Grant still has big ideas

Dean Juipe

Thursday, Feb. 19, 2004 | 9:36 a.m.

Ring Magazine publishes an annual pocket-sized book in which world champions and serious contenders are profiled, complete with biographies and records.

In the 1999 edition, under the subhead "Heavyweight Contenders," there's a look at Michael Grant.

"He'll lead the heavyweight division into the next millennium," the editors at Ring predicted at the time, as the 6-foot-7, 250-pound Grant was annihilating a series of moderately talented foes.

Obviously, that didn't happen. Grant, who was once 31-0 with 22 knockouts, never became heavyweight champion and certainly didn't lead the division into the current millennium.

He was drilled by Lennox Lewis in his only title fight, going down four times and losing in the second round of an April 29, 2000 mismatch at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Grant's decline continued with losses to Dominick Guinn and Jameel McCline, and he's 38-3 with 29 knockouts heading into a Saturday fight with Charles Hatcher at the City Center Pavilion in Reno.

Despite his loss of stature, Grant -- whose best wins came against Al Cole, Jorge Luis Gonzalez, David Izon and Andrew Golota as he rose in the rankings four and five years ago -- still feels a heavyweight championship is not out of the question, even at the age of 31.

"I still see myself as a true competitor who can become a champion," he said this week from San Jose, where he was completing his first training camp under Buddy McGirt. "I know with Lennox retiring that the division is wide open.

"I believe in my ability. I can become the heavyweight champion."

But, to his credit, he wants the process to move one step at a time.

"The title fight is going to come, but I'm not in any rush," Grant said. "I'm definitely going to make some noise and hopefully by the end of this year or by 2005, I'll get that title fight.

"But first I'd like to redeem myself. I'd like to fight the two gentlemen who are still active who beat me."

Grant vs. Guinn and/or McCline is a doable fight because of the connections of promoter Cedric Kushner.

Kushner is promoting Saturday's card and Grant said he isn't looking past Hatcher despite his opponent's fairly tame 15-5 record.

"It's going to do me some good," Grant said of taking the fight. "Hatcher's no dog and he's going to try to win. Plus this will be my first fight with Buddy, so it gives us a chance to work on our communication and to get a taste of each other."

Also to his credit, Grant realizes there are as many people still supporting him as there are who have abandoned hope of ever seeing him rule the division.

"It's 50-50," he said. "Some of the public thinks I have a chance and some of the public doesn't think I have any shot at all.

"I've got to prove to those people this year that I can get the job done. I've got to show them I'm still someone they can look to, that I'm still one of the big guys in the division."