Verno Jeremias Phillips (born November 29, 1969) is a

Belize Belize is a country on the north-eastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a maritime boundary with Honduras to the southeast. P ...

an former

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional fights are supervised by a regulatory auth ...

who competed from 1988 to 2008. He is a three-time junior middleweight world champion, having held the

WBO The World Boxing Organization (WBO) is an organization which sanctions professional boxing bouts. It is recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) as one of the four major world championship groups, alongside the World Boxin ...

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 Isaias Guadalupe "Lupe" Aquino (born 23 January 1963) is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1981 to 1999 and held the WBC Light Middleweight title in 1987. Aquino, known as "Lupe", turned pro in 1981 and won the WBC light mi ...

. 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 Carlos Bojorquez (born 26 June 1972) is a Mexicans, Mexican professional boxing, boxer who competed from 1997 to 2007, challenging for the International Boxing Federation, IBF light middleweight title in 2004. Professional career He has fought fo ...

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 Trevor Wittman (born March 5, 1974) is an American boxing and mixed martial arts coach. He is the founder of ONX Sports, a combat sports equipment company based in Golden, Colorado. Training career Compelled to retire from boxing at 21 years old ...

, stopped the fight at the end of the eighth round, resulting in only the second loss via TKO in his career.

Professional boxing record

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Verno 1969 births Belizean male boxers International Boxing Federation champions Living people World Boxing Organization champions Sportspeople from Belize City Middleweight boxers World light-middleweight boxing champions