Young Griffo vs. Johnny T Griffin
Young Griffo drew with Johnny Griffin by PTS in round 8 of 8
- Date: 1894-04-23
- Location: Casino, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Venue: Casino, Boston, MA
- Attendance: 3,000
- Referee: Bill Daly
Associated Press, April 24, 1894:
“The men sprang nimbly into the ring at the call of time. Both men shaped up well, Griffo looking the full ten pounds that he weighed over the red haired boy. He was the first to land a light left on Griffin’s cheek. It was give and take for the next minute, but toward the end Griffo warmed up a bit and sent right and left into Griffin’s stomach. The latter was taken by surprise and was anxious to get a cross with the right. Griffo was hot after him in an exchange of blows. He landed his left with good effect on Griffin’s eye. A cheer went up, but this was soon subdued, for Griffin placed two well-timed right-hand blows on the Australian’s body. Then Griffo took a turn. Biff, bang, on the Boston boy’s head, and the old-timers hugged themselves, for never had a more clever two-handed fighter been in Boston. It looked now like 10 to 1 on the Australian, despite the fact that they had been fighting but three minutes. The call of time was a godsend to Griffin.
“On the advice of his seconds [Jack Magee, Bill Murphy and Jack Williams] Griffin started in to mix things, but it would not work. Try as he could Griffin could not escape the body-blows that were being sent in right and left-handed on his body in rapid succession, and it seemed but a question of time when the Australian would be declared winner. He was not in as good shape as Griffin, but he had the strength and was equally as clever.
“Griffin worked his left with good effect, but he lacked the steam, and after each blow the black-haired boy would smile, while already Griffin’s left eye was beginning to close. It was give and take, up and down, all over the ring. The Australian did most of the leading.
“From the third to the last round honors were about even.
“The eighth and final round showed to the spectators how well the foreigner could fight when urged. No sooner had the men shaken hands than he put his left on Griffin’s nose, and caused the blood to flow freely. Twice again did he land there, while his right was also put in on Griffin’s jaw. The latter was cutting the air and trying to avoid the blows which were landing on him at Griffo’s will. Time was finally called, and, according to the agreement of the men, which was that if both were on their feet at the finish, it would be a draw, Referee Daly called it so. Betting men in Boston and the visitors from Chicago and New York, numbering quite a lot, went away satisfied that Griffo is the best man of his inches seen hereabouts. For sand and gameness, he fairly outclassed his opponent.”
Nat Fleischer, “Young Griffo: The Will o’ the Wisp of the Roped Square,” 1928:
“The story is told of the heaps of enjoyment Griffo gave the spectators and the annoyance caused his opponent, Johnny Griffin, in an eight-round contest in Boston. Australian Billy Murphy, a countryman of Griffo, happened to be Griffin’s chief second and Murphy and Griffo were bitter enemies.
“When the gong sounded, Murphy tried to get Griffo’s ’goat’ by annoying remarks. Griffo paid no attention to this for a time, but when things began to feel a little hot, the fun began. Before the first round was half over, Griffo dazed Griffin with a series of rights and lefts, ducked all returns and kept peppering Griffin until he had the Braintree boy backing into his own corner. Griffo had done this purposely in order to get close to Australian Billy Murphy, and while standing on one spot and shooting dazzling jabs to all parts of Griffin’s anatomy, Griffo kept on looking down on Murphy and cut loose with the following:
“’ ’Ello, Billy. Bloime me if it isn’t you. You an’ me is matched for a go next week, Billy, and I’ll repeat this on you.’ With that he shot a right to the face and drew the claret from Griffin’s nose.
“‘See this ‘ere josser bleed, Billy? Bloime me, that’s nothin’ to wot you’re goin’ git from me next week, Billy. Shure, h’i ‘ate to do it, Billy, old chap, but I just wants to show you wot to expect.’ And with that, Griffo sent across a right hand to the jaw that shook Griffin.
“Not letting up in his repartee, Griffo looked down on Murphy after the last blow and continued:
“‘Now, Billy, ‘an ‘ows that for a right ‘ander on ‘is bloomin jawr. See ‘is bally ‘ead rock, Billy? Ain’t it a boomer?’
“Griffo backed away after that and as he did, out came one of Griffin’s teeth and Murphy, white with rage, stood in his corner speechless. Murphy was beaten to a frazzle and so was his boy who was a target for all kinds of punches. Griffo never would have hurt him so badly had he not desired to even matters with his deadly enemy, Australian Billy Murphy.”