Corn Griffin

John Charles "Corn" Griffin (July 24, 1911 – January 9, 1973) was an American professional heavyweight boxer whose career spanned from 1929 to 1938.^[1] Born in Blountstown, Florida, Griffin relocated to Fort Benning, Georgia, in 1929 as a soldier and quickly rose in the local boxing scene, compiling a professional record of 45 wins (26 by knockout), 26 losses, and 4 draws over 75 bouts.^[2]^[1] Griffin's most notable fight came on June 14, 1934, when he faced James J. Braddock at Madison Square Garden Bowl in Long Island City, New York.^[3] Billed as a stepping-stone bout for the favored Griffin, who weighed 185 pounds to Braddock's 180, the match ended in a third-round technical knockout victory for Braddock at 2:37 after both fighters had been knocked down in the second round.^[3] This upset marked the beginning of Braddock's legendary comeback, later immortalized in the 2005 film Cinderella Man.^[4] Throughout his career, Griffin competed primarily on the East Coast against top heavyweights of the era but never captured a world title or major ranking.^[1] After retiring in 1938, he lived out his later years in Georgia until his death in 1973 at age 61.^[5]

Early life

Birth and upbringing

John Charles Griffin, who later became known as the heavyweight boxer Corn Griffin, was born on July 24, 1911, in Blountstown, Florida, the county seat of rural Calhoun County.^[5]^[6] His parents were James L. Griffin, then aged 29, and Ida C. McClelland, aged 27, both residents of the area.^[6] Griffin spent his childhood in Calhoun County, a sparsely populated rural region in the Florida Panhandle where the timber industry and naval stores dominated the local economy during the early 20th century, following the decline of cotton agriculture.^[7] The county's small communities, supported by district schools and churches, provided a tight-knit environment typical of agrarian life in the 1910s and 1920s, shaping the early years of residents like Griffin before many sought opportunities elsewhere.^[7]

Military service

Griffin enlisted in the U.S. Army around 1929 and was posted to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he began his military career.^[8] As an enlisted soldier in the pre-World War II era, Griffin's daily life at Fort Benning involved rigorous physical training, infantry drills, and maintenance duties typical of the era's emphasis on building soldier fitness and discipline through organized athletics and exercise programs. His experiences built on the foundational toughness from his upbringing in rural Florida, preparing him for the demands of service.^[1] Griffin was introduced to boxing through the Army's athletic programs at Fort Benning, which promoted competitive sports to enhance physical readiness and unit morale. He participated in amateur boxing matches and sparring sessions within military contexts, quickly gaining local popularity among fans in the nearby Columbus area for his aggressive style and power.^[8] Standing at 6 feet 1 inch tall with a sturdy heavyweight build developed during his service, Griffin rose to prominence in the Army's light heavyweight division, competing successfully in the Fourth Corps Area tournaments before transitioning to professional boxing.^[1]^[8]

Boxing career

Professional debut and early fights

Corn Griffin made his professional boxing debut on May 7, 1929, defeating John Marquette by decision at Fort Benning Arena in Fort Benning, Georgia.^[1] This victory marked the start of his paid career in the heavyweight division, building on the boxing skills he had honed during his U.S. Army service at Fort Benning.^[2] In 1929, Griffin fought six times, all at or near Fort Benning, securing unanimous wins against opponents like Layon McDuff and Grumpy Gordy, which quickly established his presence in regional circuits.^[1] From 1930 to 1932, Griffin accelerated his activity, competing in 27 bouts primarily in Georgia and nearby states such as Florida and Alabama, amassing a record of 20 wins, 5 losses, and 2 draws during this period.^[1] Under the management of Charles J. Harvey, who guided his development with an emphasis on aggressive punching, Griffin notched several knockout victories, including a second-round stoppage of Charles "Ranger" Pond on September 30, 1930, in Atlanta, Georgia, and a first-round knockout of Tony Cancela in February 1932 in Jacksonville, Florida.^[1]^[8] These early stoppages highlighted his power, with knockouts accounting for a notable share of his wins and contributing to the foundation of his career 57.78% knockout rate across 75 total professional fights.^[1] Griffin's regional bouts, often held at venues like Doughboy Stadium in Fort Benning and Atlanta Theater, drew local crowds and built his reputation as a hard-hitting favorite in the Southeast.^[2]^[1] By late 1932, he had faced a mix of debutants and journeymen, including losses to more seasoned fighters like Bob Tow in 1930 and Muggs Kerr in 1931 (stopped due to cuts), which tempered his rapid rise but underscored his resilience in accumulating experience.^[1] This early phase solidified Griffin's transition from military sparring to professional contention, with 26 wins by the end of 1932 laying groundwork for broader heavyweight opportunities.^[1]

