Apparently this is footage of Griffo sparring a martial artist Battling Charles Barnett: This content is protected
Wow, thanks. I've read about this, but the film was believed to have been lost. I also read that this was apparently a re-enactment of the actual bout that occurred earlier on the same day. Griffo was supposed to have won the match, so I have to assume he is the guy in the dark top. If that's correct, it's a little bit strange in so far as Charles Barnett was supposed to be the martial arts guy but it's only the guy in the dark top that does anything that might resemble "martial arts". This was also apparently filmed atop the original MSG building. Very interesting.
I agree. When I began watching I also calculated the shorter man (lighter top) to be Griffo, per height and facial resemblance - and especially so when the other guy appeared to throw in some "martial arts" moves. The only problem is that it was supposed to be a re-enactment of a fight that Griffo won earlier in the day. If Griffo was supposed to have lost, then all else fits into place to identify the shorter man in the lighter top as Griffo. Hmmm.
This is only 20 seconds of a supposedly 4 minute film, which is lost. It's equally possible that Griffo, the shorter fighter, got up and ended up winning the fight. His combos, movement and stance all look more boxing oriented as well.
Excellent point. I incorrectly assumed it was the end of the fight. Still, I would’ve expected the defensive genius of Griffo to have prevented a KD by a mere martial artist- lol. It would be interesting to read any description of the fight if available.
Griffo certainly doesn’t seem like someone who can hang with Joe Gans on a technical level, yet he did. Footage of past fighters is always confusing
Yes, the old footage can be a bit deceptive sometimes - I think we also have to allow for the “theatrics” in re-enactments. How ever good he was, Corbett looks far better in live action (vs Fitz) than the goofy sparring he did in the film with Charles “Kid” McCoy.
I read that Young Griffo did not in fact see the film himself, as he had got arrested for assaulting a youth, for which he served a year in prison.