Joe Gans vs. Young Griffo (1st meeting)
Joe Gans drew with Young Griffo by PTS in round 10 of 10
- Date: 1895-11-18
- Location: Front Street Theater, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Referee: George Mantz
AN IMITATION FIGHT.
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Poor Exhibition of Gans and Griffo--Ward Whips English.
It has been many a day since old Front Street Theatre has been so packed as it was last night. The occasion was the sparring tournament of the Eureka Club, and the many horsemen who are here to attend the Pimlico races helped to pack the house from top to bottom, while the stage around the ring was crowded.
The stellar attraction was the meeting at ten rounds between Joe Gans, the colored Southern lightweight, and the champion Young Griffo, (Albert Griffiths.) Griffo was decidedly the favorite, as his reputation is worldwide. Gans, being a local man, was looked upon as a mark for the champion, so Gans's friends hoped at least for a draw. Neither of the men does much leading in his work and the set-to was expected to be slow, but it was not expected to be a farce from start to finish. It proved the most disappointing affair that has been witnessed under the Eureka Club's management.
Phil and Mike Dwyer occupied a box with peter Maher and Col. Abe Daniels. It was a fine combination that was in the belief from the start that Griffo would win. There was virtually no betting.
It was stated that if both men were on their feet at the end of ten rounds it was to be a draw. The announcement was well made. Not a blow in the ten rounds was landed hard enough to break a pane of glass. Gans hit Griffo much oftener than he was struck himself. Griffo let go several vicious blows, but they all fell short. There was nothing in the match which would give any of the spectators a line on the two fighters.
After the affair was over Griffo walked out of the ring and announced that the fight was a fake. He said the management had told him that Gans would not go on unless Griffo promised to let Gans stay the ten rounds. Then Griffo said he would like to fight Gans to a finish.
The most distinguished man in the house was the well-known Billy Young.
Some one in the gallery had yelled: "Hit him hard, Gans, and I'll put you in the City Hall!"
Young spoke up: "I've got pupl's who can lick either one of you fakirs. If you want to do it, I will fight either one of you, or fight the pair of you the same night." Young was applauded. Many of the spectators left after seeing the first five rounds.
--The Sun, 1895-11-19.
IT WAS A FAKE
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Griffo Did Not Try to Knock Out Joe Ganz.
BALTIMORE, Nov. 18.--A big crowd filled the Front Street Theatre to-night to see a fight between "Young" Griffo and "Joe" Ganz, a local boxer. The men gave a sparring exhibition lasting ten rounds, at the end of which Griffo announced that he had agreed not to put Ganz out, as a condition precedent to the bout. The crowd hooted and yelled "fake."
--The Philadelphia Inquirer, 1895-11-19. -- Newark Daily Advocate carried same report word-forword, but spelled it Gans not Ganz.
James Conroy, business manager for young Griffo, is in town. Mr. Conroy says that Griffo was obliged to deal gently with Joe Gans in their bout before the Eureka Athletic Club of Baltimore Monday night, else Gans would not have sparred.
"We tried our best to get a man who would stand up and give Griffo a good, stiff set-to, but there wasn't a man in the city who would do it, and we did the best we could, and let Gans go on with him. Griffo could have pleased the crowd by punishing Gans, but he promised faithfully not to slug, and he kept his promise."
--The Washington Post, 1895-11-20.