A Fighting Chance Boxing: By day, Ed Griffin drives a city truck. By night, like scores of others with day jobs and big dreams, he tries for more. He tries for the prize life.

Perhaps the message gets through. Griffin opens up in the sixth round, just like that day with his sparring partner. One instant nothing is happening, the next instant he is throwing punches with what he calls "bad intentions." A vicious uppercut buckles Coleman. A primal, animal cry rises through the hall. People yell and cheer each blow. This was the fight they wanted, the hometown boy pummeling the stranger from out of town.

"This was getting too close," Griffin says later. "I wanted to get him out of there."

A knockout seemed seconds away. Then the bell rang -- just like Mr. Mack calling time in the gym.

Griffin took the fight, barely. Two judges scored it 77-76, the third called it a draw.

"I guess my timing was a little off," Griffin says later. "If I could've gotten my punches together, he would have been out of there in the sixth or seventh round."

Still, it is a win, and when the announcement is made, he is the one standing with arms raised in the "V" of victory. He savors the moment, but not for long. Another fight is coming, another night of body shots and "bad intentions." And he can't afford to lose.

Pub Date: 5/19/96