Evening star., 1962-03-27
Pdret Report
Under Study
By Governor
Boxers Condition
Still Described as
Extremely Grove

| ~eaSSs/ ~V
NEW YORK, Mar. 27 (AP).
Benny (Kid) Paret remained
in q coma today as Gov. Mel
son A. Rockefeller studied a
rush report by the State Ath-
letic Commission on the grudge
fight that cost Paret his
world welterweight title-and
maybe his life.
A medical bulletin from
Roosevelt Hopital said the 25-
year-old Cuban-born boxer was
in critical condition and the
outlook was extremely grave"
On the other hand, Paret's
wife Lucy told newsmen this
morning:
IT think he's getting better.
He's very much improved. He's
still in a coma, but he tries to
open his eyes I tell him,
Honey, hold my hand and
he tries to. He touches my face
and holds my hand very tight" :"
Lucy, who has been keeping
vigil at the hospital since she
flew here from Miami Sunday,
spoke before she had seen any
of Benny's doctors today.
"All q Nightmare"
Emile Griffith, the new well
terweight champion who bat
tered Paret SenSeless at Madi-
son Square Garden Saturday
night, said in a radio inter-
view:
"It's all a nightmare I
pray for Benny's recovery very
fast. It's all in Gods hands. /"
The State Athletic Commis-
sion, which supervises boxing,
went into secret session yes
terday under orders from the
Governor. who had said he was
deeply concerned and dis
turbed."
The commission viewed films
of the fight, which was seen by
millions on television, and
heard testimony from nine wit
neSses.
| The principal witness was
Referee Ruby Goldstein, who
has been criticized by the Paret
camp for not stopping the
fight sooner in the 18th round
when Griffith kept bashing
Paret's head, caught between
the ropes.
After the hearing the COM
mission last night rushed a re-
port to the Governors New
York City office. It was trans
mitted by teletype to Rookie
feller at the executive mansion
in Albany.
Little Change Noted
DR.. John Crisp. a chief sur
gical resident at Roosevelt Hos
pital, said Paret is being main
tained under hypothermia
(treatment to lower his body
requirements.
There has been little dis
cernible change since his ad-
mission Saturday night" DR..
Crisp added.
"A tracheotomy Can incision
into the windpipe) has been
performed to ease breathing,
and blood and intravenous
fluids administered as needed.
No further operation at this
time is contemplated"
DR.. Crisp said at a news con-
ference that the chances are
10000 to ! against Paret's ever
regaining full control of his
body after the brain damage
he suffered. The doctor said
that if he lives he might re-
main in coma for a year OF
more.
Brain surgery was performed
on Paret early Sunday.
There had been bad blood be-
tween Paret and Griffith for
about a year, during which they
fought three times, and Satur-
day nights fight was a real
grudge affair.
Griffith admittedly was angry
over remarks made by Paret
Griffith, a millinery designer
out Of the ring, had said Paret
cursed and insulted him before
and during the fight.
Griffith Upset
But the damage his fists die
to Paret has brought words oi
regret and sadness from the
winner.
I'm sorry now that I evel
became a fighter" Griffith said
II guess I'll go on fighting
sometime, somewhere, but
don't want to think about il
now
Manuel Alfaro, Paret's man.
ager, claimed that his fighter /.
still the welterweight champion
because Griffith committed al
least 20 fouls"
Alfaro added: every blow
that Griffith struck while Ben.
ny's head was out Of the ring
beween the ropes-constitutec
a foul. Thus Griffith committee
at least 20 fouls, If not more"
Alfaro, sent a telegram tt
Rockefeller last midnight ask,
ing for help in getting tn,
fighters mother here from Cub
to be at his bedside. He salt
the mother, Mrs. Maxima Girls
po. has a Cuban passport ant
he would ask the United State
State Department today for {
visa waiver. He said he tele
phoned to her yesterday.
Alafor estimated that Paret'
share of the fight proceeds will
be about $4,000.