Griffin Lies Unconscious As He Earns Wbc Title When Jones Disqualified

Montell Griffin became the WBC light heavyweight champion while unconscious after Roy Jones Jr. hit him twice while he was down, leading to a ninth-round disqualification Friday night.

Griffin, a 10-1 underdog, was more than holding his own when Jones caught him with a right hand to the head early in the ninth round. Jones followed with three more rights and then a left hook that dropped Griffin to his left knee.

Jones then hit Griffin with a right hand, and when Griffin looked up, Jones nailed him with a left hook.

Griffin’s eyes rolled up into his head and he pitched forward on his face as bedlam broke out.

Earlier, David Reid, the only U.S. boxer to win an Olympic gold medal in Atlanta, opened his pro career with a solid victory over Sam Calderone 10-0 at the same site.