Truly a “chip off the old block”, Tim’s boxing as well as his training career is a continuation of the legacy left by his Father, the late Clarence Griffin. In 1969, at the age of nine, Tim was introduced to Johnny Coulon, a former world champion. Johnny owned a boxing club in Chicago and would become Tim’s first boxing coach. In 1972 Tim was named “Top Boxing Prospect” by the United Veterans Alliance in Chicago.

Four years later, Clarence would purchase the club and rename it “The Windy City Gym”. Tim participated in the Golden Gloves tournaments. Additionally he boxed in the Catholic Youth Organization tournaments, winning the CYO Championship in 1977. Tim has sparred with many champions including Eddie Perkins, Jimmy Ellis, and the Greatest of all Time, World Champion Muhammad Ali. Tim ended his boxing career in 1980 because of an accident that wouldn’t allow him to give 100% to training. Tim lost only one bout in his brief but exciting boxing career.

In 1983 after the sudden death of his Father, Tim became the president of the Windy City Boxing Club. It was at this time that Tim began training his first professional fighter Veabro Boykins. In 1992 Tim’s younger brother Montell, earned a spot on the USA Olympic Boxing Team. Shortly thereafter, Tim became his professional coach.

In 1994 Tim received a call from International Boxing Hall of Fame Trainer Eddie Futch inviting him to come to Las Vegas as an assistant coach. There Tim coached and assisted with world champions Riddick Bowe, Mike McCallum, Wayne McCullough, and his brother Montell Griffin. Other world rated fighters whom Tim has coached and worked with include Tim Littles, Duncan Dokiwari, David Defiagbon, and Francois Botha.

In 1999 Tim was hired by International Boxing Hall of Fame Referee Richard Steele to train the amateur boxing team at the Richard Steele Boxing Club. While there, his teams won team trophies in competitions that included other famous teams such as the Oscar de la Hoya Boxing Team and the US. Marine Corps Team.

At the Boxers for Christ Championship Nationals 2000 in San Diego, Team Nevada earned twenty three first place and two second place victories for the twenty five Nevadans that attended the tournament. Tim’s team was undefeated with nine championship wins. Robert Coon, the host of the tournament said ‘he had never seen such dominance from one team.’

In 2006 Tim trained Montell to a United States Boxing Association Light Heavyweight Title victory to earn a top ten position in the International Boxing Federation rankings. In 2008 Tim prepared Montell for a World Title Eliminator fight with Glencoffe Johnson with the winner to fight for the IBF World Title later in the year. Montell lost a tough hard fought fight.

In May 2008 Tim signed on with DH Global Boxing Promotions as matchmaker for XBCLive.com. In August of 2008 Tim and Montell traveled to Shemket, Kazakhstan for a Title match which Montell lost by decision in 12 tough rounds. Montell did fight twice more after that match and retired with a record of 50-8-1 30 KO’s.

In 2008 through 2013 Tim assisted two-time Olympian Michael Hunter along with Head Coach Kenny Croom with his first two professional career bouts. Mike Hunter has 3 victories now and is expected to be a force in the Heavyweight Class and projected to be a Future World Champion.

Tim spent 6 months in Sierra Leone in 2006 and worked with the local fighters. He was surprised to find that there was not one proper indoor gym in the whole country. In spite of these obstacles, with 6 months proper training and nutrition tim was able to raise the level of Boxing in Sierra Leone. Tim made a comment about how hungry these boys were to “Fight Their Way Out” of the country. Tim is waiting to leave Las Vegas and move to Sierra Leone to dedicate himself full time to training these Athletes. We would be the hub for all of Western Africa for Boxing, with our Headquarters in Sierra Leone.