Young Griffo vs. Charles (Bull) McCarthy (3rd meeting)

Young Griffo beat Joseph K Devitt by KO in round 20 of 20

• Date: 1898-04-27
• Location: Sacramento, California, USA


Associated Press, April 28, 1898:

“In the last ten seconds of the twentieth round Griffo knocked out Bull McCarty [original article’s spelling] of Philadelphia tonight before the Sacramento Athletic Club. It was a stubborn fight from start to finish.

“McCarty has not Griffo’s physique by any means, but he is a tenacious, bulldog fighter, and up to the last minute it looked as if Griffo could not whip him, badly punished as he was. McCarty did most of the leading, while Griffo contented himself with a stiff counter in the face every time his adversary came at him.

“Once in a while Griffo would rush and land a blow or two, but McCarty would wriggle out of the mix up and come back at him. At times McCarty was distressed, while Griffo, who was in fine condition, was fresh throughout the fight. There was striking in the clinches, which operated in Griffo’s favor. The latter was quick as a cat with both hands and feet, and his ring generalship and cleverness enabled him to avoid punishment.”


Associated Press, April 29, 1898:

“Sacramento, April 28.—Bull McCarty, who was defeated by Griffo here last night, died this evening. He did not regain consciousness after he was knocked out in the twentieth round. Those who saw the fight cannot understand how McCarty was fatally injured.

“There was not a knock-down during the fight until in the last round, when McCarty, who was fagged out from his exertions in pressing the fight, went down on his hands and knees from one of Griffo’s light blows on the ear.

“He was soon up, but too weak to do much, when Griffo gave him another blow that put him out. Griffo himself was tired, and his blows seemed to lack steam. McCarty was a narrow-chested, puny-looking youth, and though he appeared fresh after the nineteenth round, it must have been that he had a weak constitution.”