- 1 day ago
Kostya Tzsyu defends his IBF Jr Welterweight Title against Vince Phillips on HBO Boxing After Dark.
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00:00:00Right now, let's look ahead to the main event of the evening, the 140-pound battle in which Costa Zou
00:00:05will risk his world championship against Vince Phillips of the United States.
00:00:10Now, earlier at the beginning of the show, Larry, you said that Zou has the chance to break through via
00:00:16American media and become a big star here.
00:00:18What is it about him that attracts your attention?
00:00:21Well, first, once again, he's a boy named Zou with a pigtail.
00:00:25Couldn't resist him, could you?
00:00:25That helps. But it wouldn't help if he didn't also have a crowd-pleasing style and a punch that could
00:00:33have ended the war in Chechnya a little sooner than it was if he was still in Russia.
00:00:38And also, he has some kind of innate sense of show business about him, which you really wouldn't expect from
00:00:45someone who spent most of his years as an amateur fighter in Russia where there is no professional boxing.
00:00:51For example, he told us that part of the reason that he punches so well is that he dips his
00:00:57hand in some sort of herbal concoction put together by a Chinese kung fu guy.
00:01:06Master, right.
00:01:07And I thought, well, maybe what he's dipping his hands in is cement.
00:01:11Either that or Mr. Ponytail is just telling us a tall tale that we can tell you.
00:01:17But he can fight.
00:01:19And he is fighting a fighter tonight who can fight.
00:01:22This is a boy named Zou against a man named Vince.
00:01:26Indeed.
00:01:27Costa Zou punches hard with both hands.
00:01:29So, too, does the opponent, Vince Phillips.
00:01:31Vince Phillips was once a schoolboy chum and training ring partner of Roy Jones' in Pensacola, Florida.
00:01:38A lot of water under the bridge since then.
00:01:41Weighed in at 140 yesterday.
00:01:43Comes in at 149 tonight after regaining some of that weight.
00:01:46But it's been a long time since Vince has had to make 140, although maybe it's his most effective weight.
00:01:52At this stage of his career, what does 140 mean to him?
00:01:55140 is Vince's best weight anyway.
00:01:57I think financial endeavors made him go up to the 147 power class.
00:02:02Yeah, he was looking for money at 147.
00:02:04And, you know, he could get the fights at 147 that he could not get at 140.
00:02:08So he had to sacrifice and go up and take the chances, take the risks, because if they won't fight
00:02:12you at 140, you have to go to 147.
00:02:14He couldn't go back to 135.
00:02:16Now he's there at 140, but is it too late?
00:02:19We don't know.
00:02:20We'll have to see which Vince shows up tonight.
00:02:22He definitely has the heart.
00:02:23He definitely has the skills.
00:02:25But is his time ran out?
00:02:27We don't know, but we will soon find out.
00:02:30He arrives here tonight as one of the better fighters in the sport, never to have won a significant world
00:02:34title.
00:02:34Maybe he can finally cross that bridge tonight against Kastazu.
00:02:38Let's take a look at the tail of the tape.
00:02:40Between Vince Phillips and Kastazu, you see the six-year age advantage for the man from Syros, Russia, now fighting
00:02:47out of Australia.
00:02:48Gives up two inches in height to cool Vince Phillips.
00:02:51But nevertheless, Zhu, with long arms for his frame, has a two-inch reach advantage.
00:02:56Punch that numbers, Larry.
00:02:58Let's take a look and see how active they are.
00:03:00And you can see that Phillips can be a very, very active fighter.
00:03:04We've seen him throw well over 100 punches around.
00:03:07Or he can get back on his feet and move around and throw 60 punches around.
00:03:13But he is versatile, and he will test Zhu.
00:03:17At one time...
00:03:20Go ahead, Roy.
00:03:21At one time, Phillips had the counterpunch record for most punches thrown in the fight, I think.
00:03:25Oh, yeah.
00:03:26He threw more than 300 in averaging more than 100 punches around in his loss in April of 1995 to
00:03:36Ike Quartey down in San Martin.
00:03:38And has always thrown a lot of punches.
00:03:40Rules of the bout with Harold Letterman.
00:03:42The Costa Zoo-Vince Phillips fight is scheduled for 12 rounds.
00:03:45There is no standing eight count.
00:03:47No three knockdown rule.
00:03:49Only the referee can stop the fight.
00:03:51And you cannot be saved by the bell in any round, including the 12th and final round.
00:03:56Jim.
00:03:58It's your world, Vince.
00:04:00It's your world.
00:04:00Entry music for Vince Phillips.
00:04:03We got the half.
00:04:03You mean, don't pass.
00:04:04From the movie Space Jam.
00:04:07You want to have a jam?
00:04:08You should be aware of a fight.
00:04:10You got a red corner.
00:04:12You got a red corner.
00:04:13Vince Phillips' game plan tonight.
00:04:16Trying to keep Costa Zoo off balance with the jab.
00:04:18And box, box, box.
00:04:21Try not to get into a slugfest with Zoo.
