Jack McAuliffe vs. Young Griffo
Jack McAuliffe 145 lbs beat Young Griffo 133 lbs by PTS in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1894-08-27
- Location: Seaside A.C., Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Referee: Maxwell E Moore
Jack McAuliffe, who had already received legendary credentials by reporters and ring exports, decided he could still accomplish more, he was only 28 years old. He decided to meet young, slick, and extremely confident Young Griffo in a bout scheduled for 10 rounds. Griffo had already boxed on seventy plus occasions, never losing a bout. McAuliffe, who was by this point used to having an edge in science, was facing a better boxer for the first time in his career, primarily because the many hard battles McAuliffe already participated in. From the sound of the gong to begin the first, McAuliffe was obviously aware that he needed to use the aggressive approach he adopted to defeat Myer in their bout. This time, however, it didn't work to any effect as Griffo, kind of automatically, sidestepped and displayed his tremendous jabs on the face of McAuliffe. Though Jack was able to connect with a right hand in the second that downed the Austrailian wizard, McAuliffe never found the right range to operate on and until the tenth, Griffo wasn't tiring. Griffo dominated after the second round and even floored the champion in the 6th with a flurry. Nevertheless, referee Maxie Moore awarded the decision to McAuliffe. Referee Moore escaped the ring quickly to avoid an angry crowd though they calmed soon enough probably because they understood Moore's reason for awarding the bout to the aging champion. It happened before, when the referee gave Jimmy Barry a dubious victory towards the end of his career to secure his unbeaten record. McAuliffe, for the last time retained his title, though with controversy, the same controversy that has always been on the same page with this great little champion.
Source
Facts from book "Jack McAuliffe: The Napoleon of the Prize Ring" by Nat Fleischer.
- This bout was not fought under Marquis of Queensbury Rules, as many thought. It was fought under the guidelines of the Sea Side Athletic Club, which was similar in content to AAU rules. Specifically, a man down ends the round if the man appears dazed. If not he can get up and continue. Infighting, with one hand free was not allowed. And the 10 second count was eliminated.
Post fight comment
- "I thought Americans were noted for fair play and impartiality. I can't make out how the referee could decide against me. I did all the leading and punching, and I speak the truth when I say that I could have had him out had I chose to. But I felt certain that I would win and thought I would simply satisfy myself by letting him off with a punching." -Young Griffo