BOXING AT GRIFFITH
                                                                                   Grogan Defeats Tilden in the Second  Round
                                                                                                         (By "K.D.C.")
The sporting community of Griffith were treated to an entertaining afternoon on Saturday last, when witnessing the boxing contests which were very ably promoted by Mr. Fred Taylor.
Contests of this description had been previously looked upon with doubt by a large section of the local sporting public, owing to a few previous similar events having proved schlenters.
These people now must rest assured, however, that boxing at Griffith in the future will always be clean and interesting, while promoted on lines similar to those in effect on Saturday.
There was a very large crowd assembled to witness these contests, and throughout the entire afternoon appeared wholly satisfied.  The clergy was well represented and there were a number of ladies present.
The main feature of the day was billed as a fight between Pat Grogan and Wal Tilden, for 15 rounds of two minutes each, one to win. This contest had been looked forward to for a long time and it was anticipated that it would prove extended and willing.
It did not prove of long duration, however, but during the three minutes of fighting it certainly proved very willing. Doctor Watkins pronounced the combatants in the pink of condition, and they certainly appeared perfectly trained Goliaths when shaking hands in the ring.
Grogan, weighing 12 stone, shaped in a very open manner, holding his left about chin high, half extended and the right practically shoulder high. Tilden shaped lower, with right guarding lower chest and left in line with his antagonist's jaw.
In the first round Tilden opened the fight leading to Grogan's left ear with his right, and in response received two smashing blows to the lower ribs. He later retaliated with a heavy right to Grogan's jaw. The latter took the blow without retaliation, and appeared to spar for an opening. Later however, he failed to take advantage of an opening to the body. Possibly the opening did not appear sufficient as later forced an opening by feinting with the left and leading a smashing right to Tilden's jaw. Tilden went to the boards in a very shaken manner, but arose at the count of 8. The timekeeper's gong prevented any further effort on either side.
The second round opened well for Tilden. He forced the fighting for a few seconds, landing heavily to the head and swung his opponent to the ropes. Grogan cleverly outboxed his assailant however, and brought the fighting to the centre of the ring. Both sparred for an opening, but each appeared too wary to allow the other any latitude. Grogan forced an opening, however, by jabbing a left to Tilden's body, causing the latter's guard to drop. Simultaneously he crossed with a powerful right to Tilden's unguarded left jaw, following with a smashing left uppercut to the jaw knocking his opponent to the ropes. Tilden hung over the ropes in a dazed condition, bleeding profusely from the mouth, for 7 seconds. Partially recovering he was able to gain footing only, when he received a smashing right to the left ear, followed by a left to the mouth. The impetus of Grogan's last punch carried him to his opponent's body and Tilden dropped in a crumpled heap at his feet, where he remained 'knocked out' for 30 seconds and unable to rise for 2 minutes. Amidst a wild clamor of applause, Grogan was proclaimed the winner.
He obtained the title of welterweight champion of the British and Australian Fleets at Singapore, in 1919, when he 'knocked out' Seaman Butler in the third round and with Saturday's victory over the local champion he is now our "Area wonder."
A challenge was issued him by Bill Butler, to fight 15 rounds of two minutes at Griffith, on a date not fixed. He is giving the matter consideration and in the event of his acceptance. the public can look forward to an interesting fight. Butler has been doing well in preliminaries at the Sydney Stadium, and if riding a 'push bike' from Wyalong (90 miles) on Saturday to see the fight and then to continue in that manner to Leeton that night, is a sign of good condition, Butler must be in 'top notch.'
The preliminaries were very acceptable. Mathews, 9 stone 4 lbs, proved a fair opponent to Ryan, 9st. 81bs. J. Davidge, 7st. 91bs was outpointed by Jack Haines, 7 stone, in three rounds of 1 half minutes. Special mention is due to Haines, who gave a startling performance for a lad of 13 years.
 A contest, in which the combatants, Halfpenny, 10st, and Tompkins, 10st. 21bs, were blindfolded, proved very funny, and nearly disastrous to the referee, who barely, escaped a couple of blows from each of the contestants while they were wildly swinging.
Roy Coote 8st. 7lbs, v. J. Walcott, 9st, proved one-sided. Walcott had to smother throughout two rounds, and then skied the towel. Coote is a very fair lightweight and should offer some thing spectacular in a light with A. Mathews, who has accepted a challenge by the former to boxe 15 rounds later.
Mr. E. J. McNabb performed the functions of referee in all contests and was responsible for keeping them open and clean. Mr. Joe Clark, acted as  timekeeper, assisted by Mr. J. Scrivener. 
Mr. Fred Taylor, is to be again congratulated on having again 
introduced boxing of a good clean characted to the Griffith public and later, if he promotes the numerous fights at present being muted, we can be assured of a very fine entertainment.
Interviewed after the Grogan — Tllden contest, Mr. Taylor stated he regretted that it had not been an extended issue, but was satisfied be cause the "stoush" was "dinkum."
Tilden was sufficiently recovered on Sunday to play Rugby League football with the Griffith team against Yenda, at Yenda; Both he and his opponent of Saturday played side by side and battled willingly in furthering the victories of their team, which defeated Yenda by eight points to nil.
(Murrumbidgee Irrigator - Tuesday July 9, 1921).