Griffin routs fellow Las Vegan

Dean Juipe

Monday, July 22, 2002 | 8:26 a.m.

In a surprisingly one-sided fight between fellow Las Vegans that derailed one man's career while rejuvenating the other's, Montell Griffin dominated light heavyweight compatriot Derrick Harmon Sunday night in Friant, Calif.

Fighting at the Table Mountain Casino, Griffin won the 12-round fight by unanimous decision. The judges had him ahead by scores of 117-111, 117-112 and 118-110 in a bout nationally televised by the Fox Sports Net.

"I'd love to fight Antonio Tarver, but I doubt that he'd do it," Griffin said afterward, referring to another light heavyweight contender who had taken an equally important win one night earlier.

Tarver stopped Eric Harding in the fifth round Saturday in the primary undercard fight in Indianapolis on the Vernon Forrest vs. Shane Mosley card.

If nothing else, Griffin and Tarver have advanced after something of an informal weekend tournament that featured four contenders to a throne occupied by longtime champ Roy Jones, Jr.

Jones, interestingly, had already beaten each of the four, splitting a pair of 1997 fights with Griffin. He may, however, relinquish his titles within the year to take a fight at a higher or lower weight.

"After (Saturday) night's performance, I think the chances are slim and none," Tarver said of the possibility of getting a rematch with Jones.

That being the case, he may be inclined to take a fight with Griffin in spite of the built-in risks.

"They're going to let it all hang out," Tarver said of Griffin and Harmon before their fight, but, in actuality, it was Griffin who forced the action. The victory upped his record to 43-3 (with 28 knockouts) and further distanced his earlier losses to Jones, Harding and the European-stationed Dariusz Michalczewski. Harmon, like Griffin 32 years old, falls to 22-3.

Overcoming a 4-inch reach disadvantage, Griffin was never in trouble and controlled the fight throughout. Trained by Thel Torrence, the 1992 U.S. Olympian who moved here last year was effective from start to finish and arguably within his rights to feel he won every round.

There were no knockdowns or points deducted, and even Harmon emerged with a minimum of facial damage despite being on the receiving end of innumerable solid punches.