Name: Verno Phillips Career Record: click Nationality: US American Birthplace: San Pablo, Belize Hometown: Denver, CO Born: 1969-11-29 Stance: Orthodox Height: 5' 7.5" Reach: 69"

Professional Career

Verno Jeremias Phillips (born July 13, 1966 in San Pablo, Belize, is a professional boxer in the super welterweight (154lb) division. Phillips turned pro in 1988 and captured the Vacant WBO Light Middleweight Title in 1993 with a win over Lupe Aquino.

He defended the title four times before losing a close decision to Paul Jones. In 2004 Phillips captured the Vacant IBF Light Middleweight Title by beating Carlos Bojorquez via a TKO, but lost the belt in his next fight to Kassim Ouma. He lost his next bout to Ike Quartey, but in 2006 has rallied with wins over Juan Carlos Candelo and Teddy Reid, televised by ESPN.

The first time Verno Phillips lost a fight was in September 2001 to Kassim Ouma, in a 10-round unanimous decision. It was one of the most competitive fights of the year and Phillips and Ouma broke a number of punch stat records. Ouma scored a knockdown in the ninth round and staggered Phillips in the tenth.

Phillip's second loss to Ouma took place in October 2004 and this time Ouma took the IBF junior middleweight belt by a 12-round unanimous decision.

In June 2000, he scored a 5th-round TKO over Vincent Moses. Prior to that, he spent two and one half years outside of the ring.

He had a prosperous boxing career before taking time off. In October 1993, he scored a 7th-round TKO over former World boxing Council (WBC) Junior Middleweight champion, Lupe Aquino to win the WBO junior middleweight crown. Although he was knocked down in the 1st round, he came back to outwork Aquino and break his nose in the 5th.Aquino turned his back in resignation as the onslaught continued in the 6th, and the referee stopped the fight.

Phillips earned a 7th-round knockout over Jaime Llanes in July 1994, in his first title defense.

In November 1994, he retained his world title for a second time with a 12-round unanimous decision over Santos Cardona, even though he was sent to the canvas by the challenger in the second round.

Four months later in February 1995, the two fighters met again, and Phillips won by split decision.

Phillips dropped a 12-round unanimous decision in May 1995 to former two-time world champion, Gianfranco Rosi. However, Phillips wound up retaining the title anyway when Rosi tested positive for amphetamines after the fight. Rosi was cut by a clash of heads in the 2nd round, but rallied in the 3rd.

In November 1995, Phillips lost a 12-round majority decision to Paul "Silky" Jones. Phillips scored a knockdown in the opening round, but Jones recovered and frustrated him with constant movement. Jones was penalized a crucial point for an unintentional head butt in the 9th round, but won the last four rounds on all three scorecards.

Phillips split his next four bouts and then got a rematch with Rosi in May 1997, at which time he captured the vacant World Boxing Union (WBU) middleweight title in a 12-round majority decision.

He knocked out Godfrey Nyakana in the 11th round in his initial WBU defence in August 1997.

In his second title defence, he knocked out former two-time world champion, Julian Jackson in the 9th round in January 1998.

Phillips would not fight again until his bout with Moses. Since his loss to Ouma, he has had seven consecutive victories.

Midway through the first round of a scheduled 12-round IBF junior middleweight elimination bout in March 2004, he hit Julio Garcia with an uppercut from which Garcia never recovered. Phillips followed with a right hook that dropped his opponent again. Garcia rose to his feet, but received a barrage of blows that forced the referee to stop the fight.

In June 2004, Phillips was scheduled to fight Ouma again, but the latter withdrew with an injury earlier in the week. Instead, Phillips scored a 6th-round TKO over late substitute and IBF No. 15 contender, Carlos Bojorquez and captured the vacant IBF junior middleweight title.

In September 2003, he won a 10-round unanimous decision over Michael Lerma.

In April 2003, he recorded a 10-round unanimous decision against Bronco McKart.

He defeated former USBA Junior Middleweight Champion, Jose "Shibata" Flores in December 2002.

In July 2002, former British Commonwealth Junior Middleweight Champion, Tony Badea, took a fight with Phillips on one day's notice and Badea lasted until the 4th round when the referee stopped the fight.

In March 2002, he scored a 5th-round TKO over Lloyd Joseph to win the National Boxing Association (NBA) junior middleweight championship.