Las Vegas boxer may need new nickname

By Case Keefer (contact)

Saturday, Aug. 22, 2009 | midnight

If everything goes according to plan for Rynell Griffin in the next two rounds of the Worlds Collide tournament, he’ll need to come up with a new ring name.

Griffin, a Las Vegas-based boxer nicknamed “The Best Kept Secret,” will fight Richard Ellis tonight in the Worlds Collide 132-pound class semifinals at Buffalo Bill’s casino in Primm.

Richard Steele, Griffin’s trainer, says the fight will be the first step in shedding the secret tag.

“After this Saturday and his next couple fights, people are going to realize he’s the next Pernell Whitaker,” Steele said.

Griffin (4-1-1) is one of nine Las Vegas fighters competing in the semifinals of the event, which is hosted by former world boxing champion Fernando Vargas and will feature six boxing matches and six MMA fights.

The action kicks off at 2 p.m. at Star of the Desert Arena. Griffin’s fight against Ellis (4-1) is the first one on the schedule.

“To be honest with you, I wish every fight I could be first,” Griffin said. “To get it over with instead of waiting around backstage all day.”

Steele said Griffin was worth arriving early for and is convinced Griffin will electrify the crowd.

“He has a style that will definitely be exciting to the public because he throws so many punches,” Steele said. “He’s an aggressive southpaw. He throws punches from all different angles. That’s the key.”

It was the key in his last fight at the Palms on June 12. Griffin won a unanimous decision against Terrence Jett in a six-round bout.

He took no time off before beginning to prepare for this weekend’s fight. Griffin said that resulted in him being in the best shape of his career.

“I’m much, much improved,” Griffin said. “I want to become a complete fighter and take it to the next level. I corrected some traits and I want to do that every fight.”

Also fresh in Griffin’s mind is what happened in the quarterfinals of the Worlds Collide tournament. In April, Griffin squared off against Johnny Frazier, another Las Vegas-based boxer.

The judges ruled it a majority draw. Griffin respectfully disagrees with that decision.

He said he out-fought Frazier but has learned from the experience. Griffin’s goal tonight will be to leave no doubt in the judges’ minds if it comes down to a decision.

“Looking back on that fight, I was trying too hard to out-box him,” Griffin said.

“There were a lot more things I could have done to show the judges I won the fight. But I still feel like I won.”

Griffin would love a rematch with Frazier, which is a distinct possibility.

Frazier (2-2-1) fights Arquimendez Garcia (4-0-1) in the nightcap of the semifinals this weekend. If both Frazier and Griffin prevail, they will meet in October for the 132-pound Worlds Collide championship.

“To have the crowd and fans excited with what occurred between us on April 18, I think it’s got to happen again,” Griffin said. “Everyone would want to see that.”

And if everyone is watching, Griffin will no longer be a secret.