What are your thoughts on philips? any one know why he didnt get the kosta rematch? Also i was reading one of my rings from back in the day there was talk of him and oscar de la hoya after he beat kosta but also that never happen?
Very tough and cagey technician with a big right hand. Kostya steered clear of an immediate rematch, and after Philips lost to Millett and Forrest it was taken off the table altogether. Later, after Philips beat Acevedo, there was talk that a rematch might happen if he got by Sharmba Mitchell, which of course didn't happen. I don't remember the details, but there was a time when Philips was looking at a couple big fights that fell through. I think that was part of the reason he was inactive for a year before fighting Millett.
I always thought Phillips was underrated big time,in fact i followed his career from the beginning and was one of the only few who picked him to beat Tszyu. He had his vices outside of the ring,which was probably the reason he didnt live up to his real potential. He also turned pro at an advanced age.Weight problems etc. When he moved up to faceQuartey Ike was a beast at the time and just to strong for Vince. Vince at 100% would beat a prime Hatton and anyone at 140 today Bradley included.
He was a good boxer puncher. I enjoyed watching all those 140 pounders like Terron Millet, Sharmba Mitchell, and Phillips. They were all around the same skill set. Tsyzu was by far his biggest win and upset, but wasnt Tsyzu really struggling in training for this fight? Its been so long I dont remember much of the fight other than the fight being close and Tszyu getting stopped late. Millet lifted the title from him and then got stopped by a young Zab Judah in spectacular fashion.
Millet would not have done well against a prime and healthy Phillips,I also think vince would have knocked out Mitchell,the thing with Phillips is you never knew which one was gonna show up. I remember the Phillips and Tszyu, fight it was close and exciting both guys ate big shots and showed great chins but Tszyu took a beating in the end.
I thought Philips outclassed Tszyu for most of their fight. It was competitive early, but I thought Philips slipped a lot of Kostya's big punches while he landed his own right hand pretty regularly. I thought that was one of the prime examples of HBO's commentary team dropping the ball and failing to recognize what was unfolding before their eyes.
