By: Sergio Martinez
One month shy of his thirty-sixth birthday, and coming off an eleven month layoff, light heavyweight Montell “Ice” Griffin returns to the ring this coming Friday night. Griffin will be taking on a journeyman in Norman Jones for the vacant USBA light heavyweight title. This is a fight that baffles the mind as many in the sport, including myself, thought that Griffin’s May 5, 2005, loss to contender Julio Gonzalez was the last fight in which the twelve-year, fifty-three-fight veteran would participate.
This is obviously not the case, as Montell seems to believe that he can recapture past glories. “After my last fight, I did a lot of soul searching and decided to revamp my whole team. I got a new head trainer, new manager and a new promoter. I’m ready to ride out. I’ve move back to Chicago and am starting out fresh,” said Montell “Ice” Griffin to Boxingscene.com from his hotel room in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Griffin may have soul searched and revamped his team, but the fact remains that he has been in the fight game for a long time now. Motivation and body wear-and-tear are issues that have to be of concern at this stage in his career. “Ice” does not agree with those assessments. “I love this sport. Age means absolutely nothing to me. I really don’t have that much wear-and-tear on me. I feel like I’m twenty-five-years-old. I feel strong and I make weight with no problems. I train hard. I still have all my skills and my faculties are intact. I’m not worried about anything at all. Age means nothing to me.”
Griffin continued, “I really don’t want to talk about some things. There have been things outside the ring that have hurt me more than anything inside the ring. I’ve never had any problems making weight. I’m 5’ 7” so making 175-pounds is really not a problem for me at all. There are too many guys out there that fight to small or too light and their bodies suffer because of that. That’s why you see so many guys get knocked out. I fight at my weight. I’m a light heavyweight. I’m strong at this weight.”
Should Montell win this coming Friday night, his future fight plans are really left up to whatever is the “best” fight out there. “After this Friday, I really want to get big fights. I don’t mind fighting at cruiserweight or even heavyweight if the fight was right for me. They would have to be one of the smaller heavyweights. I’ll also fight at light heavy. I’m not here to talk. I’m here to prove myself. I’ll fight anyone.”
“Ice” continued, “Right now I think that Antonio Tarver is the best light heavyweight in the world. I would love to fight a rematch with Tarver. Guys like Clinton Woods are not in this country so not too many people know who they are. I’m telling you. I feel beautiful man. I fight top fighters everyday in the gyms in Las Vegas and I’m intact. I’m ready to fight anyone and I’ve never taken punishment from anyone.”
I guess Clinton Woods and Tamasz Adamek, who are the top guys in the division right now, are just going to have to wait to become "the best light heavyweight" fighters if Griffin is ever to consider facing them.
In closing, Montell “Ice” Griffin had this to say, “To the fans, the haters, and the doubters, you are going to see a great Montell Griffin from now until I hang up my gloves. I’m feeling beautiful and know that I have four good years left. I’m going to be more offensive from now on and I’m ready to fight anyone. I will be a two-time light heavyweight champion and I will walk away as a “Hall of Famer.” I’m ready to do this."
It really does sound like Montell "Ice" Griffin is “ready to do this,” but is the boxing public willing to watch him do “this” anymore? Only time will provide an answer to that question.