Thursday, March 27, Cory Spinks lost his IBF junior middleweight title by split decision to Verno Phillips at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis Missouri.
From Press Row
Verno Phillips came into St. Louis as a three-time world champion. He will leave as a four-time champ. Phillips landed right hands almost at will as the normally elusive Cory Spinks proved unable to find the extra inch or two of distance he needed to stay out of reach. The three judges at ringside scored a split decision for Phillips. One judge saw Spinks as the winner at 115-113, with the other two scoring 116-112 and 115-113 respectively, for Phillips. Suite 101 scored the fight 117-115 for Phillips (two rounds even).
The fight began with Phillips swinging wild and Spinks hardly throwing, as if trying to time his opponent with counters. In the second round, Spinks did something he isn't normally known for--he stepped inside and banged.
While hindsight proved Spinks' game plan faulty, it made for a more exciting fight than one is accustomed to seeing from the St. Louis favorite. Through much of the fight, Spinks seemed to have the edge in ring generalship by moving the 38-year-old Phillips around the ring however he wished, but it was always Phillips who landed more frequently and more heavily.
Leaning over the security rail near press row, Lamont Ward, from St. Louis' North Side, repeatedly screamed "You've got to bring the pain," to Spinks, but any pain that was to be brought clearly showed on the former champion's face at the post-fight press conference.
The clearly dissapointed Spinks, 30, promised better things in the future. "I just wasn't my self tonight," said Spinks. "I'll be back. It's still my goal to clean up the junior middleweight division."
Phillips record gets a bump to 42-10-1 (21), while Spinks' falls to 36-5 (11)
Devon Alexander vs. Muguel Callist
In the co-feature, Devon Alexander, 21, thrilled the partisan crowd with his usual hard-hitting performance against slick, but out-gunned, Miguel Callist. In one of the more lop-sided unanimous decisions Suite 101 has seen: 120-105, 120-106, and 120-106, all for Alexander. Suite 101 also scored the fight 120-105 as two rounds were scored 10-8 even without a knockdown, while an actual knockdown in round twelve also earned Alexander a 10-8.
The fight began with Alexander throwing heavy handed jabs, but from out of range of Callist. As the fight progressed, the distance closed and Alexander's straight lefts became the centerpiece of the fight.
Alexander's record is now 15-0 (8). Callist's falls to 24-7-1 (17)
The Undercard
Lightweight, John "Action" Jackson, 11-1 (11) lived up to his nickname when he blew through 6-10-1 (4) Leroy Newton in 2:10 of the first round.
Super middleweight, Marcus Johnson, 13-0 (9) landed a liver shot that ended Jose Medina's night at 1:57 of the first round.
Cruiserweight, Francisco Palacios, 14-0 (7) defeated Zack Page 13-19 (4) by unanimous decision.
Lightweight, Angelo Santana, 2-0 (2) finished Rasool Shakoor, 1-3 (1) at :28 of round one.
Heavyweight prospect, Bremaine Stiverne, 14-1 (14) sent Jimmy Haynes, 18-15-2 (8) home at 2:08 of round one. (See a pattern, here?)
Heavyweight, Kertson Manswell,15-0 (13) knocked out Cerrone Fox, 8-8 (8) at 93 seconds of the first round.
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