What are your thoughts on "Cool" Vince Phillips? He's mainly known for stopping Kostya Tszyu in a stunning upset when he became IBF Jr WW champ which he held on for a few years before losing to Terron Millet. His other notable fights that he's been in against were with Ike Quartey, Vernon Forrest, Ricky Hatton, Sharmba Mitchell, Freddie Pendleton, Harold Brazier, Micky Ward, Ray Oliveira. A pretty good fighter in his own right who was physically strong, aggressive, threw a lot of punches, and had heart.
I met him at a couple of shows, one after he beat Tszyu for the title, and he was very gracious and down to earth. He came to support a boxer from his gym iirc. They introduced him in the ring and he settled kind of on the periphery of the crowd … this was before selfies were a thing, but he happily signed autographs and chatted with patrons.
His run of Tszyu, Pendleton, Micky Ward, and Alfonso Sanchez was really solid. He should’ve fought his entire career at 140, but money talks.
Is it just me or has "Cool" went from something enthusiastic to something bland. Like now when people are bored they say "cool". But like 50 years ago they were like cool.
He was a really good amateur in the mid 80's won multiple national titles. Solid pro career that would have been a lot better had he stayed clean. His win over Tzysu was such a great moment. I just remember his good friend Roy Jones Jr being so overjoyed for him when he won.
I actually saw more of him as a young prospect coming up than I did in his ranked years. I always saw a pretty bright talented fighter
