09.04.06 – By Dan Horgan: With all of the ups and downs of Montell Griffin’s 13 year career, one would think that he would hang the gloves up for good and call it a career. However, at the age of 35, Montell Griffin seems hungry as ever and is ready to take on all comers. See what the former world champion had to say in this exclusive interview.
DH-Hey champ, how are you doing?
MG-I’m good.
DH-Thank you very much for taking time out for this interview.
MG-No problem.
DH-You want to tell us about your fight with Norman Jones last Friday?
MG-Well I was out for ten months so I was just glad to be back in the ring. I trained for eight weeks for this fight, and I wanted it to be an easy fight and prove that I have something left.
DH-What went on in that scuffle after the fifth round?
MG-Well, he had given me a cheap shot the round before, so I was just doing the same. It was nothing dirty, I was just getting my respect in there.
DH-Are you back in the gym yet?
MG-I took a week off from training and got back at it Friday.
DH-What is left for you to accomplish at the age of 35?
MG-Well, right now I’m working on my hall of fame credentials. I’m not satisfied with my career. I feel as though I have underachieved, so I want to get to fifty wins, and become two-time light heavyweight champion of the world.
DH-You said in a recent interview that you did some soul searching after the Julio Gonzalez fight….what do you mean by that?
MG-Well, basically I was just upset with my manager for making me take that fight. It was in California on Cinco de Mayo so I got robbed. It was just like the Rico Hoye fight. I won that fight, but when you’re in the other guy’s hometown, they can take the decision from you. So I changed the people around me and moved back to Chicago (where Griffin is originally from) in order to get a fresh start, and for the first time in a while, everything is going good in my life.
DH-You also have said recently that you are simply looking for some big fights, even if they are at heavyweight…would you please clarify this?
MG-Well a guy like Chris Byrd I would definitely fight because with my skill level, I would beat him. I’d also take any cruiserweight title fight.
DH-What about guys like Sam Peter, Calvin Brock and Wladimir Klitscko?
MG-Well guys like Klitscko are just too big and too long. I’m small for a light heavyweight so those guys would just be too big.
DH-If you could choose one man right now to step into the ring with, who would it be?
MG-Tarver….Tarver or Jones
DH-Do you think Tarver will beat Hopkins in June?
MG-Yeah, I think that Tarver is just too big for Hopkins. Hopkins had trouble with Jermain Taylor who is smaller than Tarver, and I think that Tarver’s reach will be too much for him.
DH-If you were to fight Tarver again, what would you do differently.
MG-Well, I don’t like to make excuses, but in the first fight (with Tarver), I was essentially knocked out in the first round. I had completely turned my back and I couldn’t believe that the referee let him hit me. I don’t blame Tarver, it was an open shot. But I got a concussion and had to go to the hospital (from the shot). If I were to fight him again, I would apply a lot of pressure. That’s what Glenn Johnson did, and Tarver seems to have trouble with that.
DH-Who’s the biggest smack talker you’ve ever been in the ring with?
MG-Like everyone says, James Toney. Although he didn’t talk that much in the first fight because we knew each other, the second fight he talked a lot and even pushed me.
DH-How do you think he is able to have so much success as a heavyweight right now, being so small.
MG-It’s all about the skill level. The heavyweights today can’t handle Toney’s skills. I’m not taking anything away from Hasim Rahman, he’s a great fighter, but if James had power, he would have knocked him out with the shots that he was landing.
DH-What do you think of the whole Joe Mesi situation.
MG-Well, if I was an outsider to the sport, then I would say that continuing on with his career would be a bad idea, but as a fighter, I can see how tough it would be to not be able to do what you love.
DH-Training for a big fight, what is a normal day like for you?
MG-I get up and run, come home have something to eat, sleep, go to the gym, come home, and watch or movie or something. I’m a movie man. I have a huge collection. It’s all about peace of mind.
DH-Montell, thank you very much for your time….is there anything that you would like to say in closing?
MG-To all my fans: The Iceman aint goin nowhere. I will become two time light heavyweight champion.
Montell Griffin beat Norman Jones on March 31st to become the USBA light heavyweight champion, and is hoping for a June return.