Albert Griffiths better known as Young Griffo, was a world featherweight boxing

Boxing

Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...

 champion.

Professional career

Griffo turned pro in 1886 and fought primarily in his home land of Australia. He held the Australian featherweight title for many years, and in 1890 challenged Torpedo Billy Murphy

Torpedo Billy Murphy

Thomas William Murphy was a boxer from New Zealand. A featherweight, he was the first world champion in any class to come from New Zealand and the only NZ-born champion to date. He was sometimes billed as Australian Billy Murphy Murphy was born in Auckland and began boxing there before continuing...

 for the World Featherweight Title and won in the 15th round after Murphy retired. He defended the title four times before vacating it to fight at a higher weight. His last bout was in 1904.

In a tribute to Griffo from the 6 March 1916, Tacoma Daily News, written by Tommy Sullivan: "Not known as much of a puncher, but his skill was uncanny. He had wonderful headwork, almost inpenetrable defense, dazzling feints, and rapid two-handed methods of attack. The cleverest boxers and hardest punchers were made to look ridiculous when exchanging swats with him. He had a dislike of training and was deemed lazy. There were times he got drunk before a match [such as the Ike Weir and Tommy Tracy bouts]."

Reference sources

Pictures held and digitised as part of the Arnold Thomas boxing collection by the National Library of Australia

• Albert Griffiths "Griffo", Feather Champion of the World, c1890
• Albert Griffiths, 1893?
• Albert Griffiths, c1927 "shortly before his death"