# Verno Phillips

Verno Jeremias Phillips (born November 29, 1969) is a Belizean former professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2008. He is a three-time junior middleweight world champion, having held the WBO title from 1993 to 1995, and the IBF title twice in 2004 and 2008.

## Professional career

Phillips turned professional 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 decision to Paul Jones of England. 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 rallied with wins over Juan Carlos Candelo and Teddy Reid, televised by ESPN. On March 27, 2008, Phillips beat Cory Spinks by disputed split decision to regain the IBF light middleweight title.
Philips signed to fight the young Paul Williams on November 29, 2008, on HBO for the vacant WBO interim light middleweight title, vacating his IBF title in the process. Phillips ended up losing the bout the after his cornerman, Trevor Wittman, stopped the fight at the end of the eighth round, resulting in only the second loss via TKO in his career.

## Professional boxing record

| 55 fights | 42 wins | 11 losses |
| By knockout | 21 | 2 |
| By decision | 20 | 9 |
| By disqualification | 1 | 0 |
| Draws | 1 | 1 |
| No contests | 1 | 1 |
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
| 55 | Loss | 42–11–1 (1) | Paul Williams | TKO | 8 (12), 3:00 | Nov 29, 2008 | Citizens Business Bank Arena, Ontario, California, U.S. | For vacant WBO interim light middleweight title |
| 54 | Win | 42–10–1 (1) | Cory Spinks | SD | 12 | Mar 27, 2008 | Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. | Won IBF light middleweight title |
| 53 | Win | 41–10–1 (1) | Eduardo Sanchez | UD | 10 | Feb 16, 2007 | Wynn Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 52 | Win | 40–10–1 (1) | Teddy Reid | TKO | 12 (12), 2:04 | Aug 9, 2006 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. | Won vacant TAB middleweight title |
| 51 | Win | 39–10–1 (1) | Juan Carlos Candelo | UD | 10 | Apr 5, 2006 | New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | |
| 50 | Loss | 38–10–1 (1) | Ike Quartey | UD | 10 | Jun 18, 2005 | FedExForum, Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| 49 | Loss | 38–9–1 (1) | Kassim Ouma | UD | 12 | Oct 2, 2004 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. | Lost IBF light middleweight title |
| 48 | Win | 38–8–1 (1) | Carlos Bojorquez | RTD | 6 (12), 3:00 | Jun 5, 2004 | Leggett & Platt Athletic Center, Joplin, Missouri, U.S. | Won vacant IBF light middleweight title |
| 47 | Win | 37–8–1 (1) | Julio Garcia | TKO | 1 (12), 2:59 | Mar 5, 2004 | Pala Casino, Pala, California, U.S. | |
| 46 | Win | 36–8–1 (1) | Michael Lerma | UD | 10 | Sep 5, 2003 | Stardust Resort and Casino, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. | |
| 45 | Win | 35–8–1 (1) | Bronco McKart | UD | 10 | Apr 25, 2003 | Thunderbird Wild West Casino, Norman, Oklahoma, U.S. | |
| 44 | Win | 34–8–1 (1) | Jose Flores | UD | 10 | Dec 6, 2002 | Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | |
| 43 | Win | 33–8–1 (1) | Tony Badea | TKO | 4 (10), 3:00 | Jul 19, 2002 | Yakama Legends Casino, Toppenish, Washington, U.S. | |
| 42 | Win | 32–8–1 (1) | Christian Lloyd Joseph | TKO | 5 (12) | Mar 29, 2002 | Denver Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, U.S. | Won vacant NBA light middleweight title |
| 41 | Loss | 31–8–1 (1) | Kassim Ouma | UD | 10 | Sep 7, 2001 | Magic Casino, Hankinson, North Dakota, U.S. | |
| 40 | Win | 31–7–1 (1) | Vincent Moses | KO | 5 (8) | Jun 30, 2000 | Denver Coliseum, Denver, Colorado, U.S. | |
| 39 | Win | 30–7–1 (1) | Julian Jackson | KO | 9 (12), 2:01 | Jan 23, 1998 | Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S. | Retained WBU light middleweight title |
| 38 | Win | 29–7–1 (1) | Godfrey Nyakana | TKO | 11 (12), 2:11 | Aug 29, 1997 | City Center, Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S. | Retained WBU light middleweight title |
| 37 | Win | 28–7–1 (1) | Gianfranco Rosi | MD | 12 | May 21, 1997 | Moat House Hotel, Liverpool, England | Won vacant WBU light middleweight title |
| 36 | Win | 27–7–1 (1) | Darryl Ruffin | UD | 8 | Mar 14, 1997 | Pepsi Arena, Albany, New York, U.S. | |
