Montell Griffin

Montell Griffin
Statistics
Real name Montell Julian Griffin
Nickname(s) Ice
Rated at Light-heavyweight
Height 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Reach 70 in (178 cm)
Nationality American
Born June 6, 1970
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 59
Wins 50
Wins by KO 30
Losses 8
Draws 1

Montell Julian Griffin (born June 6, 1970) is an American retired boxer who was the WBC light-heavyweight world champion.

Early life

Griffin was born in Chicago, Illinois. 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. He defeated future heavyweight contender Jeremy Williams at the box-offs, to make the 1992 Olympic team.[1]

Professional career

Griffin, nicknamed "Ice," began his pro career in 1993. He rose to prominence when he defeated James Toney twice by controversial decisions in 1995 and 1996. The second victory over Toney earned Griffin a lucrative bout against WBC champion Roy Jones, Jr.

Jones vs Griffin

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 via a disqualification. 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.

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.

Michalczewski vs Griffin

Four consecutive knockout wins later, the now 38-2 Griffin squared off against 40-0 Lineal/WBO champion, Dariusz Michalczewski in Germany. 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.

Tarver vs Griffin

After defeating Derrick Harmon and George Khalid Jones by unanimous decisions, Griffin earned a shot at the vacant WBC/IBF titles against Antonio Tarver in 2003, losing a wide decision.

Now in his mid-thirties, a faded Griffin would go on to lose to Rico Hoye by split decision, Julio César González when the bout was stopped in the early goings on a technicality and sent to the scorecards, and Glencoffe Johnson by TKO 11; all three were IBF eliminators. He also lost on points to Beibut Shumenov

