Roy traveled to Atlantic City on March 21, 1997 to take on the undefeated Montell Griffin on HBO. The fight from the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City was expected to be another one sided affair, but it was not. Griffin boxed well in the first four or five rounds, and was actually ahead on the cards. Roy started to fight more aggressively, and took control as the ninth round began.
With a minute left in the round, Jones wobbled Griffin with a right hand. Montell went down to a knee to avoid the assault of punches that followed, but Roy nailed him with a right-left combination that put him on his face. Referee Tony Perez called a halt to the action, and awarded Griffin the victory by disqualification. A disappointed Jones complained, but it was the correct call, and his unblemished record went out the window.
Four and a half months later the rematch took place, on August 7, 1997. This time the bout from the Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut was on pay-per-view, and my brother came over my house to watch it on my big screen tv.
Roy said in the pre-fight buildup that the ‘RJ” was coming out in him, his mean persona, and that he was going after Griffin from the start. He did exactly what he said, and dropped Griffin with a left hook early in the opening round. Not long later, he put him out for good with another left hook, and it was all over. Roy had recaptured his title, and all was well in the boxing world again. I was thrilled he was champ again, because he was one of the bright spots of the sport, and it needed him. Griffin continued his career, but never challenged for the championship again.
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