00:04:26He had to be inspired by Jesse Ferguson.
00:04:29He told us earlier that he had been inspired by a commercial for Michael Jordan.
00:04:34And he says, tell me I'm slower.
00:04:36Tell me I can't punch.
00:04:37Tell me I can't take a punch.
00:04:40I want you to doubt me.
00:04:44Record for Vince Phillips.
00:04:4635 wins.
00:04:47Losses to Anthony Boye.
00:04:51Anthony Boye Jones?
00:04:53Yep, Anthony Jones.
00:04:54Anthony Baby Jones.
00:04:56And Ike Cortay, the third loss to Romalis Ellis in January of this year.
00:05:00And a lot of us at ringside felt that Vince had won that fight,
00:05:03although Ellis got a split decision.
00:05:10Anthony Baby Jones out of Detroit.
00:05:13I'm going to clear that up and get it right.
00:05:14Come on, Vince!
00:05:19Vince Phillips with a look down to his buddy Roy Jones here at ringside.
00:05:24You were pretty close growing up, right, Roy?
00:05:26Very close growing up.
00:05:27Very, very close.
00:05:30You know, he is living proof that you don't have to win every fight in order to get fights.
00:05:38As long as you go out and put everything into it, give us a good show, and you can come
00:05:44back.
00:05:46Well, he's a terrific guy, too.
00:05:48He's the kind of guy that you root for, just as was the case with Jesse Ferguson in the earlier
00:05:53bout.
00:05:55Kenny Adams, well known as one of the better amateur coaches in the world for a long time.
00:06:02Airborne Ranger drill sergeant in the United States Army, and Vince Phillips was with Kenny Adams in the Army before
00:06:08he turned pro.
00:06:09Now, here comes Kastazu, and you see the outstanding record in championship fights.
00:06:18I asked him where he got his strength and power, and he told the story of being 12 years old
00:06:25and carrying a basket, a 50-pound basket of berries, 15 miles to forests and swamps.
00:06:34And that kind of upbringing, hard work, puts power into your body.
00:06:43Relatively simple fight plan for Kastazu tonight.
00:06:46He wants to establish the right hand early, and pressure, pressure, pressure Vince Phillips.
00:06:57In his last fight on the undercard of De La Hoya Miguel Angel Gonzalez back in January, he got a
00:07:05technical draw when he was ruled to have hit Leonardo Mas.
00:07:09After referee Joe Cortez called for a break at the end of the first round, Mas went down.
00:07:14It was the third time that he had been down in the round, stayed down, and it was officially ruled
00:07:19a technical draw.
00:07:20So there's the record, 18 wins, no losses, one draw against Leonardo Mas.
00:07:2514 KOs for Zhu, who is a power-punching 140-pounder.
00:07:33And now with both fighters in the ring, let's go up to Michael Buffer for the official intros.
00:07:39Ladies and gentlemen, Top Rank Incorporated, along with Gel Promotions and your undisputed, undefeated king of beers, Budweiser, present
00:07:4812 rounds of boxing for the IBF Junior Welterweight Championship of the World.
00:07:56Sanctioned by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, Boxing Commissioner Larry Hazard Sr., Chairman Jerry Gormley,
00:08:02board members Gary Shaw and Stephen Katz, Deputy Commissioner John Greco.
00:08:07The timekeeper is Roosevelt Gilbert.
00:08:08This ballot is also sanctioned by the IBF, President Robert W. Lee, Supervisor at Ringside, Darryl Peebles.
00:08:16The three judges scoring this contest on a 10-point must system will be Deborah Barnes, Melvina Latham, and Desmond
00:08:24Boyd.
00:08:25And when the bell rings, your referee in charge of the action, Benji Estevez.
00:08:32And now, ladies and gentlemen, for the thousands in attendance and the millions watching around the world,
00:08:39from Donald J. Trump's Taj Mahal of Atlantic City, New Jersey, let's get ready to rumble!
00:08:53Introducing first, fighting out of the red corner, wearing purple and black and weighing in at 140 pounds.
00:09:00His professional record, an excellent one.
00:09:0335 victories with 24 knockouts and only three defeats.
00:09:08From Las Vegas, Nevada, here is the challenger, Kuhl, Vincent Phelan!
00:09:22And across the ring, in the blue corner, his opponent, wearing black and weighing in also at 140 pounds.
00:09:29His professional record, also an excellent one.
00:09:3218 victories without a loss.
00:09:3414 by knockout with one draw.
00:09:37This native son of Russia now lives and fights out of Sydney, Australia.
00:09:42Ladies and gentlemen, presenting the undefeated IBF junior welterweight champion of the world,
00:09:52Kostya Su!
00:09:56Kostya Su!
00:09:58Kostya Su!
00:09:59Kostya Su!
00:10:00Kostya Su!
00:10:01Kostya Su!
00:10:02Kostya Su!
00:10:03Kostya Su!
00:10:04Kostya Su!
00:10:05Kostya Su!
00:10:06Kostya Su!
00:10:06Kostya Su!
00:10:06Kostya Su!
00:10:07Kostya Su!
