Glen Johnson (45-11-2, 30 KOs), IBF #3 ranked contender defeated Montel Griffin (48-7, 30 KOs), via 11th round TKO in an IBF Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator showcased on ESPN's Wednesday Night Fights held at the Hard Rock Hotel in Hollywood, Florida. The fight was even after four rounds, but Johnson's businesslike approach of steadily applying pressure, took control of the fight in the fifth round and never relented, as Referee Jorge Alonzo, seeing Griffin's corner signaling to stop the fight, halted the action at 2:38 of round 11.







Johnson, currently ranked #4 Light Heavyweight by Ring Magazine, took the first round behind a steady dose of left jabs, and frequently followed up with over hand rights, including a few chopping right hands as Griffin attempted to duck under the punches. Johnson showcased his fundamentally sound footwork, cutting off the ring, and cornering Griffin. Griffin answered back in the second and third round, establishing his own jab, and relying on his quicker hand speed. Johnson went to the body with left hooks, and Griffin would answer with solid uppercuts, and one-two combinations. With 1:20 remaining in the third round Griffin connected with a solid combination, left right left, which actually momentarily stopped Johnson's forward progress. Griffin pulled ahead two rounds to one.







In the fourth, Johnson stepped up the aggression, working to the body of the smaller Griffin, connecting with solid left hooks to the rib cage. The bodywork opened opportunities, as Johnson landed double jabs followed by heavy overhand rights, which landed flush on Griffin's head. Griffin still appeared to be the quicker fighter in the early stages of the fifth round, but Johnson, holding his hands high, was now blocking many of Griffin?s punches. Johnson crowded Griffin, landed a solid left hook to the body, but in the ensuing scrum, a cut opened over the left eye of Griffin. Referee Jorge Alonzo instructed between rounds the cut was caused by an accidental elbow.







Rounds six through ten were mirror images of the fifth, as Johnson steadily stalked and applied pressure on Griffin. Johnson would continue throwing double jabs followed by heavy overhand rights, and landing combinations to the body. In the eighth round, Johnson appeared fresh, moving forward, slipping punches, and firing off crisp and clean shots. The workmanlike performance of Johnson was beginning to take its toll on Griffin, as Johnson's punches began landing with even more frequency.



















The eleventh round started slow as both fighters seemed reluctant to maintain the pace of the previous rounds, but the fundamentally sound Johnson kept moving forward, making Griffin expend energy to move. Johnson moved in close and landed a two-punch combination, then followed up with a thudding left hook to the body. Griffin appeared fatigued, his legs shaky, and unable to slip punches. Johnson pressed forward, sensing Griffin may be hurt (or so fatigued he could not properly defend himself), and landed a two-piece to the body. Griffin stumbled slightly, trying to move away from Johnson and stepped into the ropes. Johnson connected with a short left hook and then landed a clubbing right hand followed by a chopping right. As Johnson moved forward, Referee Jorge Alonzo stepped between the fighters, pointed to Griffin's corner where Tim Griffin waived the towel, and stopped the action. The fight was halted at 2:38 of round 11. awarding Glen Johnson a TKO victory.







The convincing victory by Johnson should now set up a title bout, and fourth meeting, with IBF Champion Clinton Woods.







FULL UNDERCARD COVERAGE TO FOLLOW