The Phillips defeat isn't good for Tszyu's rep however you look at it and his legacy is not aided by the way his biggest win (over Judah) doesn't now look so impressive with hindsight. But Tszyu was an excellent fighter without a doubt. He's definitely a top 10 all-time light welter (one of the junior weight classes with good depth historically) and has a decent argument as a top 5 fighter there too. I'd certainly put Chavez, Pryor and Cervantes ahead of him and probably Barney Ross and Niccolino Locche too. There were also better fighters than him who competed in the weight class over the years (Carlos Ortiz and Jose Napoles are obvious examples) but in terms of his achievement of unifying the title and longevity in the weight class plus being a consistent performer there he's a 'great' of that division, for sure.
Phillips was very good but nowhere near great. In his previous fight to the Tzyu upset, he lost a decision to Romallis Ellis. Tzyus management thought he was a name, but that they we're catching him at the right time. This was a pattern they followed even more after the Phillips loss. They were not risk takers.
He was an Olympic Champion was he not? He lost to Anthony Jones on a CUT. Ellis? A split decison in which I thought Phillips won. The Quartey fight was his only loss thst cant be disputed. Other then that he very good. Not a risk taker???? KT signed and fought Zab when Zab was unbeaten. Sharmba Mitchell as well. The same Mitchell who hadnt lost in FIVE years.
Rewatching Tszyu vs Phillips, I'd forgotten how back and forth it was before the first knockdown; Phillips really absorbed a lot of hard shots from Tszyu but just kept zinging that overhand right straight back, he couldn't miss with it. Kostya just kept absorbing it face first. Cracking fight actually, just a big black mark on Tszyus copybook because it was clear - even as great a fight he fought - that Vince was no brilliant but enigmatic genius, more like just a good dangerous fighter not to be taken lightly (of which there have been hundreds).
It was a really good give and take fight. What sticks in my mind is the Phillips looked like he weighed at least 12 pounds more than Tszyu.
Phillips was a big fecker actually, I think that was part of the problem for Tszyu who was a big light welter himself and usually enjoyed a strength advantage.
Holy **** there's a lot of excuses for Tszyu's loss to Philips. Tszyu was ill-prepared, Philips was too big, blah, blah, blah. Vince beat his ass, and Tszyu was NEVER interested in a rematch.
