Young Griffo vs. George Dixon (3rd meeting)

George Dixon drew with Young Griffo by PTS in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1895-10-28
• Location: Manhattan A.C., New York, New York, USA
• Referee: Charles H Sagel

• Referee: Charles Sagel

Associated Press, October 29, 1895:

"The arena of the new Manhattan Athletic Club was filled to-night with the wearers of the Cherry Diamond and their guests, who gathered to see George Dixon and Young Griffo in a ten-round 'go' at catch weights.

"Dixon and Griffo entered the ring at 10:25 o'clock, and the 'feather' looked well, but was twenty pounds heavier than Dixon."

"Announcer Burns said that the men had an agreement that if they were well and strong on their feet at the end of ten rounds the bout would be declared a draw. Tom O'Rourke jumped into the ring and said the Griffo [Dixon, as O'Rourke was Dixon's manager] party would not agree to a decision. Griffo then said: 'If it is to be a decision I will fight five more rounds.'

"The men went back to their corners, and the bout was declared a draw. The men then left the ring after a good deal of grumbling on both sides."

Brooklyn Eagle, October 29, 1895:

"The ten rounds were a magnificent exhibition of determined and persistent attack on the one side and invincible defense on the other. Griffo was big and fat, certainly twenty-five pounds heavier than his dusky and remarkable opponent.

"Dixon as usual began the attack with a rush and flew at his man all the way through with right and left. For the first half of the bout Griffo simply awaited Dixon's rushes and contented himself with jabbing him on the face and body. The fight was confined for the most part to Dixon's corner, the Australian insisting on pinning his man there.

"The opening rounds were comparatively tame. In the fifth round Griffo obliged Dixon to retreat to his own territory and amidst the frantic shouts of the audience poured a fusillade of jabs into George's face, who tried to protect it with both arms. Dixon worked like a horse up to the eighth round but no trick that he could try could penetrate the magnificent defense of the phenomenal Australian. In the eighth round there was more fighting than in all the others put together. Griffo woke up from his usual phlegmatic condition and rushing Dixon to ropes near his own corner smashed him four times on the face in quick succession. Again the crowd shouted and applauded and Tom O'Rourke began to look uneasy. Dixon got nettled and tried his rushing tactics once more, but Griffo's defense was impenetrable. Dixon was a trifle wild in the last round, but in one of his furious rushes he caught Griffo a thump on the jaw with his left and the Australian retaliated with two left jabs on the face. The bout was called a draw as has been intimated. Griffo was twice cautioned during the fight, once for hitting Dixon too low and again for some questionable tactics with his elbow."

New York Times, October 29, 1895:

"There is not much to be said of the ten rounds that Dixon and 'Griffo' fought, except that it was the old story. 'Griffo' cannot hit hard. He punches and seldom swings. Dixon is built to stand punches. The colored man is quick, but not quick enough to get in a blow before the Australian has put his hands or arms in the way, has ducked or dodged.

"For four rounds last night Dixon did not hit 'Griffo' once, and in the rest of the contest counting blows were rare.

"'Griffo' forced the work, keeping Dixon in his corner through the entirety of almost every round. The work of both men was clever, and that fact was recognized by cheers and applause."

Washington Post, October 30, 1895:

"Young Griffo's marvelous science was again displayed in his ten-round bout with George Dixon at the New Manhattan Club's opening Monday night. Had the contest been for points Griffo would have been given the decision as he did most of the leading and scored the majority of the blows. He repeatedly found Dixon fill in the face with left-hand jabs, and gave a masterly exhibition of defensive fighting. Dixon was unable to execute any havoc with that disemboweling left of his, and the wild and futile attempts he made to put a fatal right hander across on Griffo's jaw shows palpably that he was seized with an attack of the rattles. It was the third meeting in which these clever youngsters have engaged, and from a scientific point of view Griffo is the better man. He familiarized himself with Dixon's methods, and measured his man's science to perfection. Griffo's success with Dixon proves that the negro is at his worst when fighting an active man at short range."