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	(1970-06-06) 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 former professional boxer who held WBC light heavyweight title.

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. He defeated future heavyweight contender Jeremy Williams at the box-offs, to make the 1992 Olympic team.

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

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

External links

• Professional boxing record for Montell Griffin from BoxRec

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