BoxRec

I would you to give your opinion on "what if" Benny "Kid" Paret did not died after his tragic rubber match with Emile Griffith. Paret died because he took a beating from Gene Fullmer for Paret's unsuccessful campaign for the world middleweight title and Fullmer admitted that his blows caused Paret's death. Had Paret not died, would he had been a great or good welterweight champion?

He had already taken too much punishment in his career; he would've likely fought the rest of his career as a gatekeeper level fighter.

He was a solid, good fighter who took his chance to win and defend a world title at a time when just being a contender meant a lot, never mind a champion I think unfair to simply write him off as a "gatekeeper" This was a time when a loss didnt mean the end of the world.

No one will ever know how much the Fulmer fight would have taken out of him, but he had lost to Denny Moyer (who was also a very good, but not great fighter), and several losses earlier in his career indicate that he may never have got too much better than in his second win over Griffith.

BUT the truth is we will never know.

dempseyfire wrote:He had already taken too much punishment in his career; he would've likely fought the rest of his career as a gatekeeper level fighter.

Reluctantly, I tend to agree with this. Paret indeed took lots of punishment in his career.

On the flip side of this....

Would Griffith have become a better fighter if things did not happen like they did that night?

I would say yes.

May both men RIP.

scorpio83 wrote:I would you to give your opinion on "what if" Benny "Kid" Paret did not died after his tragic rubber match with Emile Griffith. Paret died because he took a beating from Gene Fullmer for Paret's unsuccessful campaign for the world middleweight title and Fullmer admitted that his blows caused Paret's death. Had Paret not died, would he had been a great or good welterweight champion?

Benny would have lived to tell everyone," I told you I was right" abiout brother Griffin.