00:10:12Kostya Su!
00:10:14Kostya Su!
00:10:15Kostya Su!
00:10:16Kostya Su!
00:10:18Kostya Su!
00:10:19Kostya Su!
00:10:19Kostya Su!
00:10:21Kostya Su!
00:10:21Kostya Su!
00:10:21Kostya Su!
00:10:22Kostya Su!
00:10:23Kostya Su!
00:10:23Kostya Su!
00:10:24Kostya Su!
00:10:26Kostya Su!
00:10:29Kostya Su!
00:10:33Kostya Su!
00:10:38this will give us a clue whether he has that kind of strength
00:10:43inside that 140-pound frame.
00:10:46A more immediate prospect before he goes to the welterweight level
00:10:49would be a 140-pound unification bout against the winner
00:10:53of a fight between Miguel Angel Gonzalez and Julio Cesar Chavez.
00:10:57To do that, he has to get past Phillips tonight.
00:11:02Costa looks a lot more relaxed than Phillips does,
00:11:04right now.
00:11:07One of Zou's great qualities is that he always looks relaxed in the ring.
00:11:11He's a very confident young man.
00:11:23Phillips trying to get the jab working early.
00:11:25Costa Zou trying to land power punches.
00:11:29Phillips is trying to land a big right hand himself.
00:11:35And Zou kind of bobs that left hand up and down.
00:11:38If Vince can gauge the rhythm of that bobbing up and down,
00:11:41he'll try to get over the top of that left with the right hand.
00:11:50One thing Zou is doing real well is that he's faking that Vince.
00:11:53He's making Vince commit to everything.
00:11:55Keep a guy on the defense.
00:11:58This is how you keep a guy on the defense.
00:12:01Zou backing Phillips up with the right hand.
00:12:06Vince pumping the jab.
00:12:08Trying to get his head and shoulders going so he can get into a boxing rhythm.
00:12:14Zou lands a hard right hand inside.
00:12:16A very good right hand.
00:12:21Vince was working through his body early, though.
00:12:23I must give him credit.
00:12:25But Costa coming forward as though he's not terribly worried
00:12:28about Vince's punching power.
00:12:29No, but if he walks into one of those right hands,
00:12:31he will become worried about it.
00:12:37Come on around to the right, my friend.
00:12:41Come on around to the right, my friend.
00:12:43Come on around to the right, my friend.
00:12:45Come on around.
00:12:46Come on around to the right, my friend.
00:12:48Oh, good body shot by Phillips.
00:12:50Right hand up and under for Phillips.
00:12:53Costa-Zoo chases him and lands a left hand.
00:13:00Both of these guys are throwing very big punches early.
00:13:06Very good first round.
00:13:07No feeling out of any opponents here.
00:13:10No need to.
00:13:11Both guys like to land big punches,
00:13:13and they are trying to land them early.
00:13:20Oh, that was a good right hand by Phillips.
00:13:22Clean break, clean break, guys.
00:13:23Cut that front of the screen.
00:13:25Phillips' best shots have come off of classic one-twos,
00:13:28throwing the jab and then following up with the right hand.
00:13:30And three.
00:13:35Right hand by Phillips lands flush on Costa's face.
00:13:39Sue, apparently unmoved by the punch, landed in return.
00:13:43Right back in return.
00:13:45Very good round for both fighters.
00:13:50That's the way to work.
00:13:51That's the way to work.
00:13:52That's the way to work.
00:13:52But you got to move.
00:13:53We're moving fine.
00:13:54But we got to slip to the right.
00:13:56We're in swell.
00:13:57We still got to slip to the right.
00:13:58Okay?
00:13:59You understand what I'm saying?
00:14:01Vince, are you with me?
00:14:02Yes.
00:14:02How you feeling?
00:14:03Good.
00:14:04Looking good the first round.
00:14:05Good first round.
00:14:06Now, a lot of loads in the bucket.
00:14:09It's okay.
00:14:10It's okay.
00:14:13It's okay.
00:14:14It's okay.
00:14:14It's okay.
00:14:14It's okay.
00:14:14It's okay.
00:14:15Next round.
00:14:15Give us a baseline.
00:14:16Put it where you can see it.
00:14:31End of the round.
00:14:32Phillips still looking for that one punch.
00:14:34As he put it to us, to get the respect of Zhu in order to slow down his aggression.
00:14:42But Zhu is a very tough guy to slow down.
00:14:46Zhu, as we told you, originally from Syrus, Russia.
00:14:49It's an industrial town in the north, well east of Moscow.
00:14:54Snow on the ground six months a year, often up to the waist.
00:14:57His father was a factory worker and an ice fisherman.
00:15:04The older fighters like Vince Phillips have to remember to discipline themselves.
00:15:08In other words, in the late rounds, he has to keep his body locked and stay ready for anything.
00:15:12Young fighters are good at this because as amateurs, they don't have but three rounds.
00:15:16They're used to keeping their bodies disciplined, and they're used to keeping their bodies disciplined for that three rounds.
00:15:18Let everybody inside!
