Emile Griffith was a professional boxer from the U.S. Virgin Islands, born on February 3, 1938. He became a world champion in two weight classes, winning titles in both the welterweight and middleweight divisions. Griffith was known for his speed, skill, and powerful punches, earning him a reputation as one of the best boxers of his time. Griffith's career spanned from 1958 to 1977, during which he fought in 85 professional bouts, winning 66 of them. He is perhaps best remembered for his controversial match against Benny Paret in 1962, which ended tragically and raised discussions about the dangers of boxing.