Description
Gerald Ambrose “Tuffy” Griffiths (January 1, 1907 – November 15, 1968) was an American boxer. He fought as a heavyweight and occasionally as a light heavyweight under the name Tuffy Griffihs. He compiled a career record of 73-11-0. During his career Griffiths fought many notables including Jimmy Braddock, King Levinsky, Ernie Scaaf, Max Baer, Johnny Risko, Tommy Loughran, Paolino Uzcudun, Leo Lomski and Mike McTigue. Tuffy Griffiths compiled a career record of 73-11-0.
All of Griffiths early fights were fought in theMidwest. In order to gain more notoriety, he relocated to New York City. Many media outlets were reporting that Griffiths was not beaten in over 50 consecutive matches when he arrived on the East Coast. Fighting his first fight in Manhattan at Madison Square Garden on November 30, 1928, he fought James J. Braddock. Griffiths was supposed to be fighting former champion Pete Latzo that night. However, in a tune-up match for the Griffiths bout, Braddock broke Latzo’s jaw in four places. Braddock was the only other choice to fight Griffiths that night. Griffiths was a 7-1 favorite to win the match against Braddock. As expected Griffiths dominated the first round of the fight, but Braddock fought back viciously in the second. Braddock ended up getting a second-round knockout and shocked the whole boxing world. This single match launched Braddock’s boxing career. A reenactment of this fight is featured in the movie CINDERELLA MAN.
After the loss to Braddock, Griffiths ended up going on a five match win streak. His winning streak would end though to Leo Lomski on February 15, 1929. In a rematch with Lomski the following month, Griffiths bounced back and won. However, he broke his hand in the fight, and was sidelined for two months. Upon his return Griffiths won 16 consecutive matches. He beat Johnny Risko on July 2, 1930, in Chicago and knocked out Tom Heeney in New York on July 30, 1930.
Griffiths ended up fighting a future heavyweight champion on September 26, 1932. His opponent was one of the most feared boxers of his time, Max Baer. Baer won by a TKO in the 7th round of the bout. On September 26, 1932 at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois future heavyweight champion Max Baer fough contender Tuffy Griffiths in the main event. Baer stopped Griffiths at 58 seconds of the 7th round to continue his rise in the division. From Chicago Tribune (Bob Soderman). Griffith was down in round six and narrowly avoided a knockout in round four, and suffered a bad beating. On September 27, 1928 at Midway Gardens in Chicago light heavyweights Mike McTigue and Tuffy Griffiths met in a featured match. Griffiths made short work of it knocking out McTigue in the first round.
Tuffy Griffiths would fight his last professional bout against Tony Shucco on September 6, 1933. The fight saw Tuffy get knocked out in the fourth round. After nearly 8 years of professional boxing and 74 wins, he would retire officially in 1934.
- After his boxing career ended he was stationed at the San Diego Marine Corps base as a boxing instructor.
- Ran Tuffy Griffiths’s Tavern for many years in Chicago after his retirement.
- He is a member of the Greater Sioux City Athletic Association Hall of Fame.
- Was a patient at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Sheridan, WY for many years before his death.