00:15:20Let everybody inside!
00:15:22Let everybody inside!
00:15:24Let everybody inside!
00:15:27Come on, don't put no jealous!
00:15:29Come out behind the jab!
00:15:35Come around!
00:15:42Strong combination by Kostosu.
00:15:46Vince Phillips still trying to develop a boxing rhythm.
00:15:49Three more punches than Zou in the first round.
00:15:51They landed just about the same number.
00:15:56Good short left hook off the jab.
00:16:00You may notice that Phillips already has a mark
00:16:05under one of his eyes.
00:16:07The right one, I believe.
00:16:09He came into the fight with that.
00:16:11Apparently, he suffered a black eye
00:16:12in his last sparring session about a week ago.
00:16:15Had a dark mark under the right eye yesterday.
00:16:17Vince does tend to cut.
00:16:19It has been bothersome for him in several fights.
00:16:24Zou was cut early by South African Jan Bergman,
00:16:27who came back to win the fight
00:16:29with an 11th round knockout.
00:16:32Hard left hand by Zou.
00:16:40Nelson's punches are getting a little wide.
00:16:41He's losing that discipline that I'm talking about.
00:16:43Zou is keeping his punches very sharp.
00:16:47Vince's punches does not have the sting on him
00:16:49that they had earlier.
00:17:00Zou keeps his feet wide apart.
00:17:03Very strong legs.
00:17:05Powerful foundation for 140-pounder.
00:17:07Very powerful foundation.
00:17:16He's throwing good body shots, though.
00:17:18This could well...
00:17:19Oh, that was a good body shot by Zou.
00:17:25Zou starting to land the left hook repeatedly.
00:17:29Phillips coming back with a right hand and a jab.
00:17:32Not as much snap in the jab here in round two
00:17:35as was the case in round one.
00:17:37A sharp right hand there by Vince Phillips.
00:17:41Both fighters have made an impression in rounds one and two.
00:17:52In case you're wondering about Jennifer Klarman
00:17:55from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania,
00:17:58part-time model, just finished law school in May,
00:18:02studying now to take the Pennsylvania bar,
00:18:05not an easy one, in July,
00:18:08hopes to be practicing law by this fall
00:18:10and may continue to model a little bit in the future
00:18:13because she thinks it's a good way to moonlight off her law practice.
00:18:16It doesn't look legal to me.
00:18:18We got the right hand of the body, we got the right hand of the head,
00:18:21we got the hook behind it if you sweep with it, okay?
00:18:23But don't stand back in front of the guy on the left side, okay?
00:18:27Keep your hands up, okay?
00:18:28Hands up, being smart.
00:18:30Double up on the jab.
00:18:31Double up on the jab, right hand on the over,
00:18:33back with the hook, okay?
00:18:35Sweep.
00:18:42There we go.
00:18:47I told you coming in how Vince Phillips
00:18:50averages more than 70 punches thrown per round.
00:18:52He's averaging 72 per round here, paying a price,
00:18:55as Kostazu, often counter-punching in return,
00:18:59is landing at a 40% rate.
00:19:00They go to round three.
00:19:12The reason Kostazu is so powerful is because he throws a lot of speed
00:19:16on all of his punches.
00:19:27Good body shot by Sue.
00:19:33Phillips cracking twice with the right hand.
00:19:36Sue coming back and landing the left hook in return.
00:19:39Oh, that was a good hook by Phillips.
00:19:47This reminds you a little bit of the Quarte fight
00:19:50for Phillips down in San Martin
00:19:52as he bravely traded power shots
00:19:54with the more powerful Quarte
00:19:56and ultimately paid the price.
00:19:58Oh, that was a good right hand by Phillips,
00:19:59but it didn't bother Kostazu with none whatsoever.
00:20:02Kostazu has a very strong foundation.
00:20:05Yeah, he just gives you the impression
00:20:06it's going to be awfully difficult to hurt him.
00:20:11Oh, good body shot by Phillips.
00:20:13Body shots would be a reason to any fight.
00:20:15I don't care how strong your foundation is.
00:20:18USA! USA! USA!
00:20:20Crowd stance USA to try to bolster the hopes
00:20:23of Vince Phillips.
00:20:25USA! USA! USA!
00:20:28USA! USA!
00:20:28USA! USA!
00:20:32And now there's a return chant
00:20:34from the zoo fans in the crowd.
00:20:36There are actually people who have flown here
00:20:39from Australia to see that.
00:20:41Oh, that hurts this Phillip.
00:20:41This Phillip fans are a little weak now.
00:20:44Oh, that was a good hook by Phillip, though.
00:20:48These guys are really trying to get each other out of here.
00:20:58Three judges watching rap fascination as we do.
00:21:02And you get the impression that scorecards will be a moot point.
00:21:09They keep fighting like this.
00:21:11Somebody's going to go away.
00:21:12That's right.
00:21:15It ain't going to be us.
00:21:18No.
00:21:19We'll be right here until it's all over.
00:21:21Hey.
00:21:23That was a good punch, I think.
