AN AUCKLAND PUGILIST MURPHY'S FIRST FIGHT IN AMERICA. HE DEFEATS GRIFFIN.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 397, 28 August 1889, Page 6

AN AUCKLAND PUGILIST MURPHY'S FIRST FIGHT IN AMERICA. HE DEFEATS GRIFFIN.

Neakly every seat was taken afc the California Athletic Club on July 12bh to witness the beating that Johnny Griffin contemplated giving Billy Murphy, the stranger from Australia. The men entered tlie ring at 9 o'clock with their seconds, and Kirain Cook dclive r ed the regular lecture on the topic of ;" breaking away." v Both men were trained down fine, with Griffin, the heavier ot the two. neighing 120 i pounds, while Murphy stood at 117. "Two more wiry, hard-muscled leather-weights never stepped in a ling ' .than these, two when tlfej r faced each other , foY the- first round, 'with the betting 2 to 1 u'i Griffin, of Boston.

THE 1 " FIRST ROUND. ; The fighters .took each other's measure i. v about half a minute, when the Austva- , li »n led wjth his left lightly,, more to gauge "•th'e-distance than anything', and feil short.. \ He led, again and, just tapped histnan, and then,iiberating his right, swung it like] a ~ hammer lound his opponent's neck. The blow sounded alLover the room, and, as he stepped back, those in the lower circle saw a red spot an Griffin's neck, and also the mark where a wrist had laid its weight on his collar-bone. 'Murphy followed his work quickly by two more vicious blows on Griffin's chest, and all around the ring could be heard the comments of the spectators. "Oh"! he's a fighter." " Itow he swings 'em in." " Where the deuce does he get the driving power ?" etc. -G-riffin took .his medicine in good shape and did not seem at all unnerved by the "Australian's onslaught who not only landed heavily, but avoided Ihe return. After pausing a moment Murphy edged his man up into a corner _and punished him there with a lively rush, when the gfong Struck. There was some applause for the Australian "as he went to his corner, but from the sort of noise made it was easy to see that the bulk of those present had their money on the American. Murphy's stock, however, did not rise rapidly, as ie" was generally conceded that ho had set the pace too fast and would not be able to maintain it. Griffin also took his punishment easy and showed a desire to get back, which pleased his .. friends.

THE .SECOND, ROUND, The Australian opened the round quickly with a ringing left-handed visit to the other's face. A clinch and sharp rally followed. Immediately after the break Murphy worked in- an upper cut, and after this Gr itß n, who had begun to realise that he had struck a hard gatne t _be.gan to avoid the other's rushes. He was still cool and cfilm as an oyster. He seemed merely •waiting -for the other to. get weary of his hard work. 1 ■ Wheo-they went to their corners neither wa<? much distressed, and the audience figured'thatf Griffin would begin his part of the fight in the next round. They were not disappointed, for Griffin came up in good shape, and having marked the distance sent in two hot shots on the other's chin. Murphy landed as usual, but lightly, for Griffin was getting well on to his btyle, and after sending in "a -smart y.: right-hander in the Australian's face, made a magnificent rally, and they were closed for a good fight at short range. ■ In- this Tally, which lasted about fifteen seconds, Griffin showed his great superiority at in-fighting, and 1 got his man in position where he sent in blow after blow on his face. -His backers w.ere wild with delight when'they saw the Australian reel out oi the scrimmage sick and groggy. It seemed.- for an instant that he had gob enough, when like a flash he sent his left into Griffin's right side, and the blow twisted Griffin into 'ihe position that gave the Australian his opening. Like lightning he sent a terrible righthander in under Griffin's ear. The blow reached exactly the right spot, and Griffin dropped forward, limp and senseless, his chin striking the floor with a sharp rap. - It wa& done so quickly that the crowd hardly realised what had, happened.^ Aa he lay on his face his left arm •A'.i.-j bent under him, and the referee stood o\er*him until the ten seconds ticked i'\*ay that pu 6 £300 in the pocket of the •j.ever Australian pugilist, who landed in San Francisco about a month ago without 3 dollar, having worked his passage as a stoker on an oc^an' liner. There was a wild cheer for the winner, and the loser still lay there, face down, without the slightest motion, until his seconds picked him up and carried him to his corner. The event was treated as another " surprise " from Australia. All agreed that Murphy was a wonderful hitter, and likely to capture the featherweight championship. '* That's what he's here for," was the general comment. An Australian who saw the fight said' to an " Examiner" reporter : " I've seen him drop twelve men just that way This is the thirteenth. He's the f;.m«st'dangerous man I ever saw coming out of a rally."' He comes out grbgrgy, does he ? That',s,al;l right. When he acts groggy you '"w.an^tp^watcLhis righ,fcif you are in a ring vylthfnim 1T r " _ _._.-. , . 1,.?'. ,- : T#eV LOSER SATISFIED; * . V Hal£>"<ch -liGu'r later Griffin was found by 'an«".E#aminef " reporter'in his dressings room. He was not 'in- bad' shape, ap-" parently, .and said; "I, was fairly beaten. r I wish "Warren "haUri'b sprained his ankle,' I got it. hard and didn't. really know what hit me^i s "';'- ;, ' \ J^otwiths£afsding the Clever way in which Billy. .Murphy /won, , Frank .Murphy, the Extern 'feather- weiglit, has signed articles to light him nra month.