Knock Out!: The True Story of Emile Griffith

An intoxicating portrait of boxer Emile Griffith, an Afro-Caribbean-American bisexual athlete and one of the world's greatest fighters

The American boxing champion Emile Griffith gained notoriety in 1962 when he brutally defeated the Cuban fighter Benny Paret. Ten days after the fight, Paret, who had directed a homophobic slur at Griffith during the weigh-in, died from his injuries. In Knock Out , Reinhard Kleist draws a powerful, emotive portrait of a bisexual Afro-Caribbean-American athlete who, facing racism and homophobia in 1960s America, found success in the world of boxing. It's the story of a fierce and ambitious fighter, and of a knockout blow that ended one life and changed a second forever.


Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Selfmadehero
Published: 07/20/2021
ISBN: 9781910593868
Pages: 168

Review Citations: Booklist 06/01/2021 pg. 59