Was Montell Griffin just a fluke, or could he really throw hands?

Are you asking if he accidentally beat them? I don’t understand such a dumb question- he applied the skills he had to beat the guys he beat- end of. Expect RJJ wasn’t that a BS DQ? I don’t watch RJJ.

 

It's more than a bit of a stretch to put him 3-1.

Technically yes, but he was on his way to a loss against Roy, but for Roy's over eagerness.

And he paid the price of a brutal first round KO by an upset and angry Roy in the rematch.

 

He was a very awkward fighter who was hood enough to give them trouble so I can't take that away from him. I thought Toney at least beat him once n RJJ was figuring him out prior to the DQ but my beliefs won't change the official results. Again not taking away the fact he was pesty towards em.

 

Toney beat him twice. I have reviewed these fights several times

 

An extremely talented, akward fighter, he genuinely beats Toney twice, gave Roy absolute fits.

 

he did not beat Toney who threw and landed more shots in both fights. Landed the harder shots too. 2nd fight was voted the worst decision of the year. competitive fights yes but Toney won

 

Montell was a very good fighter that at his prime would be and was a handful for anyone. While he gave Toney and Jones fits he was a notch below both as a fighter even though he has highly disputed wins over both. I thought at best he earned a draw against Toney and the first Jones fight he was definitely on his way to getting stopped by Roy. Roy was starting to heat up and adjust to Montell's awkwardness.

All that said I liked Montell. What was so unique about him was that he really was more of an outside fighter which is rare for a man that was so incredibly short for his division. At 5'7 and lacking power he needed to be great defensively and he truly was. I believe he has been a driver for UPS for several years now so he should be getting close to retirement with a nice pension to go along with his in the ring earnings.

 

He's definitely not as good as his record against Toney and Jones Jr. would suggest. Like others wrote, He was on his way to losing the fight and Roy just made a mistake. It's similar to Luis Santana having 2 wins over Terry Norris, in that regard.
I don't understand how They scored first Toney fight for him either - although, unlike @THE BLADE 2 , I thought He won the rematch fair, with Toney not looking his best. Maybe I should go back and watch it again, it's been a while.

Saying all that, He wasn't a bad fighter. He was very smart, despite being very short, was often able to control range against much taller man and trick them. He definitely frustrated and threw Jones off his game in first fight and deserves credit for that, if not the win itself.
Good fighter to study, I'd say - particulary for those who lack height, but still want to box.

 

But officially..

 

Well he would of lost to Jones as he was on the verge of getting stopped in the 1st fight, and whilst Jones was rightly DQed. But i do think Griffin see an opportunity to win by DQ, and took it by doing some play acting.

As for the Toney fights I thought Toney won both fights, but still they were highly competitive fights. And obviously Griffin had some ability to take rounds off a prime Roy Jones, and a still good version of James Toney.

 

I'm the opposite, i thought the first fight was close (though i still gave it to Toney) but the scond fight was a damn robbery, Toney won that easy.

 

Admittedly, it's been years since I saw those fights - maybe I'd score them differently now.

 

I am very familiar with both fights:

1st fight: This was just a few months after the loss to Jones. Toney jumped in against then unknown unbeaten Montell Griffin. Toney was a heavy favourite. The judges scored it MD for Griffin. I think the judges gave too much credit for Griffin doing better than expected and did not give enough credit to Toney's body punching. A lot of the fight took place on the inside and the judges did not credit Toney's subtle work in there. Foreman had a landslide win for Toney whereas Lederman and Merchant had a close win for Toney as did I. Toney landed and threw more.

2nd fight: Toney was now trained by Mustafa and Griffin was unbeaten and had acquired a lot more experience. Toney was using the jab a lot more in this fight. But looked at times lethargic and off balance which may have cost him some rounds. Unlike the first fight, much of teh fight took place on the outside. Lots of close rounds but the occasion hard right hand by Toney gave him an edge. Lederman and Merchant had a wide win for Toney. I myself had it closer Toney. Roy Jones and Foreman had it for Toney as well. The fight was voted worst decision of the year. Official judging was horrible, they all had it wide for Griffin. The officials were some semi-retired judges form Flordia who were watching a completely different fight. Toney threw and landed more in this fight again