Emile Griffith vs Ralph Dupas

On July 13, 1962, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, welterweight champion Emile Griffith successfully defended his title against Ralph Dupas in a 15-round contest. This marked Griffith's first appearance since the tragic March 24 bout with Benny "Kid" Paret at Madison Square Garden. In that fight, Paret was taken immediately to Roosevelt Hospital after being knocked unconscious in the twelfth round, where he remained in a coma until his death on April 3, 1962.

Griffith, entering with a record of 29-3-0 and weighing 145¼ pounds, faced the more experienced Dupas, who brought a 94-15-6 record to the ring at 145¾ pounds. Griffith displayed his ability to compartmentalize the psychological burden he carried and put on a dominant performance.

Griffith controlled the fight, consistently landing heavier and more frequent blows throughout. Dupas, known for his elusive style, eventually succumbed to fatigue as Griffith's persistent right hand took its toll. The champion's supremacy culminated in a dramatic 15th round when he landed a powerful right that sent Dupas reeling into the ropes. Although Griffith followed up with a barrage of punches, primarily rights interspersed with left hooks, he couldn't secure the knockout before referee Frankie Van's intervention.

The officials' scorecards reflected Griffith's clear superiority: referee Van scored it 71-64, Judge David Zenoff had it 73-69, and Judge John Romero saw it 74-65, all favouring the champion. The unanimous decision victory marked another successful defence for Griffith, who controlled the action despite Dupas' experience and defensive abilities.