Montell Griffin

Montell Griffin is a former American professional boxer, best known for his victory over Roy Jones Jr. to become the WBC light-heavyweight champion. Griffin had an illustrious career that spanned more than 18 years, where he fought a total of 59 times, accumulating 50 wins, 8 losses, and 1 draw. In this article, we will dive deeper into Montell Griffin's boxing career, highlight his accomplishments, and discuss the legacy he left behind.

Griffin made his professional debut as a boxer when he was just 22 years old, defeating Jose Luis Ornelas in the second round of the fight. He went on to win 26 more consecutive fights, which included 17 wins via stoppage. However, his streak came to a halt when he faced Roy Jones Jr., who stopped him in the first round via KO. Despite the setback, Griffin persevered and continued to achieve great success in the ring.

One of the highlights of Griffin's career was his victory over James Toney, a future Hall of Famer, in two separate fights. Their first encounter took place on February 18, 1995, where Griffin won via a 12th round majority decision. The second fight was on December 6, 1996, where Griffin beat Toney via a 12th round unanimous decision. These two victories showcased Griffin's ability to compete at the highest level and marked him as a fighter to be reckoned with.

However, it was Griffin's victory over Roy Jones Jr. on March 21, 1997, that cemented his place in boxing's history. During the fight, Griffin was losing on the scorecards, but in the ninth round, Jones hit Griffin with a combination that knocked him down. As Griffin was getting up, Jones hit him again, causing him to take a knee. The referee ruled it a disqualification, and Griffin became the WBC light-heavyweight champion. While the win was controversial, it solidified Griffin's place in the boxing world and paved the way for future champions.

Griffin went on to win one world title at light-heavyweight and had a total of eight losses in his professional boxing career, three of them in title bouts and five in non-title bouts. He suffered his first loss against Roy Jones Jr., which broke his record of 27 wins. Despite the setbacks, Griffin persevered, and his last professional fight was a non-title bout against DeAndrey Abron on August 19, 2011, which he won via 8 round unanimous decision.

One of Griffin's strengths in the ring was his ability to knock out his opponents. Out of his 50 wins, 30 of them were via knockout, showcasing his power and technique. However, Griffin also suffered losses via KO, with three knockout losses during his career. Nevertheless, his knockout power was one of his hallmarks and remains a part of his legacy in the sport.

In conclusion, Montell Griffin's professional boxing career was one marked by perseverance, strength, and courage. He faced multiple setbacks and losses but always managed to come back and achieve greatness. His victories over James Toney and Roy Jones Jr. solidified his place in boxing's history, and his knockout power and technique remain a part of his legacy today. Montell Griffin will forever be remembered as a pioneer in the world of boxing, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of boxers for years to come.

Montell Griffin Fight Record