Battling Nelson v Young Griffo

Griffo wasn't very good at infighting, and I don't think he could keep Nelson off. It would probably result in something like his fight with Joe Bernstein (which could be called a draw), say 12-8 by rounds in favor of Nelson.

 

I think the aggressor usually wins out, you can see this in Frazier/Ali 1. Im not to familiar with the two if they are the same size I think Nelson wins, because then the other guy would need to win on points if hes getting beat up. Ali was able to make a difficult fight due to reach/height. I would say style advantage to Nelson,counter punches have to be on point moreso to win because they win on precise timing. a taller counter puncher has the advantage on shorter aggressive fighters imop though.

 

Joe Gans, as quoted by the Washington Post on July 9, 1899:

“I’ll never forget my experience in the ring with that Kid Griffo. We met in the ring at the Olympic Club at Athens, Pa., and it was agreed that we were to divide the purse, win or lose. I trained for three weeks for the bout, and when I got a flash at Griffo in his corner I noticed that a fold of fat wobbled over his belt. He was in fit condition for a sanitarium instead of a prize ring, and I told Herford [Al Herford, Joe Gans' manager] that I would make short work of the Australian phenom, as they called him. We were to go fifteen rounds, and I thought I could do Griff in about three punches at the wind. I had an idea that he would keep away from me, but that’s where he fooled me. You would naturally think that a man in his condition would steer away from a punch, but he crowded me from the first tap of the gong.

“He clearly outboxed me, but every time he tapped me I smiled at him. ‘See here, old chap,’ he said, ‘I’m out for a draw, and don’t get awfully rude with me because I ‘av a bloomink pain in me stomach and if you slam me once in the body it will be all off. So don’t get rude, and be a gentleman.’ I tried my prettiest to bore a stomach punch into him, but I only caught him on the glove at every trial, and then I switched my tactics and tried for his jaw, but he was inside of me at every punch, and when I led he stepped inside and showered a rain of taps with both hands. He had me tired once, I will admit, and it looked to me as if every one in the crowd was throwing boxing gloves at me. It’s a pity that a boxer of his talent never took care of himself, as he was the greatest defensive boxer that ever lived, and the most peculiar feature of his defense was that he was up and at the opponent all the time, fighting close on the inside of the guard. They talk about Fitzsimmons as a fighting machine, but as a mechanical boxer Fitz never classed with Griffo.”.
When I saw this intruiging matchup ,my first thought was how many times did Griffo go 20rds? Reading this report of a 15rds fight with Gans ,when he was grossly out of shape persuades me that he would be able to cope with Nelson's onslaught.Granted the Gans fight was fought at a more sedate pace than the Battler would set, but we are matching these guys when prime,therefore I go with the Aussie on points

 

WTF?

 

I've already given my pick ,but this result might have a bearing on how such a fight would go.

Chicago Tribune, February 11, 1894:

"'Young' Griffo had a close call from defeat at the Lake Front armory last night in his eight round go with George Lavigne."

"Lavigne's showing was a revelation even to his friends, and while George Siler, the referee, properly decided the affair a draw, as there was not enough advantage on either side to merit a decision if one had been given, Lavigne must have won. Griffo's admirers may take exceptions to this statement, but if they closely sum up the result of the fight they can hardly do so with justice."

"In the first two rounds he [Griffo] kept Lavigne in his own corner, but in the sharp rallies that followed in rapid succession the Michigan lad secured almost an even break. When Griffo closed with him he would stand and punch and landed quite as often as the Australian. The third round was just as fast and the fourth found both men tired. That caused no surprise, as the work had been remarkably fast. If Griffo had a chance to win it was in this round. Lavigne was dead tired, but Griffo was no better, and the round was uneventful. From that time on Lavigne was much the stronger of the two. Griffo began to break ground, and Lavigne, following him, fought wildly at times, his left hand particularly going high over the alien's head, but he landed at times, and several stiff punches over the heart did the tiring Australian no good.

"Last night's set-to was not conclusive of course, as Lavigne was trained to the hour, while Griffo was big and fat, but on last night's showing Griffo would have his hands full winning from Lavigne in a finish fight." .


Lavigne v Nelson Anyone?

 

I don't really care what Gans said in 1899. Here's how next-day Philadelphia Inquirer described it (Gans showing his best on occasions when Griffo chose to slug it out):
"Gans is a far better lad than his work last night would suggest. He was visibly rattled at Griffo's tactics, and in the first five rounds there was a constant look of almost amused embarrassment on his face. If he had put up the fight of which he is really capable--gone in hammer and tongs particularly after the tenth round, he would have made a far better showing. As it was the only time he showed the stuff of which he is really made, were when Griffo, departing from his usual custom, would start rushing as though he meant to finish the business in jig time. Then Gans would mix it up in a way that aroused the enthusiasm of the spectators."

 

Why would this account be anymore accurate than Gans'?

 

There were and are plenty of examples of one or both of the fighters giving interview (with their opinion of how the bout progressed) at the end of the fight. I'll take ringside observers' reports over fighters' views any time.

 

That is your prerogative.