Griffo, Young [Albert Griffiths]
Boxing
b. March 31, 1871, Sydney, Australia
d. Dec. 7, 1927
Griffiths began fighting as a teen-ager on the Sydney waterfront. His first professional match was a bare-knuckle fight sometime before 1889. By 1889, he was using the ring name Young Griffo.
He was among a group of Australian fighters who boarded a ship to sail to the United States in 1892, but he changed his mind at the last minute, jumped off the ship and swam back to shore. Griffo finally did come to America late in 1893.
The first loss of his career was a 10-round decision against lightweight champion Jack McAuliffe on August 27, 1894. The speedy, clever Griffo won the fight, according to many observers, but referee Maxie Moore was a friend of McAuliffe's, and he awarded him the decision.
Griffo's heavy drinking often affected his performances and, on one occasion, kept him from showing up for a fight. Although had wins or draws against some of the best boxers of his time, including George Dixon, Joe Gans, Solly Smith, and George "Kid" Lavigne, he never had a title fight.
He retired after being knocked out in the first round by Tommy White in 1904, returned briefly for two fights in 1911, then retired for good. Of 107 recorded bouts, Griffo won 49, 5 by knockout; lost 9, 3 by knockout; and had 367 draws and 12 no-decisions.