Honestly I need to watch more fights of his. Can you tell him me a bit about his style. Did he have any weaknesses?
Emile Griffith was not great at any one thing, but was significantly good in just about everything else....his only deficit seems was punching power,...which was sacrificed in the interest of being an all around good, effective boxer...a consumate ring mechanic if there ever was one. Griffith was, though boring to many fans, a very effective boxer/puncher...he boxed the sluggers and could be too strong and aggressive, in a smart, measured way, against fleet footed boxer types. Immensely strong, when focused he coupled that strength with an innate cleverness and a high ring IQ...."boring but effective" he was often called...less and less inclined since the Paret tragedy to go for the knockouts,...he tamed his killer instinct, and much preferred to garner points over the distance....being, like Monzon, a master of the 15 round distance. EG's right hand lead, as well as the right hand counter was a thing of understated beauty, as I watched his fights on tv, which usually went the distance, which was ok with me because that was a chance to see a master at work. Carlos Monzon called him"my most difficult foe, because he made me do things I didn't want to do in the ring". The first fight vs Dlck Tiger was, in my view his greatest statement as a fighter. Despite a 10 lb deficit...he arose all the way to middleweight...with no cowardly "catchweight" **** and other ****** business practiced by the inferior posers of today. So the balance sheet says "hell yes, Emile Griffith was the complete package"...
He was a great all-around fighter. Red Cobra really nailed it in his description. Not necessarily great in areas but very good in just about every aspect. He knew how to take the opponents strengths away and I do find him to be a fairly boring, at times ugly fighter to watch. He was definitely a favorite with the judges. I felt he lost all four fights to Luis Rodriguez. The first two being the closest bouts, the third fight being a terrible robbery, the fourth being a bad decision also. Still, he’s a true all-time great with an incredible resume.
At the time, I thought Tiger won the first fight despite the surprising knockdown. I need to track it down and watch it again. Griffith was not my favorite fighter to watch but he was a pro in every sense of the word. Nice post.