Young Griffo
Name: Young Griffo
Alias: Australian Will O The Wisp
Birth Name: Albert Griffiths
Hometown: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Birthplace: Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
Died: 1927-12-07 (Age:58)
Height: 163cm
Reach: 173cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Division: Featherweight
Photo 2, Photo 3
Young Griffo (Albert Griffiths) was the first Australian to win a world title (1890).
He was "Not known as much of a puncher, but his skill was uncanny. He had wonderful headwork, almost inpenetrable defense, dazzling feints, and rapid two-handed methods of attack. The cleverest boxers and hardest punchers were made to look ridiculous when exchanging swats with him. He had a dislike of training and was deemed lazy. There were times he got drunk before a match [BoxRec note: such as for the Ike Weir and Tom Tracey bouts]." From the March 6, 1916 Tacoma Daily News, written by Tommy Sullivan.
In 2003, 'Young Griffo' was inducted into the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame.
References
- Biography: [1]
- Pictures held and digitised as part of the Arnold Thomas boxing collection by the National Library of Australia
- Albert Griffiths "Griffo", Feather Champion of the World, c1890
- Albert Griffiths, 1893?
- Albert Griffiths, c1927 "shortly before his death"
- May 19, 1933 article: [2]
Books:
- Griffo: his life story and record / told by Jack Read (1926?)
- Young Griffo: the will o'wisp of the roped square / Nat Fleischer (1928)
See also, "The $10,000 Glass of Sherry: When Young Griffo Fell off the Wagon" by Mike Casey [3]