Vince Phillips
Encyclopedia
Vincent Edwards Phillips Sr. (born July 23, 1963 in Pensacola, FL) is an American boxer best known for upsetting and beating then undefeated Kostya Tszyu for the junior welterweight title.

Early life

Vincent E. Phillips was born in Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...

 in 1963 to George Phillips and Margret Phillips. He was the youngest of 12 children, the 2nd to graduate from high school, and the first to go to college. He had hopes of being a pro pitcher but was cut from the college team. Phillips has 4 biological children and a step daughter that he raised. Vince is currently in the process of starting a Training Camp in Topeka Ks.

Professional career

Known as "Cool" Vince, Phillips turned pro in 1989 after a storied amateur career and fought for the WBA Welterweight Title against Ike Quartey
Ike Quartey
Ike "Bazooka" Quartey is a former WBA Welterweight champion boxer. He has fought numerous world champion boxers including Oscar De La Hoya, Fernando Vargas, Vernon Forrest and Ronald "Winky" Wright.-Biography:...

 in 1996, losing a 3rd round TKO.
The next year, Phillips went down a division and scored what would be his biggest victory, a shocking 10th round TKO victory over undefeated IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...

 Light Welterweight Title holder Kostya Tszyu, a fight proclaimed as 1997 Upset of the Year by Ring magazine. Phillips continued as champion, and his reign included a victory over Micky Ward
Micky Ward
Micky Ward , nicknamed Irish, is a retired American junior welterweight professional boxer and a former WBU champion from Lowell, Massachusetts...

, before losing the belt to unheralded Terron Millett
Terron Millett
Terron Millett was a professional boxer in the Welterweight division and former IBF Light Welterweight Champion.-Amateur career:Millett was the 1991 National Golden Gloves Light welterweight champion.-Pro career:...

 in 1999. Phillips would never again challenge for a major belt, but came up short against big name fighters such as Ricky Hatton
Ricky Hatton
Richard John Hatton MBE, more commonly known as Ricky "the Hitman" Hatton, , is a former British professional boxer, and currently a promoter....

, Sharmba Mitchell
Sharmba Mitchell
Sharmba David Mitchell , known professionally as Sharmba Mitchell, is a boxer who was WBA light welterweight champion.Mitchell, nicknamed "Little Big Man", is a native of Takoma Park, Maryland, but a resident of Washington, D.C.....

, and Vernon Forrest
Vernon Forrest
Vernon Forrest, nicknamed "The Viper", was an American professional boxer who became a world champion in the welterweight and light middleweight divisions and noted for his two victories over Shane Mosley and upset losses to Ricardo Mayorga.- Early years and amateur career :Forrest began boxing at...

.
In 2005 he had a last decent win vs once-beaten Kelson Pinto
Kelson Pinto
Kelson Carlos Santos Pinto is a Brazilian boxer, best known to win the silver medal at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada.-Amateur:...

.
In 2006, at 43 years of age, he lost to journeymen Jesse Feliciano and Jesus Soto Karass
Jesus Soto Karass
Jesús Soto Karass is a Mexican boxer in the Welterweight division. He is the former WBC Continental Americas and the NABF Welterweight Champion. Jesús is the older brother of boxer José Luis Soto Karass....

.

On November 18, 2003, he competed in a kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....

 bout against Japanese superstar Masato
Masato (kickboxer)
Masato Kobayashi is a Japanese former welterweight kickboxer. He was the world champion of ISKA at Welterweight under Oriental rules, and he is the winner of K-1 WORLD MAX World tournament in 2003 and 2008...

 at K-1 World MAX 2003 Champions' Challenge and lost via KO in round 2.

Amateur titles

    • 1985 United States Amateur Lightweight champion
    • 1986 United States Amateur Lightweight champion

100 Fights. 90 Wins 10 Losses

Career titles

  • Professional
    • IBF Inter-Continental Junior welterweight champion
    • 1997 Upset of the Year - Ring magazine
    • WBC Continental Americas Super welterweight champion
    • IBF World Junior welterweight champion

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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