El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-14

M ring enthusiast to see than to
w see a thoroughly beaten man
turn about suddenly and with one
despairing effort, throw the last re-
naming ounce Of his strength into a
final punch that lands and lays low
the opponent
Have YOU ever seen such a rare oc-
currence as long as you have been
watching the boxers PERFORM
Have you ever seen a man stamped
all over winner one minute being
stamped out by the referee a minute
Thrilling? No name for it
II seldom Happens
It seldom happens in really import
ant events It might be said 10 have
happened in measure IN the Carson
City fight when Bob FitZstmmonss
bested as a boxer by the superlatively
clever Corbett finally fooled the great
California master and sunk one into
his solar plexus, thus turning what
looked 70 many like defeat into an
imposing victory
But that wasn't a startling case. be
cause Fitz never was groggy. I've IN
mind now two cases Of men who were
groggy and rocking and weaving
about, almost falling. but suddenly
coming TO life for just that fraction OF
a second with the punch that wins
Two Eases In Point.
One OF these was the sensational de-
feat Of Johnny Griffin, the -.Braintree
Lad by SOlly Smith Of san Francisco
at Roby. Ind, on July 10. 1888
The other was the equally amazing
defeat in one round OF Joe Choynski
by Eddie kid" Carter Of Chicago. in
March, 1902.
Roby always was a maelstrom OF
sensationalism in racing and fighting.
Its stateline position made it such It
was accessible for Chicagoans. who
first built a shabby racetrack there
nd 1nHaw vent fw~n the hnTfmnr
close by on the dunes. II was Domin-
lex OMalley Of New Orleans, who
started the boxing club and built the
huge octagonal arena that was the
scene of so many wonderful doings and
which finally was closed by the state
militia the night Young Critic and
George Lavingne were to have fought
a finish fight-finish, mind you, and
IL meant just that
HOOdIums Fired Arena.
Before that, during the progress OF
one scrap. Nhoodlums set fire to the
tIsket office Just outside of the arena
though a holocaust would result Yes,
I indeed. there were turbulent times
around the old Roby arena
Zeke Abrams brought SOlly Smith
here to the beat Of many trumpet
BE had knocked out Dial Hawkins, Dan
Daley and Johnny van Heest on the
coast and they thought him a world
beater.
Griffin was a brick topped young
nan or pleasing personality and lion
hearted fighting machine George
Dixon happened to be champion at the
time-feather Weight-but the weight
then was held at 118 pounds. many
claiming Tom O'Rourlte forced II az
that notch because ne was afraid to
match the little chocolate with Griffin,
whose best weight was 122.
When Smith and Abrams landed there
they thought Griffin would give him
rer# fnnr IN Of ~ AZ
sent for him. Terms were arranged
easily and almost under the shadows
Of the blazing lights that covered the
Worlds Fair buildings along the mid
way the men fought.
At that time was working with and
under Hughey Keough on the old Times
and was as well prOtege Of George
Siler, who was referee of all the ROby
battles, and was then writing, sport on
the i'll fated Globe We had to take
cur Queensberry portions in demitasse
sizes those days. bush fighting with
small gloves being a vOugue. Par
son" Davies lake front shows were the
only ones with any semblance OF class
then.
sOIIy Was Well.
We rode to the arena that night IN
the old Worlds Fair coaches, and we
saw Griffin give Smith about the most
first five rounds Solly's nose was
split in the second round and in the
fourth his left eve was almost COM
pletely closed and he looked cut into
tatters.
At the start Of the sixth, Griffin, see
ing his man was at his mercy, went
in to put on the finishing touches He
rocked Smith a couple OF slashing lefts
TO the head and then barely missed
with a straight right for the jaw. II
landed high. but was forceful enough
to shake Smith to the heels. The fran
tic crowd, seeing the finish right there,
screamed for Johnny to go in.
Smith Put II Over.
Johnny did and il was his complete
undoing- Smith, covered with blood.
his mouth agap and his tired arms
swinging with the sway Of his unsteady
legs, gathered himself for a supreme
effort Backed against the ropes he
untanEled himself for a second and
started right swing. partly overland
Griffin, too busy trying for a right
on Smiths jaw, had abandoned his de-
fence completely. He never saw the
punch coming. It was like one OF the
sweeps OF the gigantic flashlights over
on the midway, Just across the state
lire tt landed full on the unprotected
Braintree mans Jaw. landed with
crash that was heard all over the
arena
Griffin Was Completely Out.
Johnny dropped like a wet towel
Siler, as I remember, counted but four