00:21:24That was right on the line.
00:21:26His belt buckle is above his neighbor,
00:21:28and that is a legal shot in pro boxing.
00:21:31Referee Ben Kees Davis,
00:21:33nevertheless,
00:21:34warning Vince Phillips about low blows.
00:21:38Oh, that's a good shot by Phillips.
00:21:42Oh, a very good exchange in the middle of the ring.
00:21:45This is turning into a good fight.
00:21:47A boxing at the dark fight even.
00:21:50It's on that level.
00:21:54Vince! Vince! You're the man! Vince, you're the man! Vince, you're the man! Vince, you
00:22:00want this championship? Give me a towel around here. Give me a towel around his chest. Towel
00:22:07around his chest. Vince, you got this guy. Be smart. Don't waste a lot of energy. Go
00:22:13straight down the gap. On the back of the neck, Ronnie, just put it straight down. Take the
00:22:16bucket. You got the grease, Johnny? No, I've got the grease.
00:22:38Relax, relax. Come on, mate. Bubba, Bubba, come on. Wake up.
00:22:49In round 3, the 2 fighters combined to land 51 punches, of which 44 were
00:22:55hour shots. Yeah, Vince going back to the body, Roy. Yeah, he's going to the body pretty
00:23:00good in that last round. If you can continue that, this may turn into a real good fight.
00:23:04Actually, it already is a good fight.
00:23:06That's what he needed to do.
00:23:19That's what he needed to do.
00:23:22Hard right hand over the top
00:23:24by Vince Phillips.
00:23:27Costezoo showed no effect.
00:23:31Comes back to pound away to Phillips' upper body.
00:23:43Now there's a right-hand lead by Zoo.
00:23:45Vince's eye is starting to swell just a little
00:23:47where he had that breeze at,
00:23:49but I don't think it'll be a problem for him.
00:23:55Phillips able to land one uppercut
00:23:56as they wrestled inside.
00:23:58Now Zoo beats him to the punch
00:24:00to start the next flurry.
00:24:08He's still working the body real good.
00:24:10He just has to move his head some.
00:24:11He can't sit his head still
00:24:12in front of a big puncher like Zoo.
00:24:19Zoo landing more and more frequently
00:24:21with right hand leads across the top against Phillips.
00:24:24Hey!
00:24:26Hey!
00:24:27Hey!
00:24:29Hey!
00:24:29Hey!
00:24:30Hey!
00:24:31Hey!
00:24:32Hey!
00:24:35Hey!
00:24:36Hey!
00:24:37Hey!
00:24:41Hey!
00:24:42Hey!
00:24:42Hey!
00:24:42Hey!
00:24:42Hey!
00:24:42Hey!
00:24:43Hey!
00:24:44Hey!
00:24:45Hey!
00:24:46Hey!
00:24:46Hey!
00:24:46Hey!
00:24:48Hey!
00:24:48Hey!
00:24:51Hey!
00:24:54That's two more big shots by Vince Phillips, just seem to have more effect on Kosta.
00:25:05Kosta zoom more than willing to trade shots with Vince Phillips.
00:25:10He feels he's the stronger puncher of the two.
00:25:19One thing Kosta isn't doing though, he's not working Phyllis' fight as much as he should be.
00:25:23Vince Phillips landing a solid left hook and a right cross, and Kosta zoom just showing no effect whatsoever.
00:25:34Hands up, hands up, hands up!
00:25:39War of wills as round four comes to a close.
00:25:43One third of the way down in a scheduled 12-rounder in Atlantic City.
00:25:53Vince, you're getting a little lazy.
00:25:55Four rounds, how do you see it?
00:25:58Let me tell you something.
00:25:59I think this Russian kid is a tremendous fighter.
00:26:0139, 37, three rounds to one.
00:26:04Kosta zoom.
00:26:05He just keeps walking through Phillips.
00:26:07Phillips' face is badly swollen, both eyes.
00:26:11Kosta zoom just keeps coming.
00:26:12Nothing seems to affect him.
00:26:13I thought Vince had a very good round in the third round.
00:26:16He had Kosta zoom some tremendous shots, but nothing stops this game.
00:26:19The Russian is like a freight train.
00:26:22I have it two, one, and one even.
00:26:24Where's my hook at?
00:26:25For zoom.
00:26:25The hook has been good, okay?
00:26:27Upperclut is good, okay?
00:26:28And you see that eye.
00:26:30It's getting worse.
00:26:32It's not going to get better.
00:26:33You know the plan we talked about?
00:26:35No way possible.
00:26:37Setting him up with the right hand, right, and hooking off of it.
00:26:41Now...
00:26:42Kenny Adams, the voice in the ear of Vince Phillips.
00:26:46Adams now in his second tour of duty as Vince's trainer.
00:26:50He was out of there for a while as Vince worked with Jerome Coffey.
00:26:54Vince has been through some wild management and training upheaval
00:26:58getting ready for this fight.
00:26:59He wound up training in three different places in the last seven weeks.
00:27:08And with three different trainers, including briefly Emmanuel Stewart.