Key fights and opponents

Griffin's career reached its zenith in 1934 as a highly touted heavyweight contender, bolstered by his impressive performances as a sparring partner for world champion Primo Carnera earlier that year.^[9]^[10] During training camps in late May and early June 1934, Griffin outhustled the much larger Carnera, earning praise from sportswriters for his boxing technique and aggressive approach that made the champion appear awkward.^[11] The pinnacle of Griffin's professional bouts came on June 14, 1934, when he faced James J. Braddock at Madison Square Garden Bowl in Long Island City, New York.^[3] Expected to serve as a stepping stone in Griffin's rise, the fight instead marked a stunning upset as Braddock, returning from a six-year hiatus, secured a technical knockout victory over Griffin in the third round at 2:37.^[3] This loss halted Griffin's momentum and launched Braddock's improbable comeback toward the heavyweight title.^[10] Among other notable opponents during his peak years, Griffin defeated Natie Brown by decision in August 1933 at Fort Benning, defeated Buck Everett in July 1933 in Asheville, North Carolina, though he suffered a loss to Everett in September 1933, also in Asheville.^[1] Over his professional tenure from 1929 to 1938, Griffin compiled a record of 45 wins, 26 losses, and 4 draws, with one no contest, achieving a knockout rate of 57.78% across 75 bouts.^[1] While aggressive and vicious in his punching, Griffin lacked the overwhelming power to consistently finish elite heavyweights, contributing to his challenges against top opposition.^[11]

Retirement from boxing

Griffin's professional boxing career continued after a sixth-round technical knockout loss to Barney Brock on July 4, 1936, at Bay High Gymnasium in Panama City, Florida, but he fought only sporadically thereafter.^[1] This defeat was part of a string of losses that accelerated after his third-round knockout by James J. Braddock in 1934. He had one final bout in July 1938, a loss to Young Allen at Doughboy Stadium in Fort Benning, after which he retired.^[1] With a career record of 45 wins (26 by knockout), 26 losses, and 4 draws, Griffin never captured a major title but established himself as a durable gatekeeper against prominent heavyweights.^[1] Following his exit from the ring, Griffin settled into civilian life in Georgia, joining the Columbus Police Department in 1938 without pursuing any comeback or exhibition bouts.^[2]

Later life

World War II service

John Charles "Corn" Griffin served in the U.S. Army during World War II.^[5]

Post-war career and death

After the war, Griffin continued his work as a police officer with the Columbus Police Department in Georgia, a position he had joined in 1936. He served in the patrol and traffic divisions for a total of 27 years, becoming a familiar figure in the community for walking a beat along Lower Broadway. Griffin retired from law enforcement on January 1, 1963.^[8] Following retirement, Griffin relocated to Wewahitchka, Florida, where he spent his later years. He died there on January 9, 1973, at the age of 61.^[2] In 2020, he was posthumously inducted into the Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame.^[2]

Legacy

Cultural depictions

Corn Griffin is prominently featured in the 2005 film Cinderella Man, directed by Ron Howard, where he appears as the opponent in James J. Braddock's comeback fight and is portrayed by actor Art Binkowski. The movie depicts the bout as a third-round knockout victory for Braddock, highlighting Griffin's role as the highly ranked contender expected to dominate the washed-up fighter.^[12] Griffin figures in numerous books and articles chronicling Braddock's "Cinderella" story, serving as the catalyst for his resurgence from poverty and obscurity. For instance, Jeremy Schaap's Cinderella Man: James J. Braddock, Max Baer, and the Greatest Upset of the Great Depression describes the fight in detail, noting how Braddock's upset over Griffin earned him renewed attention and opportunities. The nickname "Cinderella Man" itself was inspired by Damon Runyon's reportage on Braddock's improbable journey, with the Griffin matchup forming its foundational chapter, as Runyon later reflected on the boxer's transformation from dockworker to champion.^[13]^[14] In broader boxing histories, Griffin is frequently referenced as a "stepping stone" fighter for heavyweight contenders, positioned as a reliable but unremarkable opponent to build momentum. Accounts of the 1934 Braddock fight emphasize this dynamic, portraying Griffin as the favored "Ozark Cyclone" whose defeat unexpectedly propelled Braddock toward the title.^[10] Archival footage of the 1934 Braddock-Griffin fight remains limited, with most visual records preserved through contemporary newsreels rather than dedicated documentaries, though the event is recounted in historical compilations of Braddock's career. The bout itself, held on June 14, 1934, at the Madison Square Garden Bowl, underpins these cultural portrayals as the spark of Braddock's legendary underdog narrative.

Honors and recognition

In 2020, Corn Griffin was posthumously inducted into the Chattahoochee Valley Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing his pioneering contributions to boxing in the region as a soldier-athlete and his subsequent public service.^[8] The induction ceremony took place on February 1, 2020, at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center, honoring Griffin's light heavyweight successes in the U.S. Army's Fourth Corps Area, including victories over notable opponents such as Adolph Wiater, Jim Maloney, Steve Hamas, and Nate Brown, the latter of whom once went 10 rounds with heavyweight champion Joe Louis.^[2]^[15] This accolade underscores Griffin's local legacy in Columbus, Georgia, where he is celebrated as a boxing trailblazer who rose from Fort Benning's military ranks in 1929 to become a professional heavyweight contender, while also serving as a police officer from 1936 until his retirement in 1963.^[8] His dual recognition as a military veteran and sports figure highlights his enduring impact on the Chattahoochee Valley community, blending athletic achievement with civic duty.^[2] Griffin's statistical record further cements his reputation as a durable heavyweight of the 1930s era, amassing 75 professional bouts over a career spanning 1929 to 1938, a testament to the gatekeeper role he often filled against top contenders.^[1] His high-profile loss to James J. Braddock in 1934, which propelled Braddock toward the heavyweight title and inspired the "Cinderella Man" narrative, elevated Griffin's standing in broader discussions of Depression-era boxing.^[8]