James Braddock vs. John 'Corn' Griffin ~ 'The Fight That Saved Braddock's Career'

[Bill Paxtom]

June 14, 1934

Madison Square Garden Bowl ~ Long Island City, New York

On the undercard of the Primo Carnera vs. Max Bear ~ 'World Heavyweight Championship'
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~ 5-Round 'Heavyweight Special' ~

John 'Corn' Griffin - 44-10-4 {26 KO's} ~ 6' 0" ~ Reach; 72" ~ 184 1/2 lbs. ~ {Age; 22 years, 11 months}
vs.
James Braddock - 41-23-4 {23 KO's} ~ 6' 2 1/2" ~ Reach; 76" ~ 180 lbs. ~ {Age; 29 years, 0 months}
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~ The Skinny ~

John 'Corn' Griffin was a vicious punching fighter from Georgia. Many considered 'Corn' to
be a future 'Light Heavyweight' Title Challenger.

The 'Georgia Bomber' was listed as a {5-1} Betting-Favorite over what the boxing pundits
were calling a 'washed up' James Braddock, in what was later stated as a 'starving' Braddock.

James Braddock took this bout on only 2-Days notice {Fight Purse; $250}, and had been
living off of {Hash and Potato's} for several months.

Braddock had been 'pathetic' in his last 19-Bouts over the past 3-years, winning only '6-Bouts'
during that span.

The 'low-point' was on March 1, 1933 > when Braddock was 'Disqualified' in Round 4, {for not trying}.

And, James Braddock had been 'inactive' for 9-Months, since breaking his hand against 20 1/2 year-old
'prospect' Abe Feldman on September 25, 1933.

[Bill Paxtom]

John 'Corn' Griffin

Managed by; Charles J. Harvey

'Corn' had sledge-hammers for fists, and could 'bomb-out' out anyone, if he caught them.

The 6' 0" ~ 184 lb. fighter from Fort Benning, Georgia was a South-Atlantic terror.
From January 1932 -thru- September 1933, 'Corn' went 18-1-2 with {10 KO's} to gain
some recognition, while improving his record to 41-8-3 with {25 KO's}.

Ring Magazine mentioned the 22 year-old John 'Corn' Griffin as ......... 'One-to-Watch' in 1933.

[Bill Paxtom]

John 'Corn' Griffin

Managed by; Charles J. Harvey

'Corn' had sledge-hammers for fists, and could 'bomb-out' out anyone, if he caught them.

The 6' 0" ~ 178 lb. fighter from Fort Benning, Georgia was a South-Atlantic terror.
From January 1932 -thru- September 1933, 'Corn' went 18-1-2 with {10 KO's} to gain
some recognition, while improving his record to 41-8-3 with {25 KO's}.

Ring Magazine mentioned the 22 year-old John 'Corn' Griffin as ......... 'One-to-Watch' in 1933.

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~ Georgia Peach ~

According to the 'book',

By August 1933,

John 'Corn' Griffin {Age; 22 years, 1 month}, and with a record of 41-8-3 {25 KO's} was on
the verge of earning a World Light-Heavyweight Championship bout against Maxie Rosenbloom.

'Corn' was ranked as high as the #7 Light-Heavyweight.

On September 4, 1933 >
'Corn' Griffin was upset {L TKO 6} by Buck Everett on a cut-eye. The 'loss' did not hurt Griffin's
rating at the time..

This set up a Light-Heavyweight Elimination Bout with former Light-Heavyweight Champion
Bob Godwin for October 25, 1933 at Fort Benning, Georgia.

The winner was to get a chance at Champion - Maxie Rosenbloom for December 21, 1933.

In the bout between > John 'Corn' Griffin vs. Bob Godwin

It was a 'toe-to-toe' slugfest, with each fighter throwing bombs. Though 'Corn' Griffin could punch,
he was 'no match' for the 'former' Light-Heavyweight Champion in the boxing department.

Griffin was 'dropped' {3-times} in Round 5, for an automatic TKO stoppage.

[Bill Paxtom]

Scarra-Manga,

The movie 'The Cinderella Man' was incorrect in stating that John 'Corn' Griffin was
the #2 Ranked Heavyweight when he fought James Braddock.

