garden New York City". These profoundly important gloves come with a LOA from a former employee of The Ring.
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