Griffin to headline at Stardust

Dean Juipe

Thursday, Feb. 14, 2002 | 11:22 a.m.

Montell Griffin takes no offense when it's mentioned that most boxing fans feel he has slipped into oblivion.

"I feel that way myself," he said this week before working out at the Nevada Partners gym, "and I'm not happy about that at all.

"I'm not getting any younger."

Griffin, 31, briefly held the World Boxing Council light heavyweight title and remains the only man to own a victory over Roy Jones, even if it was by disqualification.

Jones avenged that 1997 loss in dramatic fashion and Griffin has yet to receive another title shot.

Looking to resurrect his career, Griffin is in the process of moving to Las Vegas and he will headline Sunday's boxing card at the Stardust when he takes on George Klinesmith in a 10-round bout.

Griffin is 41-3 and Klinesmith is 12-4-1. They're topping a six-bout card promoted by Johnny McClain.

"The last two years I haven't had a promoter or a manager and I've only fought three times," Griffin said. "I think Johnny's the right guy to help me. I've been off nine months so I need a couple of fights to hone my skills.

"I'd like to have about five fights this year and I feel I'm about two TV fights away from being where I need to be."

Griffin's ascent and descent in boxing can be traced to his fights with Jones.

On March 21, 1997 in Atlantic City, Griffin emerged with a DQ-9 win over Jones, but in the Aug. 7 rematch in Ledyard, Conn., Jones whacked Griffin out in the first round.

Griffin, it can be argued, has yet to fully recover and presently finds himself not ranked in the top 10 by any of the three major organizations. The most recent Sun rankings have him at No. 11.

"I know I'm a better fighter now than I ever was," he said. "I'm smarter, I'm a man and I'm in my prime. I never fought any wars and there hasn't been any wear and tear on my body.

"I feel that if I can just get back to fighting regularly and keep winning, it will make people remember me real fast."

As for moving to Las Vegas from Chicago, he said "this is the place for me. It's where I need to be at this stage of my career."

Also scheduled on the Stardust card: Charles Whitaker, 18-11-1, vs. Gustavo Soto, 8-11-1, eight rounds, junior middleweights; Ricardo Barragan, 6-0, vs. Roberto Santa Cruz, 4-2, six rounds, lightweights; Francisco Diaz, 6-1, vs. an opponent yet to be determined, six rounds, middleweights; Dewey Cooper, 2-0, vs. Alex Conte, 0-1, four rounds, cruiserweights; and Jessica Rakoczy, 8-0-2, vs. Layla McCarter, 9-5-3, six rounds, women, lightweights. First bell is 5 p.m.