U.S. rights to Sundance documentary competition film, "Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story", directed by Dan Klores and Ron Berger has been acquired by USA Network, Bonnie Hammer, president of USA Network and Sci Fi Channel announced. USA Network will air the film in April, 2005.

"Ring of Fire," which premiered at Sundance Saturday, is the story of a six-time world champion boxer whose life took a sudden and dark turn. The film is described as a "tender portrait" of a fascinating yet tragic figure in history: the idolized, immigrant boxer who, in pursuit of the American Dream, wound up in the middle of a stunning nightmare after he killed his opponent in the ring -- the first live death in network television history.

In March of 1962, Griffith fought his rival, the then-champion Benny "Kid" Paret in their Madison Square Garden rubber match. Prior to the bout, Paret began to taunt Griffith with the explosive word maricón -- Spanish for "faggot," inflaming Griffith. Television viewers watched as Griffith pounded Paret in the lower left-hand corner of their TV screens. Paret slumped against the ropes, comatose and died ten days later.

"As soon as I experienced the raw intensity of this film, with its heartbreaking portrayal of a deeply flawed hero, I knew we had to have it," said Hammer in a statement. "Its haunting treatment of a world champion's sexuality, the subtexts of humiliation and the fear he had to endure, made me fall in love with it."