Young Griffo vs. George Dixon (1st meeting)
George Dixon 123 lbs drew with Young Griffo 135 lbs by PTS in round 20 of 20
- Date: 1894-06-29
- Location: Casino, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Venue: Casino, Boston, Massachusetts
- Attendance: 5,000
- Referee: Johnny Eckhardt
Associated Press, June 30, 1894:
“Five thousand spectators witnessed one of the prettiest fights ever held in this city at the Casino tonight between Dixon and Griffo. Griffo seemed over-fat, and his heavy form created the impression that Dixon would have a hard tussle to win, but here is where the colored man again proved his gameness and adroit tactics. He was cuffed and slapped and cut about the face by his heavier opponent, but on more than once occasion during the twenty rounds it looked as though his left hand would finish the Australian.
“Griffo is a great fighter, and no mistake, but the impression gained from the battle tonight was that, at anywhere near even weights, the colored boy would win. Griffo tipped the beam at 135 and Dixon at 123 pounds.”
Washington Post, June 30, 1894:
“Dixon did nearly all of the leading throughout the contest, but was pluckily met by Griffo, whose counters, while oftentimes lacking force, frequently bore fruit. His defensive work was of the highest quality, and it is greatly to his credit that he was able to stand the fast and furious blows of Dixon for twenty rounds.”
“At the start both men sparred cautiously for an opening. Dixon led twice, but Griffo parried with ease and finally landed a left. Griffo’s defense was marvelous and caught the crowd instantly.
“Honors were even for thirteen rounds, and then came the fourteenth, which was one of the most exciting of the bout and was marked by several mix-ups, in which Griffo plainly had the best of it. In the give and take battle which closed the round Dixon was plainly dazed and sparring wildly. Both men came up smiling in the fifteenth round, but Griffo failed to follow up his success of the previous round and time was taken up largely in sparring for wind.
“The feature of the sixteenth round was two upper cuts that landed simultaneously, both men bending forward under the force of the blows.
“The four remaining rounds gave no real advantage to either man, Dixon forcing the battle to the very end and Griffo maintaining his admirable defense.
“Neither man had any decided advantage at the finish, and Referee Eckhardt declared the contest a draw, a decision which gave general satisfaction, though a majority of the crowd felt that Dixon had shown himself the better man.”