00:27:14I guess three hands are better than one.
00:27:25Solid right hand lands for Phillips.
00:27:29Pass to Zoo, holds his hands apart.
00:27:31Oh, that was another good right hand by Phillips.
00:27:34And Zoo smiling slightly at Phillips.
00:27:37And Zoo smiling slightly at Phillips.
00:27:37An acknowledgment that Vince is landing sharply.
00:27:45Vince can't relax on the inside because Coffey is throwing some very good punches on the inside.
00:28:10I think this 140-pound weight division may have Phillips in better shape for the long haul than he was
00:28:15at 147.
00:28:16He doesn't.
00:28:17He doesn't have to deal with as much weight on the other side.
00:28:21He looks well-conditioned despite all of the obstacles he faced in training for the fight.
00:28:25But that happens sometimes.
00:28:28Sometimes God puts obstacles in front of us to make us show ourselves that we really want whatever it is
00:28:34we are to get.
00:28:35I had a lot of obstacles in front of me before I made the Olympic team, but I knocked all
00:28:39of them down.
00:28:39Kosta Zoo, carefully nurtured in what was once the Soviet sports machine, had more than 280 amateur bouts.
00:28:47No bad habits.
00:28:49He's never out of shape.
00:28:50And that's good.
00:28:50That's one of the better ways to stay.
00:29:06One more recent disappointment in your life in reference to amateur boxing boy,
00:29:11the International Olympic Committee failing to see fit to award you the gold medal you so richly deserved for Seoul
00:29:171988.
00:29:19Yup.
00:29:22Hard to even comment on it, you know?
00:29:24I'll bet.
00:29:25That's why this sport of boxing is so bad to me sometimes.
00:29:28You give it your best effort and you still lose.
00:29:31How can that happen?
00:29:32And if you lose rightfully, I can understand maybe.
00:29:35I would be upset and go home sad because I lost and I hate to lose, but I'm an athlete.
00:29:40I can accept a loss if I get it rightfully.
00:29:43When I get them and they're not rightfully done, it makes me to where I can't sleep at night.
00:29:46I'm sure you'll tell us you'll take all your recent disappointments out on Montel Griffin August 7th.
00:29:53I ain't gonna even talk.
00:29:54All right.
00:29:55I will take every one of them out come August 7th.
00:29:57But you know what?
00:29:58It's not him that I'm disappointed with.
00:30:00You know, he didn't make the decision.
00:30:01He just did what he should have done.
00:30:02I would have laid down to try to get out of there.
00:30:04Especially if you're facing a warrior like myself.
00:30:06I would have a second one.
00:30:06There you go, give me a second.
00:30:08And that's clear.
00:30:08He's okay.
00:30:08This cost don't miss at all.
00:30:10Yeah, better sure.
00:30:26David two how one week from tonight.
00:30:28Oscar de la Hoya!
00:30:28two weeks from tonight.
00:30:31Lennox Lewis versus Henry Akinwande
00:30:33right after Wimbledon.
00:30:34Johnny Tapia against Danny Romero
00:30:36July 18th.
00:30:37Big summer of boxing upcoming on HBO.
00:30:43Roy Jones-Montell Griffin rematch
00:30:45August 7th.
00:30:50Round 6 arrives for
00:30:51Costa Zou and Vince Phillips.
00:31:02And maybe Phillips begins
00:31:04to wear down just a little bit
00:31:06as the resolute Costa Zou
00:31:08keeps moving forward against it.
00:31:11But Vince is still
00:31:12ending a lot of good punches here too.
00:31:22One big success for Phillips in the fight.
00:31:24He's managed much of the time
00:31:26to force Zou to move backward.
00:31:28Kenny Adams, his trainer
00:31:30slash coach, said
00:31:31we can get Zou to move backward.
00:31:33We've got it going on
00:31:34because he doesn't like to do that.
00:31:37Yeah, but one thing about it
00:31:38is when he's backing up,
00:31:39Vince is walking forward on his heels.
00:31:41When you walk forward on your heels,
00:31:42it doesn't allow you to stay as alert
00:31:44as you would if you were backing up
00:31:46or coming forward on your toes.
00:31:48Oh, that's a good right hand by Vince.
00:31:50Right hand over the top by Phillips.
00:31:53Again, they trade punches
00:31:54at close quarters.
00:32:07And five rounds coming into this stanza.
00:32:11Costa Zou landing more punches
00:32:14and landing at a higher percentage rate.
00:32:16Vince Phillips throwing more punches.
00:32:20He's looking for a knockout here.
00:32:21Hard right hand by Zou.
00:32:24That's what I'm talking about,
00:32:25that walking in.
00:32:26Vince would never got caught
00:32:27with that punch had he been on his toes
00:32:28when he came in.
00:32:29His heels were flat
00:32:30and he couldn't react to the punch.
00:32:43He's looking for a knockout here.
00:32:44He may need to put a few more punches together.
00:32:50Hard to see why he would be looking for a knockout
00:32:52when he doesn't appear to have managed
00:32:54to hurt Zou at any time in the fight.