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 KOs), 8 Losses (3 KOs), 1 Draw [2]
Result Record Opponent Type Round,
Time
Date Location Notes
Win 50-8-1 United States DeAndrey Abron UD 8 2011-08-19 Indiana Horseshoe Hammond, Hammond, Indiana, United States
Draw 49-8-1 United States Ross Thompson SD 10 2010-05-29 Indiana Horseshoe Hammond, Hammond, Indiana, United States
Loss 49-8 Kazakhstan Beibut Shumenov UD 12 2008-08-02 Kazakhstan Stadium Khadjimukan, Shymkent, Kazakhstan For vacant WBC Asian Boxing Council/WBO Asia Pacific light-heavyweight titles.
Win 49-7 United States Cory Cummings UD 10 2008-06-20 Illinois Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Loss 48-7 Jamaica Glen Johnson TKO 11 2007-05-16 Florida Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood, Hollywood, Florida, United States IBF light-heavyweight title eliminator.
Win 48-6 United States Norman Jones UD 12 2006-03-31 Connecticut Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Won vacant USBA light-heavyweight title.
Loss 47-6 Mexico Julio Cesar Gonzalez TD 6 2005-05-05 California Spa Resort Casino, Palm Springs, California, United States IBF light-heavyweight title eliminator.
Win 47-5 United States Sam Reese UD 10 2005-02-03 California HP Pavilion at San Jose, San Jose, California, United States
Loss 46-5 United States Rico Hoye SD 12 2004-09-16 Michigan Kewadin Casino, Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, United States IBF light-heavyweight title eliminator.
Win 46-4 United States Thomas Reid UD 10 2004-06-17 Nevada Harrah's Laughlin, Laughlin, Nevada, United States
Win 45-4 Canada Willard Lewis RTD 4 2004-05-22 California Warner Theatre, Fresno, California, United States
Loss 44-4 United States Antonio Tarver UD 12 2003-04-26 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States For vacant WBC/IBF light-heavyweight titles.
Win 44-3 United States George Khalid Jones UD 12 2002-11-03 California Table Mountain Rancheria, Friant, California, United States Retained WBC Continental Americas, & won vacant NABF light-heavyweight title.
Win 43-3 United States Derrick Harmon UD 12 2002-07-21 California Table Mountain Rancheria, Friant, California, United States Retained WBC Continental Americas light-heavyweight title.
Win 42-3 United States George Klinesmith TKO 1 2002-02-17 Nevada Stardust Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 41-3 Mexico Jesus Ruiz TD 10 2001-05-12 California Palace Indian Gaming Center, Lemoore, California, United States
Win 40-3 United States Ed Dalton TKO 6 2001-03-09 Nevada Reno Hilton, Reno, Nevada, United States Won vacant WBC Continental Americas light-heavyweight title.
Win 39-3 United States Jose Luis Rivera UD 12 2000-04-22 China Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China
Loss 38-3 Poland Dariusz Michalczewski TKO 4 1999-08-28 Germany Stadthalle Bremen, Bremen, Germany For Lineal/WBO light-heavyweight titles.
Win 38-2 United States Tim Cooper TKO 3 1999-06-23 Illinois Ramada Inn, Rosemont, Illinois, United States
Win 37-2 United States Danny Thomas TKO 5 1999-05-25 Illinois Fifty Yard Line, Harvey, Illinois, United States
Win 36-2 United States Randall Yonker KO 3 1999-02-26 California Hopland Sho-Ka-Wah Casino, Hopland, California, United States
Win 35-2 United States Availeo Slate TKO 2 1999-01-26 Illinois Fifty Yard Line, Harvey, Illinois, United States
Loss 34-2 United States Eric Harding SD 12 1998-11-13 Florida Miccosukee Indian Reservation, Miami, Florida, United States For vacant NABF light-heavyweight title.
Win 34-1 United States Eric Davis TKO 6 1998-10-02 Illinois Dolton Expo Center, Dolton, Illinois, United States
Win 33-1 United States Randall Yonker TKO 3 1998-08-22 Illinois Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois, United States
Win 32-1 United States Karl Willis TKO 3 1998-06-03 Idaho Coeur d'Alene Casino, Worley, Idaho, United States
Win 31-1 United States Kenny Lopez TKO 9 1998-03-28 New Jersey Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 30-1 United States Thomas Reid UD 10 1998-02-27 Nevada Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 29-1 Mexico Jesus Castaneda TKO 8 1997-12-26 Nevada Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win 28-1 United States Vinson Durham UD 10 1997-11-29 Nevada Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Loss 27-1 United States Roy Jones, Jr. KO 1 1997-08-07 Connecticut Foxwoods, Mashantucket, Connecticut, United States Lost WBC light-heavyweight title.
Win 27-0 United States Roy Jones, Jr. DQ 9 1997-03-21 New Jersey Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Won WBC light-heavyweight title.
Win 26-0 United States James Toney UD 12 1996-12-06 Nevada Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada, United States
Win 25-0 United States Russell Mitchell TKO 1 1996-10-18 Illinois Dolton Expo Center, Dolton, Illinois, United States
Win 24-0 United States Melvin Wynn TKO 2 1996-08-28 Idaho Coeur d'Alene Casino, Worley, Idaho, United States
Win 23-0 United States Matthew Charleston TKO 11 1996-07-11 New York Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States Won vacant NABF light-heavyweight title.
Win 22-0 United States Charles Scott TKO 4 1996-05-10 New York Madison Square Garden, New York City, United States
Win 21-0 United States Tony Golden KO 2 1996-03-29 Illinois Dolton Expo Center, Dolton, Illinois, United States
Win 20-0 United States William Clayton KO 1 1996-01-26 Illinois Dolton Expo Center, Dolton, Illinois, United States
Win 19-0 United Kingdom Ray Webb KO 6 1995-11-29 England Elephant and Castle, Southwark, United Kingdom
Win 18-0 United States John Mitchell TKO 2 1995-10-07 New Jersey Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
Win 17-0 Nigeria Hunter Clay KO 6 1995-09-14 England Battersea Town Hall, Battersea, United Kingdom
Win 16-0 United Kingdom Tony Booth TKO 2 1995-06-04 England York Hall, Bethnal Green, United Kingdom
Win 15-0 United States James Toney MD 12 1995-02-18 Nevada MGM Grand Las Vegas, Las Vegas, Nevada Won vacant IBF Intercontinental light-heavyweight title.
Win 14-0 United States Ray Lathon UD 12 1994-09-12 California Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
Win 13-0 United States David Vedder PTS 10 1994-05-23 California Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
Win 12-0 United States Terry Collier TKO 6 (?),
?
1994-04-26 Kentucky Louisville, Kentucky
Win 11-0 United States Steve Brewer TKO 2 (?),
?
1994-01-18 Nebraska Omaha Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska
Win 10-0 United States Terrence Wright TKO 6 (8),
?
1993-12-06 Illinois Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, Illinois
Win 9-0 United States Terry Collier PTS 8 1993-11-19 Illinois Union Hall, Countryside, Illinois
Win 8-0 United Kingdom Bobby Mack PTS 6 1993-09-24 Republic of Ireland National Basketball Arena, Dublin, Ireland
Win 7-0 United States Ka-Dy King UD 6 1993-08-27 California Beverly Willshire Hotel, Beverly Hills, California
Win 6-0 United States Mike Garcia TKO 3 (?),
?
1993-08-13 Texas Corpus Christi, Texas
Win 5-0 United States Ron Stringer TKO 3 (?),
?
1993-06-25 Illinois Union Hall, Countryside, Illinois
Win 4-0 United States Donnie Penelton UD 6 1993-04-26 Illinois Rosemont, Illinois
Win 3-0 United States Randy McGaugh KO 2 (?),
?
1993-04-16 Michigan Lansing, Michigan
Win 2-0 United States Calvin Puckett TKO 2 (6),
?
1993-03-13 Illinois Aurora West High School, Aurora, Illinois
Win 1-0 United States Jose Luis Ornelas TKO 2 (?),
?
1993-02-16 Colorado McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado Professional debut.

Other championships

Minor World Titles:

Regional/International Titles:

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:

References

  1. "Amateur Boxing Colorado Springs, Colorado". AP Online. February 25, 1992.
  2. Boxing record for Montell Griffin. BoxRec.com.

External links

Achievements
Preceded by
Roy Jones, Jr.
WBC Light Heavyweight Champion
March 21, 1997 – August 7, 1997
Succeeded by
Roy Jones, Jr.