BOXING.

Grey River Argus, 18 January 1922, Page 3

BOXING.

GRIFFIN v. MCLAUGHLIN. DETAILS OF THE FIGHT. The following account of the recent contest between Frank Griffin and Era McLaughlin, is by “Enthusiast’ l in the ‘‘South Coast Times”:— The Globe was well attended on Xmas Eve when Frank Griffin, of Port Kembla, more than evened up his defeat of a few months back by stopping Ern McLaughlin, of Lithgow, in three rounds. Last time they met McLaughlin knocked Griffin out in 5 at Kiama. Naturally Griffin was the most pleased man in Wollongong when he'reversed the result in less time than it took on the original meeting. It brought back to my mind the meeting of Jim Griffin and Ted Nelson at the old Gaiety, nearly twenty years ago, when Nelson knocked Jim in 13, and a few weeks later Jim knocked Nelson in 12. McLaughlin is a terrific hitter, and had the onlookers on pins and needles which was much increased by ‘the fact that Griffin has a k.o. punch in either hand, which is likely to happen at any moment. Thor was very little finessing; they both sent hard punches along and the defence of both was so good, that quite a number were cither blocked, ducked or back-moved. At the last-mentioned branch of the business Griffin is particularly good; his back-

moving is clean and neat and most methodical, because he rarely fails to get his opponent coming in. However, Griffin was first to land a knock down punch, with his right, which connected squarely on McTTaughlin’s jaw, and dropped him for two. He got up and sent a well-timed left swing to the stomach, and right inside to the jaw. very hard. Griffin managed to keep his balance, but rocked some; then both hit wild and hard, while the excitement stirred the audience to cheers that might have been heard at the North Beach, while terrific punches went within an ace of ending the business, first for one and then for the other. It was not by any means unskilful, in fact it was rather clever, that neither could break through the other’s defence, ft was a wonderfully exciting round, which has characterised all Griffin’s fights. He Is hard and fast, and as game a lad as ever donned a glove, a fact that has still increased his popularity. There is no boxer whom everyone wishes more to see win. There are always some who would like to see him beaten, but those who wish to see Griffin beaten must, at least, admire him for his grit. . . Griffin opened the second with a fine left hook to the cheek, which he repeated to the temple, and sent the right inside to the face, which he also repeated. McLoughlin was in trouble, and while following one of Griffin’s double backmoves with a combination, he accidentally sent a left low, which made Griffin screw up his face, but another left hook as McLaughlin was coming in, and an inside right to the jaw sent McLaughlin down for two. Griffin now’ stormed almost every kind of punch to the head and ribs as McLaughlin leaned up against the looking pretty sick, when the bell went. McLaughlin came from his corner for the third with little prospect of victory, but as game as the proverbial ant. Griffin was his master, but still he stuck to his post, and was admired for it. Griffin’s heavy right to the ear made McLaughlin hang on; another inside right to the jaw as they closed in again was repeated, and McLaughlin was down for one, and smothered up till the bell went, and his seconds then threw in

the towel w’hen he went to his corner. There was as much fight in these two rounds as there is often times in 10, and although McLaughlin was a beaten man in the last, he was still dangerous with that great wallop of his. Following is an extract from a letter received by “Cornerman” from Frank Griffin, under date January 3, 1922:—“Y0u will be pleased to see I have got McLaughlin’s scalp on my belt at last. He made a big row about wanting a side wager of £2OO, and said I was side-stepping him. He challenged mo through every sporting paper in Australia. Well we fought, and I stoped him in three rounds; he must have weighed about 12st. I have challenged Fred Kay for the welterweight championship of Australia. I saw Jerry Monohan box at Les O’Donnell’s rooms in Sydney. He is a sailor and he boxed well, appearing • to pack a good punch. He did well 1o box a draw with Jamito. I also met Tommy O’Brien and Frankie Monroe. We all met in Mr Corbett s office. Jack Monroe (Stadiums) was also there and I challenged Fred Kay for the welter championship. Monroe looks the goods. He is a toughlooking little fellow. He and Tommy O’Brien fought a draw some time back in America. Tommv is a jmand little fellow and a real Yank. I had a letter and a photo from my brother Charlie in America. He is anxious to see me and wants mo to go to America to him: but I will come back to New Zealand first, though i have not made up my m ; y.d whether 1 will go to America or not. I can’t come home until my disqualification is lifted. I think everyone’s is lifted but mine. My next fight is at the Hippodrome, Sydney, with Ray O’Donnell, on January 23. If I win then I will be due for a big fight at the Stadium any time.”