Joe Gans vs. Young Griffo (3rd meeting)

Joe Gans beat Young Griffo by TKO at 1:38 in round 8 of 25

• Date: 1900-07-10
• Location: Seaside A.C., Coney Island, New York, USA
• Referee: Johnny White

Associated Press, July 11, 1900:

“New York, July 10.—At the Seaside Athletic Club to-night Joe Gans, of Baltimore, was awarded the decision over Albert Griffiths, better known as ‘Young Griffo,’ of Australia. The referee stopped the bout after the men had fought one minute and thirty-eight seconds of the eighth round, and when Griffo was so far gone that another punch from Gans would have put him out.

“For a time Griffo showed some of his old-time form, blocking and punching in clever style, but his dissipation has told on him, and although he had trained faithfully for the fight, he had not the stamina to stand the negro’s blows. Gans played a waiting game, and when Griffo had fought himself out, found no difficulty in putting him in such condition that the referee’s action was pleasing to the crowd. There was little betting, and Gans was a 2 to 1 favorite.”

“Gans was the first to lead, with his left for the head, but Griffo blocked and followed with his left to the face. Twice Griffo ran into a clinch and was cautioned for holding. Three times again he jabbed his left to the negro’s face and swung a left to the head. Gans was cool and waited for him, and finally crossed his right to the ear and twice jolted it to the body. Just before the bell rang Gans upper cut his right to the chin and dropped Griffo to the floor, but the Australian was right up and fighting at the gong.

“In the second round Griffo showed much of his old science. A left hook almost closed his eye. Gans showed some superior blocking himself in the third, and Griffo’s attempts for the head did not land as frequently as before. Griffo finally cornered the colored lad and drove three hard lefts to the body and reached the head with both hands. Gans finally escaped and hooked left and right to the head.

“Gans opened the fourth with a right to head, but Griffo stepped aside on a hook, and jolted his right to the body. He slipped to the floor, and Gans helped him to his feet, and then ensued some fast fighting on the part of both men. Gans tried to reach the head, but was blocked repeatedly, and took some good body blows in return, but the pace seemed to be telling.

“Both steadied up a bit in the fifth, but toward the end of the round both landed some rattling blows on the body, and Gans was clinching. Griffo continued to do the offensive. Gans was waiting for a chance. Twice he thought he saw it, but was blocked each time in his attempt, and little was done beside counter punches by both men on the body.

“In the seventh round Gans stepped in and with a right hand uppercut lifted Griffo’s head and then sent over left and right, dropping him to the floor. The referee began to count, but Griffo waved him away and jumped to his feet to take another cluster of blows that shook him up badly.

“Gans’ right hand punches to the heart showed their effect in the eighth, and Griffo was forced about the ring with left jabs to the mouth that brought the blood in a stream. Gans saw he was gone and measured his man admirably and swung his right to the jaw. Griffo staggered across the ring, and Gans followed and swung his right again to the mark. It needed only another punch to knock him out, but before Gans could deliver it the referee stepped between them and sent them to their corners, stopping the fight and awarding Gans the decision.”