Emile Griffith (born February 3, 1938) is a former boxer from the US Virgin Islands who became the first World Boxing Champion by winning the World Welterweight and Junior Middleweight titles. While Griffith is recognized in some boxing books as being a three division world champion, he was only recognized as champion of the Middleweight division in England.

Griffith, who turned professional in 1958 and campaigned heavily in New York, is best remembered for a televised third fight on March 24, 1962 versus Benny the "Kid" Paret. Fighting for the Welterweight title, Paret and Griffith boxed a close fight until round twelve, when Griffith knocked Paret unconscious, yet propped up against the ropes. The referee failed to stop the fight, and Griffith struck Paret 23 more times. Paret never regained consciousness and died nine days later. This incident, and the publicity and criticism of boxing which accompanied it became the basis of the movie Ring of Fire.

Griffith was traumatized by Paret's death. Some of his trainers remarked that he refused to knock out any opponents after it.

Sports Illustrated reports in its April 18, 2005, edition, that Griffith may have been fueled by rage over an anti-gay slur directed at him by Paret during the weigh-in. The slur was ignored by the media at the time.

Griffith later beat Nino Benvenuti for the Junior Middleweight title.

Other boxers he fought in his career were World Champions Denny Moyer , Luis Rodriguez , Carlos Monzon, Dick Tiger, and in his last title try, Edgard Dagge . After 18 years as a professional boxer, Griffith retired with a record of 85 wins (25 by knockout), 24 losses and 2 draws.

He has trained other boxers during his retirement, including Wilfredo Benitez and Juan Laporte, of Puerto Rico. Both have won world championships.

Griffith, Monzon, Benvenuti, Rodriguez, Tiger and Benitez are members of the International Boxing Hall Of Fame.