| 35 | Loss | 26–7–1 (1) | Silvio Branco | UD | 12 | Feb 13, 1997 | Palazzetto dello Sport, Civitavecchia, Italy | For WBU middleweight title |
| 34 | Win | 26–6–1 (1) | Juan Italo Meza | UD | 10 | Oct 4, 1996 | Salta, Argentina | |
| 33 | Loss | 25–6–1 (1) | Peter Venancio | UD | 10 | Jun 25, 1996 | Community War Memorial, Rochester, New York, U.S. | |
| 32 | Loss | 25–5–1 (1) | Paul Jones | MD | 12 | Nov 22, 1995 | Hillsborough Leisure Centre, Sheffield, England | Lost WBO light middleweight title |
| 31 | NC | 25–4–1 (1) | Gianfranco Rosi | UD | 12 | May 17, 1995 | PalaEvangelisti, Perugia, Italy | WBO light middleweight title at stake; Originally a UD win for Rosi, later ruled an NC after he failed a drug test |
| 30 | Win | 25–4–1 | Santos Cardona | SD | 12 | Feb 3, 1995 | Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, U.S. | Retained WBO light middleweight title |
| 29 | Win | 24–4–1 | Santos Cardona | UD | 12 | Nov 9, 1994 | Lakefront Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. | Retained WBO light middleweight title |
| 28 | Win | 23–4–1 | Jaime Llanes | TKO | 7 (12), 2:46 | Jul 25, 1994 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. | Retained WBO light middleweight title |
| 27 | Win | 22–4–1 | Lupe Aquino | TKO | 7 (12), 0:57 | Oct 30, 1993 | America West Arena, Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | Won vacant WBO light middleweight title |
| 26 | Win | 21–4–1 | Rafael Williams | TKO | 5 (10), 0:20 | May 28, 1993 | New York City, New York, U.S. | Won New York light middleweight title |
| 25 | Win | 20–4–1 | Michael Ward | UD | 10 | Dec 23, 1992 | Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S. | |
| 24 | Win | 19–4–1 | Ricardo Raul Nunez | KO | 6 (10) | May 22, 1992 | Salta, Argentina | |
| 23 | Win | 18–4–1 | Jose Luis Saldivia | KO | 2 (10) | Apr 24, 1992 | Salta, Argentina | |
| 22 | Win | 17–4–1 | Mario Alberto Gaston Chavez | TKO | 6 (10) | Jan 24, 1992 | Vedia, Argentina | |
| 21 | Win | 16–4–1 | Victor Hugo Marino | KO | 7 (10) | Dec 7, 1991 | Estadio FAB, Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 20 | Win | 15–4–1 | Francisco Bernabe Bobadilla | KO | 2 (10) | Aug 16, 1991 | Salta, Argentina | |
| 19 | Win | 14–4–1 | Daniel Omar Dominguez | PTS | 10 | Jul 21, 1991 | Buenos Aires, Argentina | |
| 18 | Win | 13–4–1 | Julio César Vásquez | DQ | 6 (10) | Jun 14, 1991 | Mar del Plata, Argentina | |
| 17 | Draw | 12–4–1 | Ramon Anibal Jara | PTS | 10 | May 24, 1991 | Salta, Argentina | |
| 16 | Win | 12–4 | Marcelo Domingo Di Croce | TKO | 8 (10) | Nov 23, 1990 | National Technological University Stadium, Santa Fe, Argentina | |
| 15 | Win | 11–4 | Hector Hugo Vilte | KO | 4 (10) | Nov 16, 1990 | Salta, Argentina | |
| 14 | Win | 10–4 | Floyd Peavy | TKO | 5 (10), 1:55 | Sep 6, 1990 | Frear Park, Troy, New York, U.S. | |
| 13 | Win | 9–4 | Simon Rengifo | UD | 8 | Jun 28, 1990 | Albany, New York, U.S. | |
| 12 | Loss | 8–4 | Kenny Gould | UD | 6 | Apr 29, 1990 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 11 | Win | 8–3 | Curtis Summit | UD | 10 | Feb 12, 1990 | Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S. | |
| 10 | Loss | 7–3 | Larry Barnes | UD | 8 | Jan 3, 1990 | Westchester County Center, White Plains, New York, U.S. | |
| 9 | Win | 7–2 | Clarence White | UD | 6 | Aug 8, 1989 | Bally's Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 8 | Win | 6–2 | Jose Nieves | TKO | 3 | Jun 24, 1989 | Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 7 | Win | 5–2 | Anthony Rorie | PTS | 4 | Mar 17, 1989 | Sheraton Hotel, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. | |
| 6 | Loss | 4–2 | Carl Sullivan | UD | 8 | Sep 29, 1988 | Caesars Boardwalk Regency, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 5 | Loss | 4–1 | Carl Sullivan | TKO | 5 | Jul 30, 1988 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Bill Robinson | TKO | 3 | May 17, 1988 | Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Chris Royal | PTS | 4 | Mar 30, 1988 | Saratoga Springs, New York, U.S. | |
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Anthony Rorie | PTS | 4 | Feb 5, 1988 | Civic Center, Glens Falls, New York, U.S. | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Manuel Braga Opher | UD | 4 | Jan 23, 1988 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. | |