Griffin was ranked as the #7 Light-Heavyweight at the time. As a matter of fact, his record
was {3-2-1} in his previous '6-Bouts' dating back to September 1933.

Most of the 'old-timers' say, that John 'Corn' Griffin was 'all hype', because he had a
very good Manager {Charles L. Harvey}.

He was a good puncher, who threw bombs. But, he was a 'wide open' slugger, much like a
Southern Barroom Fighter.

Here is the previous opponents list >
* April 17, 1934 ........... W Dec 10 ......... George Fontenberry ~ 28-7-5 {10 KO's}
* February 13, 1934 ..... Draw 10 ........... George Fontenberry ~ 28-7-4 {10 KO's}
* January 26, 1934 ....... W Dec 10 ......... George Manley ~ 87-18-9 {33 KO's}
* January 10, 1934 ....... KO 5 ................ Jim Maloney ~ 51-17-2 {26 KO's}
* October 25, 1933 ....... L TKO 5 ........... Bob Godwin ~ 73-9-8 {25 KO's}
* September 4, 1933 ..... L TKO 6 ........... Buck Everett ~ 28-13-1 {8 KO's}

[Bill Paxtom]

Scarra-Manga,

The movie 'The Cinderella Man' was incorrect in stating that John 'Corn' Griffin was
the #2 Ranked Heavyweight when he fought James Braddock.

Griffin was ranked as the #7 Light-Heavyweight at the time. As a matter of fact, his record
was {3-2-1} in his previous '6-Bouts' dating back to September 1933.

Most of the 'old-timers' say, that John 'Corn' Griffin was 'all hype', because he had a
very good Manager {Charles L. Harvey}.

He was a good puncher, who threw bombs. But, he was a 'wide open' slugger, much like a
Southern Barroom Fighter.

Here is the previous opponents list >
* April 17, 1934 ........... W Dec 10 ......... George Fontenberry ~ 28-7-5 {10 KO's}
* February 13, 1934 ..... Draw 10 ........... George Fontenberry ~ 28-7-4 {10 KO's}
* January 26, 1934 ....... W Dec 10 ......... George Manley ~ 87-18-9 {33 KO's}
* January 10, 1934 ....... KO 5 ................ Jim Maloney ~ 51-17-2 {26 KO's}
* October 25, 1933 ....... L TKO 5 ........... Bob Godwin ~ 73-9-8 {25 KO's}
* September 4, 1933 ..... L TKO 6 ........... Buck Everett ~ 28-13-1 {8 KO's}

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John 'Corn' Griffin

Got a lot of 'ink' when he was in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey > as a sparring-partner for
Heavyweight Champion - Primo Carnera in late-May and early-June of 1934.

'Corn' had looked real good in sparring, and had made the 'oaf' Primo Carnera look like
a 'preliminary fighter' during several sessions.

This from Manager - Charles L. Harvey >
"My boy is still young {Age; 22 years, 11 months}. He will be Heavyweight Champion
within 2 years. We will go after the Light-Heavyweight Championship later this year.
After that, give us a year to prepare for the bigger division."

" 'Corn' can handle the bigger fellows with his strength, he just needs to refine his boxing
skills, that's all."

[Bill Paxtom]

James Braddock vs. John 'Corn' Griffin

Round 1

The younger Georgian came out fast, and started winging with wide-hooks. Braddock,
who was slow afoot, was repeatedly 'tagged' by punches to the head over the first
{1:40}.

Braddock then tried to move forward, and was attempting to press the younger and
aggressive Griffin.

Suddenly during an exchange at Center-Ring, 'Corn' got through with a big right-hand
to Braddock's jaw at the {1:55 Mark}.

Braddock was hurt, and 'staggered' about as Griffin {6' 0"} moved in. The Georgian 'slammed'
Braddock {6' 2 1/2"} with several more bombs, and drove him backwards and to the Ropes,
where he started to 'sag'.

But somehow a 'dazed' Braddock was just barely able to ride out the storm by using his longer
arms {76" Reach} to hold off the shorter-bomber from landing any more 'clean' hooks.

At the end of Round 1, a 'still groggy' Braddock walked back to his corner like he was
'sleep-walking'.