00:32:56Yeah, but Vince thinks that he has
00:32:58the best right hand in the business.
00:33:00And he's always thought this.
00:33:01He'll go down, he'll die,
00:33:03thinking that he has the best right hand
00:33:04in the business.
00:33:06And he does have a pretty good argument with it.
00:33:09Well, he can throw it, no question about it.
00:33:11But he's landed some spectacular right hands here
00:33:14without moving the 140-pound block of granite
00:33:18that is Kostasou.
00:33:32Oh, good body shot by Phillip.
00:33:35Very good body shot by Phillip.
00:33:37Them type of body shots can be very dangerous
00:33:40in the long run.
00:33:41A loud, popping sound at ringside
00:33:43as Phillip landed to the Kostasou ribcage.
00:33:46And we're halfway through the scheduled 12 rounds.
00:33:51Was there a headbutt?
00:33:53I see Kostasou wiping above his left eye
00:33:56and then looking at the glove as if looking for blood.
00:33:59I don't see any blood there.
00:34:00I saw blood.
00:34:00Yep, there it is on the left eye.
00:34:05My radars are on top of it.
00:34:06They know when there's blood.
00:34:08And Sue shaking his head
00:34:10as though disappointed by a headbutt.
00:34:13With a towel, the dry towel.
00:34:19Yeah, Pete, that's enough.
00:34:20Come on, Pete.
00:34:24Pete, I want you to put the Vaseline on this.
00:34:27Get the bucket out.
00:34:28A little water coming out.
00:34:30Rinse your mouth, dude.
00:34:31This fight, go out there and throw down like we were.
00:34:34All that other shit, we live on it.
00:34:36Let's go.
00:34:36Take it down now.
00:34:38Coach, go.
00:34:38Coach, go.
00:34:39Coach, go.
00:34:39Let's go.
00:34:39Come on, Pete.
00:34:43Phillips was hoping that he could bust up Sue.
00:34:48Will this change the complexion of the fight?
00:34:50No, I don't think so.
00:34:51I think Sue is used to being cut.
00:34:53He's been cut once before
00:34:54and probably been cut in some amateur fights.
00:34:56So I don't think that would bother him any.
00:35:01It may give Vince confidence, though.
00:35:04It may give Vince confidence, though.
00:35:07Go, Kate.
00:35:08What's up, man?
00:35:08Yeah.
00:35:09Where's the snow step?
00:35:10Where's the snow step?
00:35:12Where's the snow step?
00:35:13Go ahead.
00:35:14That was two good punches by Costazou.
00:35:18Incidentally, just to be fair,
00:35:19our tape operator is telling us that
00:35:21they believe it was a Vince Phillips right hand
00:35:24that caused the cut over the left eye of Costazou
00:35:26and not a headbutt, as I suggested.
00:35:35That was another good body shot by Phillips.
00:35:37That right hand to the body
00:35:38is working very well for Vince tonight.
00:35:43That right hand lands flush for Phillips.
00:35:46Costazou comes forward again.
00:36:05Let's go.
00:36:05Give me a clean break.
00:36:06Give me a clean break.
00:36:10Oh, that was another good right hand
00:36:12by Vince Phillips.
00:36:13The crowd getting more than its money's worth
00:36:16here in the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.
00:36:19Let's go.
00:36:20Clean break, clean break.
00:36:24Oh, that was a good right hand by both fighters.
00:36:30Step back, step back.
00:36:31Solid punches exchanged
00:36:33in the middle of the ring.
00:36:37Through seven rounds,
00:36:39cool Vince Phillips
00:36:40trying to revive his contender status
00:36:43and hanging in, giving about as good as he's getting
00:36:46against world champion Costazou.
00:36:52Oh, that was a good right hand by Spencer.
00:36:55But Costazou throwing some very good counters.
00:36:59Freak! Freak!
00:37:01Some of Costazou's best punches are coming
00:37:03on the clinch and on the break right now.
00:37:09Blood in the mouth of Phillips.
00:37:16These are two super strong 140-pound fighters.
00:37:25That's why Phillips throws the right hand.
00:37:31Six, seven, eight.
00:37:35That's a zoo in stunned disbelief
00:37:38as Vince Phillips finally floors him
00:37:41with one of those dynamite right hands.
00:37:43That's why Vince throws that right hand so much.
00:37:58You sure, mate?
00:38:00Cross, don't keep your hands up, mate.
00:38:15Cross, don't, come on, mate.
00:38:17You've got to keep your hands up.
00:38:19You've got to jump in high now, Cross.
00:38:20Drilling, mate.
00:38:21Okay?
00:38:23You're feeling good, mate.
00:38:24Tell me to.
00:38:29Here we see that zoo's arrogance,
00:38:32which is a part of his strength,
00:38:35has been, has backfired
00:38:37because he's been coming into a good straight puncher
00:38:40a little too recklessly.
00:38:47So at the end of round six,
00:38:49Vince Phillips cuts zoo over the left eye
00:38:51with the right hand.
