The Pugilists at the Casino
Boxing legend George Dixon trades blows with the heavier Australian Griffo in a 20-round match at Seattle’s Casino.
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Five thousand spectators witnessed one of the prettiest fights held in this city at the Casino between George Dixon and Griffo. Griffo weighed 135 pounds and Dixon 123; Griffo’s heavy form created the impression that Dixon would have a hard tussle to win, but here is where the colored man again proved his gameness and adroit tactics. He was cuffed and slapped and cut about the face by his heavier opponent. On more than one occasion during the twenty rounds, it looked as though his left would finish the Australian. Griffo is a great fighter and no mistake, but the impression gained from the battle is that with anywhere near even weight, the colored boy would win. In the second round, Griffo was warned by Eckhardt that he must refrain from striking the negro's chin with his elbows. Griffo held the advantage up to the fifth round, but in the fifth, Dixon did some hot rushing that resulted in much damage. In the eighth, Dixon caught Griffo full in the face, and they exchanged rapidly up to the fifteenth round. By the finish, they shook hands and laughed good-naturedly at one another. The referee declared the fight a draw.
“He was cuffed and slapped and cut about the face by his heavier opponent. On more than one occasion... it looked as though his left would finish the Australian.”
Boxing was a major pillar of Seattle’s turn-of-the-century nightlife, often taking place in downtown venues like the Casino. While the sport has evolved, the spectacle of high-profile matchups remains a constant in Seattle's entertainment scene.
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