Hadn't originally been all that interested in Saturday's HBO underneath light-heavy affair featuring Antonio Tarver (20-1, 17 KOs) and Montell Griffin (44-3, 29 KOs) ... but then something got my attention.

At first, thought I was listening to a weather alert ... like maybe a tropical disturbance being upgraded to hurricane watch ... but no, was pre-fite announcement that the Tarver-Griffin meeting would now be elevated from NABF "championship" to a WBC, IBF dual title affair.

Personally, I kind of liked it better as it was ... like, HBO exposure along with NABF club fight trinket up for grabs ... them kind have traditionally resulted in some serious ring action, not to mention a less expensive trinket going to the winner.

And just maybe, us fite fans would be spared the silly rhetoric from the winner about Superman Jones runnin’ and hiding up there with the big boys at heavyweight.

Club-fight is what this one is all about ... Tarver has the bigger potential ... tall, southpaw and can box a bit and punch more than a bit ... but a resume` of no more than 21 bouts translates to still learning.

Realistically, this is where Tarver is at ... and if wanting to impress folks, maybe a dance with Dariusz M - if successful with Griffin - is the road to take to better things.

And the other guy ... Montell Griffin ... forty-seven outings and only that single ring flashback to remember him by - ok, make that two memories ... first was march of 1997 ... round nine and has himself a calling ... down on a knee without being hit ... gimme a break ... Jones is then caught slapping him alongside the head.

And the winner is, and new WBC l/heavy champeen of the world ... Montell Griffin ... but time flies when having fun and now it's November of 1997 ... return bout ... well, you get the idea ... Jones Jr. by knockout in opening candle.

In closing, this: looking forward to the card ... and if Jirov-Toney fail to produce while dueling for the serious bread, with a bit of luck the show saver could well come from the club-fighters.

The kiss of death ... er ... pick ... is Tarver by decision, or maybe if serious about the future, he stops Montell late.

Semper fi,

GEL

4-24-2003

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