Griffin Drawn To The Light -- Training Regimen Reflects Boxer's Zeal

Down on the town square in Jasper, Tenn., past the barber shop and jewelry store and next to the only red light, is the old Jasper Drug Store.

Eric Griffin works there.

The soda fountain and shelves have been replaced by speed bags, heavy bags, a ring and other tools of his craft.

Griffin may be the best amateur boxer in the world. He is pursuing the one major amateur honor that has eluded him - an Olympic gold medal.

His dogged pace is marked by old-fashioned diligence.

Larry Simcox, Jasper's mayor, says he could measure time by the young workaholic. The light comes on early in that makeshift gym and that evening, when the square rolls up the sidewalks for the day, Griffin rolls on.

"When the lights are on," Simcox said, "within an hour you'll have 25 to 30 to 40 kids in there. He's like a Pied Piper. Those that can't get in the door will stand in the window."

What a remarkable sight it is.

At 5-foot-3 and 106 pounds, the 24-year-old Griffin is not a commanding physical presence, but four consecutive world championships are only a small measure of the shadow he casts.

He was USA Boxing's 1990 Boxer of the Year and finalist for the 1990 and 1991 Sullivan Award.

At the Olympic trials, he was named the outstanding boxer. In his semifinal bout against James Harris, Griffin scored a 94-12 victory, an almost unthinkable point total in the new electronic scoring system. To get a point, at least three of five judges had to press a button within a second of a punch being thrown.

In the finals, Griffin he bloodied Martin Bueno while winning 70-16. In the Olympic box-offs, he dispatched Bradley Martinez 70-14.

"I'm not going to brag," Griffin said. "But I feel good about myself. I know I'm the best in the world at my weight class."

To hear what Griffin says is even more riveting than watching what he does. His story has been important enough for him to go out in search of an audience. He visited virtually every school in his area, talking about drug awareness and how important it is to duck one of life's most thunderous blows.

Griffin took that punch on the chin. He was sent home before the 1988 Olympic box-offs with a six-month suspension after testing positive for marijuana.

"I thought I blew it," Griffin said. "I thought it was all over for me. I went home and I went berserk."

His comeback has been a collaborative effort inspired by his coach, Bob Jordan, a Jasper native.

"He doesn't have kids," said Griffin, who is from Broussard, La. "I never had a father to do things with. We fill roles with each other."

Jordan had a computer business in Houston, where he began investing in boxers. Jordan, 51, met Griffin about six years ago.

With the positive drug test, Griffin had a problem. He knew it and so did Jordan. They formed their boxing/life co-op. Griffin moved into Jordan's home and trained in Jordan's garage.

In Jasper, a town of 4,500 about 30 miles west of Chattanooga, distractions are at a minimum.

As Simcox said, "Once you come to Jasper, you kick it down a notch. Everybody knows everybody."

Now that everybody knows Griffin, he is no longer a distraction. Simcox said that took a while.

"People would see him out running at 5 or 6 o'clock (in the morning); the community didn't know what to think."

In time, Griffin became known for his objectives and respected for his efforts.

He has a key to the city and a host of friends hoping he gives them an excuse to hold a parade.

His life, Griffin says, is the way he wants it to stay.

"I've changed my game plan. It's a new type of Eric Griffin now . . . I made the big change. I'm having fun with my career."

That's part of the light in the front window.

Boxing

A preview of the event in Barcelona:

-- Dates: July 26-Aug. 9. -- Local qualifiers: None -- Who to watch: Americans have gold medal contenders in Eric Griffin (light flyweight), Vernon Forrest (light welterweight) and Larry Donald (super heavyweight), But Cubans will be favored in at least a third of the classes. Among their top boxers are Roberto Balado, Felix Savon, Juan Lemus and Juan Hernandez. Germany, Bulgaria and the Unified Team also are expected to do well. -- Last U.S. medals: 1988 golds were won by Kennedy McKinney (bantamweight), Andrew Maynard (light heavyweight) and Ray Mercer (heavyweight). -- Fast fact: A computerized scoring system developed by Seiko Corp. will be used for the first time in the Olympics. Three of five judges must push a button for a punch to be counted, and total punches are used to determine the winner.