Young Griffo: Will O' The Wisp

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by roughdiamond, Feb 11, 2019.



  1. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

    9,600
    17,681
    Jul 25, 2015
    Jpreisser and BitPlayerVesti like this.
  2. Flea Man

    Flea Man มวยสากล Full Member

    82,435
    1,433
    Sep 7, 2008
    No footage of him.

    He was certainly a freak for his time. But a drunkard also. A natural fighter and defensive whiz but again, ‘for his time’.
     
  3. Bukkake

    Bukkake Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,362
    3,456
    Apr 20, 2010
    Some years ago, I saved two links to a story - written by a reporter who was one of the guests, when Jacobs first (I believe it was in 1961, though not absolutely certain about the date) showed some of his films to Nat Fleischer (and other invited guests) in New York:

    postimg.org/image/8jjvn3rnn/
    http://postimg.org/image/r5f6sd0f7/full/

    However, for some reason, these links don't work anymore, and I'm unable to find the story again. But I'm sure, many of you guys must have read the article as well, and know what I'm talking about.

    Anyway, the reporter describes how those attending looked on in disbelief, as they at first didn't even recognize the old-timers on the screen, and could not believe how bad they looked.

    The reporter also mentioned, that they were shown a Griffo fight (opponent not mentioned). Apparently he wasn't impressed, as he remarks (and I'm paraphrasing) that if Griffo was really seen as this boxing genius by his contemporaries... it must have been because he stood out in an era, where almost everybody else looked terrible.

    So yes, I guess there must be some footage of him out there - that we, unfortunately, aren't allowed to see!
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2019
  4. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

    8,585
    11,046
    Oct 28, 2017
    IIRC he was pretty well schooled by Mace and Folley. I don't know much about him honestly. I suspect very much a mix of good training and talent rather than pure talent.
     
  5. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

    8,585
    11,046
    Oct 28, 2017
    Chronicalling America is decent for New York papers, and goes up to 1963
    https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
     
    George Crowcroft likes this.
  6. Bukkake

    Bukkake Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,362
    3,456
    Apr 20, 2010
    Yes, 'for his time'... which about says it all.
     
    Flea Man and Pat M like this.
  7. Turner72

    Turner72 Member Full Member

    173
    6
    Oct 31, 2010
    Filth .... he was a paedo and kiddie fiddler.
     
  8. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

    9,600
    17,681
    Jul 25, 2015
    Wait, seriously?
     
  9. Turner72

    Turner72 Member Full Member

    173
    6
    Oct 31, 2010
    He served prison time for it at the peak of his career.
     
  10. roughdiamond

    roughdiamond Ridin' the rails... Full Member

    9,600
    17,681
    Jul 25, 2015
    Can you provide a source?
     
    BitPlayerVesti likes this.
  11. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

    8,585
    11,046
    Oct 28, 2017
    Wiki just says he was drunk driving and "disorderly" conduct, and had an assualt sentence. Nothing like that.
     
    George Crowcroft likes this.
  12. Turner72

    Turner72 Member Full Member

    173
    6
    Oct 31, 2010
    It was covered in the newspapers of the time.

    I haven't got the time or inclination to go trawling through them at the moment but if you Google search Young Griffo (or Albert Griffiths) and William Gottlieb (spelling?), I'm sure it will throw something up for you.

    If you look at his career record he was fighting every few weeks, then in the mid 1890's there is a gap of around a year. That is when he was in jail for the crime.
     
  13. Turner72

    Turner72 Member Full Member

    173
    6
    Oct 31, 2010
    Can't be true then.
     
  14. BitPlayerVesti

    BitPlayerVesti Boxing Drunkie Full Member

    8,585
    11,046
    Oct 28, 2017
    Well I'll take it over unsourced comments from a random.
     
  15. Turner72

    Turner72 Member Full Member

    173
    6
    Oct 31, 2010
    Carry on in your ignorance, you show plenty of it in your knowledge here, no bother to me.