Montell Griffin
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| Montell Griffin | |
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| Statistics | |
|---|---|
| Real name | Montell Julian Griffin |
| Nickname(s) | Ice |
| Rated at | Light Heavyweight |
| Nationality | American |
| Birth date | June 6, 1970 |
| Birth place | Chicago, IL, U.S. |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 55 |
| Wins | 48 |
| Wins by KO | 30 |
| Losses | 7 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Montell Julian Griffin (born June 6, 1970 in Chicago) is an American boxer. He is best known for his two bouts at Light Heavyweight with Roy Jones Jr.
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[edit] Professional career
Griffin, nicknamed "Ice," began his pro career in 1993. He rose to fame when he defeated James Toney twice by decision in 1995 and 1996. These wins earned Griffin the lightly-regarded WBU title, as well as a lucrative bout against WBC champion Roy Jones Jr.
[edit] Gaining and losing the championship
After his 1996 win over Toney, Griffin landed a shot at WBC Light Heavyweight Title holder Roy Jones Jr. Griffin handed Jones his first professional defeat. But the defeat was also filled with controversy. A frustrated Jones dropped Griffin with a series of hard and fast, head and body punches in round nine, and then hit him again twice on the head after Griffin had taken a knee on the canvas, leading to Jones's disqualification. They had an immediate rematch, and on August 21, Jones regained the WBC Light Heavyweight Title by knocking out Griffin in the first round.
[edit] Post-championship career
After the loss to Jones, Griffin remained a top-ranked light heavyweight for six years. He won 11 of his next 12 bouts, losing only to undefeated but unknown southpaw Eric Harding--whom he knocked down and out-landed in the process, according to punchstats--by split decision.
Four consecutive knockout wins later, the now 38-2 Griffin squared off against 40-0 WBO title holder, Poland's Dariusz Michalczewski, in 1999. The 29-year-old Griffin won the first three rounds on the cards, but was cut by the 31-year-old Michalczewski's jab in the second round. In the fourth, Griffin was twice staggered, and took 14 unanswered shots to the head and gloves, which forced referee Joe Cortez to stop the bout.
In 2002, Griffin earned another WBC and IBF titleshot by defeating 22-2 southpaw Derrick Harmon via a wide decision. In 2003, Griffin went the distance with Antonio Tarver losing a wide decision. He would then lose to Rico Hoye by split decision and to Julio César González, when the bout was stopped on a technicality and sent to the scorecards, after he was in his mid-thirties.
Griffin compiled a very respectable resume over the course of his career: he has two wins over former pound-for-pound king James Toney, a disqualification win over Roy Jones Jr., and wins over contenders Ka-Dy King, Ray Lathon, Randall Yonker, Derrick Harmon and George Khalid Jones.
[edit] Amateur career
Griffin compiled an amateur record of 36-5. He won the 1992 United States Amateur Light Heavyweight title, defeating future heavyweight titlist John Ruiz on points on the way.
At the 1992 Olympic Trials in Worcester, Massachusetts, Griffin was outpointed in the final by Jeremy Williams. However, at the Olympic Box-offs he outpointed Williams twice, to earn an Olympic bid at Light Heavyweight. His Olympic results were:
- France Mabiletsa (Botswana) won on points
- Yo-Da Ko (South Korea) won on points
- Torsten May (Germany) lost on points
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Roy Jones, Jr. |
WBC Light Heavyweight Champion 21 Mar 1997–7 Aug 1997 |
Succeeded by Roy Jones, Jr. |
