Montell Griffin

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.

Early life

Montell Griffin was born June 6, 1970 in Chicago. By age 22, Griffin was living in Midway City, California and defeated Frank Vassar of Spokane, Washington in the 1992 U.S. Amateur Boxing Championships.^[1]

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.

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 title by knocking out Griffin in the first round.

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 a controversial split decision to undefeated but unknown southpaw Eric Harding, despite knocking him down and out-landing him according to punchstats.

Four consecutive knockout wins later, the now 38-2 Griffin squared off against 40-0 Lineal/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. After he was in his mid-thirties, he would go on to lose to Rico Hoye by split decision, to Julio César González when the bout was stopped in the early goings on a technicality and sent to the scorecards, and Glencoffe Johnson by TKO11, all three were IBF eliminators. He also lost on points to current light heavyweight champion Beibut Shumenov.in a bid to capture his 50th win griffin was held to a draw by former jr. middleweight contender ross thompson on May 29, 2010

Griffin compiled a very respectable resume over the course of his career: he has two wins over 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.

Professional boxing record

50 Wins (30 knockouts, 20 decisions), 8 Losses (3 knockouts, 5 decisions), 1 Draw
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15-9	DeAndrey Abron	UD	8	19/08/2011	Horseshoe Hammond, Hammond, Indiana, United States	80-72, 80-72, 80-72.
Draw	27-14-2	Ross "The Boss" Thompson	SD	10	29/05/2010	Horseshoe Hammond, Hammond, Indiana, United States	96-94, 93-97, 95-95.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	5-0	Beibut Shumenov	UD	12	02/08/2008	Stadium Khadjimukan, Shymkent, Kazakhstan	WBC ABC/WBO Asia Pacific Light Heavyweight Titles. 107-120, 108-120, 108-120.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16-2	Cory "Black Ice" Cummings	UD	10	20/06/2008	Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois, United States	100-89, 100-89, 100-89.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	44-11-2	Glen "Road Warrior" Johnson	TKO	11	16/05/2007	Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Hollywood, Florida, United States	IBF World Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator. Referee stopped the bout at 2:38 of the 11th round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	28-14-3	"Stormin" Norman Jones	UD	12	31/03/2006	Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States	IBF USBA Light Heavyweight Title. 119-109, 118-110, 118-110.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	37-2	Julio Cesar Gonzalez	TD	6	05/05/2005	Spa Resort Casino, Palm Springs, California, United States	IBF World Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator. 54-60, 55-60, 57-57. Referee stopped the bout at 1:11 of the sixth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17-11-4	Sam "Fist of Fury" Reese	UD	10	03/02/2005	HP Pavilion at San Jose, San Jose, California, United States	99-91, 97-93, 96-94.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	17-0	Rico Hoye	SD	12	16/09/2004	Kewadin Casino, Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, United States	IBF World Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator/IBA World Light Heavyweight Title. 112-116, 115-113, 112-116.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	32-12-1	"Doubting" Thomas Reid	UD	10	17/06/2004	Harrah's Laughlin, Laughlin, Nevada, United States	99-91, 99-91, 98-92.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17-11-3	Willard Lewis	RTD	4	22/05/2004	Warner Theatre, Fresno, California, United States	Lewis retired at 3:00 of the fourth round.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	20-1	Antonio Tarver	UD	12	26/04/2003	Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States	WBC/IBF World Light Heavyweight Titles. 106-120, 106-120, 106-120.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18-1	George Khalid Jones	UD	12	03/11/2002	Table Mountain Rancheria, Friant, California, United States	WBC Continental Americas/NABF Light Heavyweight Titles. 115-114, 115-113, 115-113.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22-2	Derrick "Royalty" Harmon	UD	12	21/07/2002	Table Mountain Rancheria, Friant, California, United States	WBC Continental Americas Light Heavyweight Title. 117-111, 118-110, 117-112.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11-4-1	George "Da Butcher" Klinesmith	TKO	1	17/02/2002	Stardust Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 1:29 of the first round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15-1	Jesus Ruiz	TD	10	12/05/2001	Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, United States	94-96, 97-94, 97-95.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	25-7-3	"Irish" Ed Dalton	TKO	6	09/03/2001	Reno Hilton, Reno, Nevada, United States	WBC Continental Americas Light Heavyweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18-2	Jose Luis Rivera	UD	12	22/04/2000	Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China	IBC World Light Heavyweight Title.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	40-0	Dariusz Michalczewski	TKO	4	28/08/1999	Stadthalle Bremen, Bremen, Germany	WBO World Light Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the fourth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7-22-1	"Slim" Tim Cooper	TKO	3	23/06/1999	Ramada Inn, Rosemont, Illinois, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 2:25 of the third round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14-33-1	"Dangerous" Danny Thomas	TKO	5	25/05/1999	Fifty Yard Line, Harvey, Illinois, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 1:39 of the fifth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	29-5	Randall Yonker	KO	3	26/02/1999	Hopland Sho-Ka-Wah Casino, Hopland, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7-18-2	Availeo Slate	TKO	2	26/01/1999	Fifty Yard Line, Harvey, Illinois, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 1:53 of the second round.