The New York herald., 1922-07-30
YOUNG GRIFFO WAS
DEFENSIVE MARVEL
Australian Boxer Had I'm
canny Skill-Other Ring
Gossip.
BY CHARLES r. MArHIsoN.

| The ever recurring dispute as to the
best boxer in any class is again rag
ing, with the names of Albert Griffiths,
who boxed under the name of Young
Critic, Jim Corbett and Abe Attell in
the thick OF the discussion.
Why Corbett and Attell should be
coupled with Griffo in the matter of
defensive skill is a mystery. for they
were second raters compared to the
Australian magician of the roped
square. Attell at his best was out
pointed by Jim Driscoll and Kilbane
Sand knocked out by Brooklyn Tommy
Sullivan. He is not entitled to the
slightest consideration.
Jim Corbett was unquestionably the
ablest defensive boxer In the heavy
weight division. but his performances,
compared to those of Critic. were in
significant. Corbett during his career
met three dangerous men-Peter
Jackson, Bob Fitzsimmons and Jim
Jeffries The performance Of the
young Californian of staying sixty
one rounds to q draw with Jackson
was wonderful, although the fact OF
the negro having weak, ankle de-
tracted in a measure from the credit
due the white man.
In his contest with Fitzsimmons the
defensive skill Of Corbett crumpled and
he was knocked out. Corbett also failed
to defend himself with any success IN
his battles with Jeffries and was twice
knocked out All the other men that
Corbett met were easy marks, including
John l.. Sullivan.
Young Critic was never more than
featherweight. and yet during his career
he got into the ring with men in all
classes up to the middleweight division.
In spite of this he never was knocked
out, and il any boxer ever succeeded in
putting him on the floor there Is no
record of it. The only mark OF battle
that Griffo wears Is caulifower ear.
and that was presented to him by Dan
Creedon. the middleweight champion of
Australia at the time. Critic. weighing
1875 pounds, made match with Creedon
on the condition that the middieweight
could not stop him In six rounds. Cree
don was one Of the best boxers and
hardest hitters in the middleweight class.
and yet he signally failed to stop the
little fellow. AS matter of fact, Griffo
outpointed Creedon in the six rounds,
and but for one of Creedon's hooks
reaching Griffo on the ear and putting
the organ the featherweight would have
been entirely unhurt.
Much has been said as to the weak
hitting OF Griffo. but as a matter of
fact he accomplished a number of
knockouts early in his career at time
when he fought under London rules with
bare knuckles.
Fought All the Best Men.
Critic came to America in 1893, and
he proceeded to fight all the best
featherweights, lightweights and welters
! in this part Of the world. These in
cluded Jack McAuliffe, Jerry Marshall.
| George Dixon, George Lavigne, Tommy
White. Solly Smith, Johnny Van Heest.
Johnny Griffin, Ike Weir and Joe Cans.
Previous to the time that Jack Nc
Auliffe retired as American lightweight
champion ne made ten round match
with Critic. McAul.ffe' scaled about 140
pounds at this time to 1875 by the Aus
tralian The bout took place at tho
Coney Island A. c. August 81. 1894. and
never did McAuliffe try harder to stop
an opponent. Far from scoring knock
out McAuliffc failed~to land an effective
blow In the entire ten rounds. On the
| other hand Grfffo landed on McAuliffe's
face every time he struck. and the
champion could not get his countenance
out of the way. In fact Critic, after
landing a volley of lefts to McAulffc's s
| face would step back and tauntingly
| inquire. Where will I hit you next
Jack?" Critic gave a remarkable ex-
hibiton of defensive skill lie r'iied
back out of range of McAulffe's
| straight lefts and stepped inside .,f the
champions swings. At the end of the
tenth round Critic hal won on points,
and when Maxey More. the referee. ds-
clared. McAuliffe the winner the crowd
nearly raised the roof.
On January 10. 1895. Critic gave an
other wonderful exhibition of boxing
science against George Dixon. then the
featherweight champion. in a twenty
| five round bout at Coney Island. Dixon
was then at his best, but try as he
would he failed to reach the Australian
effectively. AS a matter of fact Critic
had shade in points at the close of
the twenty-fifth round.
The Referee Said 1t Was n Draw.
On March 4, 1896. Griffo stopped
Horace Leeds. a very clever lightweight,
in twelve rounds. and on October IL.
1895, Critic was put to the supreme
test. This was In twenty round bout
with George Lavigne, whose speed. ag-
gressiveness and hitting had impressed
McAulifre with the advisability of reiir-
ing from the ring The Saginaw Kid
was at that time wl1irlwind In attack
and so full of vitality that he fought
the last rounds OF tho twenty round
contests with all the fury that marked
his work in the opening sessions
The contest took place at the Empire
"A. c., Maspeth. For twenty rounds the
Wolverine sprang at the Australian with
panther like attack and swung, hooked
and uppercut with might and main. Yet
never did Lavgne reach Critic with an
effective punch. Critic landed the
greater number of blows. yet the ag-
gresslveness Of Lavigne earned a draw
for him.
In the closing years OF his career
Griffo boxed two eight round bouts with
Joe Cans. then close to top form. The
first contest took place in Baltimore
November Is. 1895. and was called a
draw. The second bout took place in
1897 and Cans got the decision on points.
Therefore, on his record in America
Griffo stands forth as the cleverest de-
fensive boxer In any class Of pugilism
Indications are not lacking that Car
pentier wields a potent influence with
the French Federation OF Boxing. The
French boxer declined to meet Battling
sikh except for the light heavyweight
title, the weight OF which class would
be difficult for the Senegalesc to make
Therefore, according to Federation reg
ulations, the heavyweight title of Eu-
4 rope was In no danger.