Emile Griffith vs Manuel Gonzalez 2

On December 10, 1965, Emile Griffith successfully defended his welterweight title against Manuel "Manny" Gonzalez at Madison Square Garden. Both fighters weighed in at 146 lbs, and the completed 15 rounds ended with a unanimous decision in Griffith's favour. The judges' cards reflected a clear win: Arthur Mercante scored it 9-5, Al Berl 11-3, and Tony Rossi 12-3 for Griffith.

The bout was a frustrating one for the champion. He chased Gonzalez throughout the night, attempting to force an exchange, but was continually stymied by Gonzalez's defensive manoeuvres and clinches. Griffith tried to provoke a more aggressive response from Gonzalez by taunting him and even resorted to slapping after the fifth round. Despite the champion's efforts, Gonzalez stayed elusive, focusing on defence rather than engaging in a brawl.

Griffith did not suffer significant damage in the fight, but he expressed afterwards that he had struggled to land clean shots. Gonzalez's trainer, Bill Gore, felt his fighter deserved the victory, asserting that Gonzalez had given Griffith a "boxing lesson" that went unappreciated by the New York crowd. In contrast, Griffith criticized Gonzalez's tactics, suggesting he lacked the will to fight offensively despite showing promise as a skilled defensive boxer.

The event attracted 12,146 attendees, generating a gate of $72,502, with Griffith earning $45,000 to Gonzalez's $15,000. The night was also significant for another reason: it marked the official retirement of the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson. The former champion stood in the ring with notable former rivals like Gene Fullmer and Carmen Basilio as he announced his farewell to boxing. However, the bout between Griffith and Gonzalez remained a talking point, both for the clear-cut decision and the stylistic clash that defined it.