Mar. 22, 1963 - A jubilant Luis Rodriguez thought he won the fight and world welterweight title, and an embittered Emile Griffith figured he was still the champ in a shadow-boxing exhibition with scribes after last night’s battle at Dodger Stadium. Rodriguez won a popular 15-round decision over the New Yorker to take over the welterweight title. “I didn’t try for a knockout,” said Rodriguez. “I waited three years, and I wanted to win a unanimous decision to prove I’m the best welterweight in the world. He didn’t hurt me. He’s not a very good boxer, I think, but he’s strong.” Griffith and co-pilots Howard Albert and Gil Clancy disputed the decision. “This is the second time they took the title from us without a gun,” Albert said. He was quick to point out that Griffith’s title loss to the late Benny (Kid) Paret in New York on Sept. 30, 1961, was just as bad. “I think those flurries Rodriguez pulled off at the end of rounds influenced the officials,” said Clancy. “What about the other 2 min. 50 seconds of the round?”
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