Montell Griffin
Montell Griffin ( born June 6, 1970 in Chicago ) is an American boxer and former WBC world champion in the light heavyweight division.
Amateur
Griffin beat John Ruiz on his way to victory at the U.S. Championships in 1992 in the light heavyweight division. In the Olympic qualifications he was defeated Jeremy Williams, but then beat him twice what Williams acknowledged with conspiracy theories. For his participation in the Olympic Games in Barcelona, he failed in the quarterfinals to Torsten May His record 36-5.
Professional
He was under the famous coach Eddie Futch Professional 1993, but could not quite convince lack of talent. When he took up in 1995 against the rising of the lower weight classes superstar James Toney, many saw in it only a structure fight for Toney, who had to take the right step after his clear defeat against Roy Jones Jr. again until. But Toney boxed phlegmatic, Griffin did his best and he could win the fight razor thin. Many journalists and of course Toney had a different view, so that it came to a rematch in 1996. The fight was, however, similar: Toney was again weak form, the duel very well balanced and the result was a very thin controversial point decision for Griffin.
1997 Montell Griffin got a world title fight against the title holder of the WBC Association, Roy Jones. Against the opinion of many experts the best boxers this time Griffin could make the fight long open. In the ninth round - after points, only slightly laid back - he was defeated by his opponent to the ground. Although Griffin was already on the ground beat Jones once again after and was disqualified for it. It was Jones ' only defeat in his heyday. Revenge in the same year, Griffin clearly lost by first-round KO.
In 1998, Griffin lost to only 14 fights having southpaw Eric Harding, but was nevertheless acted as world class. Dariusz Michalczewski, which was looking for a well-known opponent for the defense of his WBO title at this time, Griffin allowed a new world title chance. However, Griffin was not entirely prepared for the encounter, when he - as a replacement for original opponent David Telesco - only a month before the fight date was the promise. Despite these quarrels Griffin could determine the battle at the beginning and decide the first three rounds for itself. In the fourth round, however, Griffin was taken by the defending champion several times and taken off the ring judges only a few seconds before the round end of the fight.
After Roy Jones was temporarily ascended to the heavyweight division, Griffin was allowed in 2003 to fight the vacant title that has become the WBC and the IBF. Against his opponent and compatriot Antonio Tarver but Griffin showed a faint idea. After he was sent in the first round of his opponent in the ring dust, he had again in the final round to the ground. Nevertheless succeeded Griffin, to save on the remaining time of the fight, at the end of a unanimous points victory Tarver was certain.
2005 Griffin lost to Julio César González.