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	14-0-1	Eric Harding	SD	12	13/11/1998	Miccosukee Indian Reservation, Miami, Florida, United States	NABF Light Heavyweight Title. 113-115, 115-113, 112-116.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15-23-2	Eric "Landlord" Davis	TKO	6	02/10/1998	Dolton Expo Center, Dolton, Illinois, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 1:10 of the sixth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	29-4	Randall Yonker	TKO	3	22/08/1998	Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 1:20 of the third round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	22-9-1	Karl Willis	TKO	3	03/06/1998	Coeur d'Alene Casino, Worley, Idaho, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 2:59 of the third round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	21-15-1	Kenny Lopez	TKO	9	28/03/1998	Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23-8	"Doubting" Thomas Reid	UD	10	27/02/1998	Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15-15-2	Jesus Castaneda	TKO	8	26/12/1997	Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 2:48 of the eighth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16-13-2	Vinson Durham	UD	10	29/11/1997	Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	99-91, 98-92, 97-93.
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss	34-1	Roy Jones, Jr.	KO	1	07/08/1997	Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States	WBC World Light Heavyweight Title. Griffin knocked out at 2:31 of the first round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	34-0	Roy Jones, Jr.	DQ	9	21/03/1997	Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	WBC World Light Heavyweight Title. Jones disqualified at 2:27 of the ninth round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	53-2-2	James Toney	UD	12	06/12/1996	Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, United States	WBU World Light Heavyweight Title. 116-112, 116-112, 119-109.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16-14-3	"Boxing" Russell Mitchell	TKO	1	18/10/1996	Dolton Expo Center, Dolton, Illinois, United States	Referee stopped the bout at 2:08 of the first round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16-25-1	Melvin Wynn	TKO	2	28/08/1996	Coeur d'Alene Casino, Worley, Idaho, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	23-6	Matthew Charleston	TKO	11	11/07/1996	Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States	NABF Light Heavyweight Title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8-11	"Prince" Charles Scott	TKO	4	10/05/1996	Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4-30	Tony Golden	KO	2	29/03/1996	Dolton Expo Center, Dolton, Illinois, United States	Golden knocked out at 1:40 of the second round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11-21	William "Crystal Kid" Clayton	KO	1	26/01/1996	Dolton Expo Center, Dolton, Illinois, United States	Clayton knocked out at 1:31 of the first round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	9-7	Ray Webb	KO	6	29/11/1995	Elephant and Castle, Southwark, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	20-0	"Big" John Mitchell	TKO	2	07/10/1995	Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	38-13-1	Hunter Clay	KO	6	14/09/1995	Battersea Town Hall, Battersea, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16-26-6	Tony "Phone" Booth	TKO	2	04/06/1995	York Hall, Bethnal Green, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	44-1-2	James Toney	MD	12	18/02/1995	MGM Grand Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	IBF Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Title. 114-114, 115-113, 116-112.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14-0	Ray Lathon	UD	12	12/09/1994	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15-14-3	David Vedder	PTS	10	23/05/1994	Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11-12	"Scary" Terry Collier	TKO	6	26/04/1994	Louisville, Kentucky, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4-7	Steve Brewer	TKO	2	18/01/1994	Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4-39-2	Terrence Wright	TKO	6	06/12/1993	Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8-10	"Scary" Terry Collier	PTS	8	19/11/1993	Union Hall, Countryside, Illinois, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2-4	Bobby Mack	PTS	6	24/09/1993	National Basketball Arena, Dublin, Ireland
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5-0	Ka-Dy King	UD	6	27/08/1993	Beverly Willshire Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4-5	Mike "Cherry" Garcia	TKO	3	13/08/1993	Corpus Christi, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4-4	Ron Stringer	TKO	3	25/06/1993	Union Hall, Countryside, Illinois, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4-14	Donnie "Black Battle Cat" Penelton	UD	6	26/04/1993	Rosemont, Illinois, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4-14-3	Randy McGaugh	KO	2	16/04/1993	Lansing, Michigan, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1-4	Calvin Puckett	TKO	2	13/03/1993	Aurora West High School, Aurora, Illinois, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2-10-1	Jose Luis Ornelas	TKO	2	16/02/1993	McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado, United States

Other championships

Minor World Titles:

• WBU Light Heavyweight Champion
• IBC Light Heavyweight Champion

Regional/International Titles:

• IBF Intercontinental Light Heavyweight Champion
• NABF Light Heavyweight Champion (twice)
• WBC Continental Americas Light Heavyweight (three occasions)
• USBA Light Heavyweight Champion

Amateur career

Griffin compiled an amateur record of 36-5. He won the 1992 United States Amateur Light Heavyweight title.

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 through controversial scoring of points whereby some of his points were credited to May

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Montell Griffin from BoxRec

v t e 1992 USA Olympic Boxing Team Athletes Eric Griffin Tim Austin Sergio Reyes Julian Wheeler Oscar De La Hoya Vernon Forrest Pepe Reilly Raúl Márquez Chris Byrd Montell Griffin Danell Nicholson Larry Donald Coaches —