Young Griffo
| Young Griffo | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Albert Griffiths |
| Nickname(s) | Australian Will O' The Wisp |
| Rated at | Featherweight Lightweight |
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (1.63 m) |
| Reach | 68 in (173 cm) |
| Nationality |
 Australia
|
| Born |
1 January 1871 Millers Point, Sydney |
| Died | 7 December 1927 (aged 56) New York, New York |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 229 |
| Wins | 105 |
| Wins by KO | 33 |
| Losses | 12 |
| Draws | 73 |
| No contests | 39 |
Albert Griffiths (1 January 1871 – 10 December 1927), better known as Young Griffo, was a World Featherweight boxing champion, and according to many sources, one of the first boxing world champions in any class. The Ring founder Nat Fleischer rated Griffo as the eighth greatest featherweight of all-time. He was inducted into the Ring Magazine Hall of Fame in 1954, the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991, and the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.
During his career he defeated Abe Willis, champion Ike Weir, Horace Leeds, and Joe Harmon. He won bouts against champion Torpedo Billy Murphy a total of three times, twice in World Featherweight title matches. A prolific boxer of great opponents, after coming to America, he fought champions Solly Smith, "Kid" Lavigne, Joe Gans, Tommy Ryan, George Dixon, Frank Erne, and featherweight contender Joe Bernstein. He was recorded as fighting over two hundred professional fights in his career.
Albert Griffiths was born at Millers Point, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 1 January 1871. He took his ringname "Young Griffo" early in his career.
Griffo turned pro in 1886 and until the age of twenty-two fought in his home land of Australia. He held the Australian featherweight title for several years.
For four of his most successful years as a boxer, Harry Tuthill was his athletic trainer and Hugh Behan and Sam Tuckhorn were managers, though by his mid career Griffo went through a host of trainers and managers who tired of his drinking habits and unwillingness to train. He said in a 1902 interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer that Larry Foley of Sydney had acted as an important early boxing mentor.
On 26 December 1889, he fought Nipper Peakes in Melbourne for the Australian Featherweight Championship winning in an eight round points decision. He held the title for several years defending it against Abe Willis and George McKenzie in Sydney in 1890.
He first took the World Featherweight Title against Torpedo Billy Murphy on 2 September 1890 at the White Horse Hotel in Sydney in a fifteen round decision. It was one of the first World Title matches ever held in Australia. At the time, the United States only recognized bouts that took place in North America, and so did not fully accept Griffo's claim to the World Title, but both Australia and Great Britain did. Subsequent to his death, the World Boxing Organization accepted Griffo's claim to the World Featherweight Title.
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