00:38:52At the end of round seven,
00:38:53he floors him with a left-right combination,
00:38:56and suddenly the outcome seems seriously in doubt.
00:39:00And that's right body shot right there
00:39:02is the key, I think,
00:39:03to Vince Phillips being able to weak and cost us all.
00:39:05No wrestling, guys.
00:39:06No wrestling.
00:39:07Come on, come on.
00:39:08Three rounds, he kept telling us
00:39:09that he was investing well in the body conscious.
00:39:12Yep.
00:39:20Now let's see if Phillips
00:39:22will abandon his fight plan
00:39:24and start firing away in search of a knockout.
00:39:26Well, he'd been doing that anyway,
00:39:27so that wouldn't be abandoning the fight plan.
00:39:29Yeah, that's a good point.
00:39:31Fight plan was to box.
00:39:35Fight plan's been thrown out the window.
00:39:40I'll tell you what.
00:39:41He loves to fight.
00:39:42Yep.
00:39:42I think he has cost a little tired right now, too,
00:39:45from the body punches.
00:39:50Hard right hand lands for zoo.
00:39:56Just have to remember to go to zoo's body.
00:39:59Oh, that was a good hook by Phillip.
00:40:03Oh, that's a body shot.
00:40:08More thunderous shots inside by both fighters.
00:40:10Yes, they are thunderous.
00:40:15Vince needs to regain his comport,
00:40:17and he's getting a little too loose,
00:40:18a little too wide
00:40:19to be fighting a good fighter like Costa Azusa.
00:40:21You have to maintain body discipline in these situations.
00:40:24This is where the body discipline will count.
00:40:27Because if you get caught with a good shot
00:40:28while you're not set for it,
00:40:30it may be good night.
00:40:37Oh, that was another good right hand by Vincent.
00:40:39Sledgehammer right hand inside by Phillips.
00:40:43You heard zoo's corner asking him to keep his hands up.
00:40:46So far in the eighth, he has not done a good job of it.
00:40:53That was a good counter by Costa Azusa.
00:40:58I always worry that Phillips is gonna lose his balance in there,
00:41:01Roy.
00:41:01He does seem so unsteady on his legs sometimes.
00:41:04And that's why I'm saying that if he gets caught
00:41:05with a good Costa Azusa shot at that point,
00:41:08it's gonna maybe knock him down or out.
00:41:12Because Costa is a very big puncher.
00:41:13No, no, no, no, no, no.
00:41:24This has turned into a very good fight
00:41:26where actually it's been a good fight.
00:41:29Hey, it just keeps getting better and better round by round.
00:41:35Mark of a couple of guys who know
00:41:37that they are appearing on Boxing After Dark.
00:41:42Somehow or another, this program always produces fights.
00:41:57You gotta watch that right hand, mate.
00:41:59He's getting the crew with it too much, okay?
00:42:02You're feeling good, aren't you?
00:42:03Promise me, mate.
00:42:04Yeah, yeah.
00:42:05Mate, we need every round, course.
00:42:06Go to take this.
00:42:12Keep that on his head too, right on it?
00:42:14Put that on your head.
00:42:22He don't want the Vaseline, mate.
00:42:24Get rid of the bucket.
00:42:25Tell Miska, Miska, Miska, it's okay.
00:42:28Miska, rinse out real good and spit out, Ben.
00:42:30Bench, Bench, Bench.
00:42:31Take this down, take this down.
00:42:32Take this down, take this, take this down.
00:42:34Beth, if you want to miss, Bench.
00:42:42Can Phillips sustain this pace that in which he's picked it up for the last three rounds
00:42:48for the next four rounds against a younger perhaps stronger fighter right now he looks
00:42:56like he's coming on and he might be slightly ahead of this fight.
00:43:03Larry, I still have Castellzu slightly ahead, 76, 75, five to three rounds, but I want
00:43:10to tell you, like you said, the last two rounds was all Vince Phillips.
00:43:13He's coming on.
00:43:14Vince really needed that seventh round to get him back to the fight and certainly did.
00:43:18Remember in the other fight that Phillips got stronger as the fight went on.
00:43:21I have Zu ahead four rounds to three and one even, but Phillips ahead by a point that
00:43:28was not going to make that even because of his knuckle.
00:43:31Yeah, I'd say it's a pretty even fight going into the last four rounds.
00:43:35In round eight, Vince Phillips enormously accurate with power shots like that right hand.
00:43:41He landed 25 of 36 attempts in round eight, throwing crosses.
00:43:46And now there's blood coming from both fighters' eyes.
00:43:52So the ball begins to flow from Phillips' eye.
00:43:55And Castellzu now with a big cut over his right eye to go with the one over his left.
00:43:59But it's not bleeding in his eye.
00:44:01That's true.
00:44:01The one on his right eye isn't dangerous, but I thought I saw some blood coming from Phillips
00:44:07as well.
00:44:08It just might be the blood that's coming from Zu that has splashed onto Phillips.
00:44:13No, they're gonna show Phillips to a doctor as he has a cut on his right eye.
00:44:19Yes.
00:44:20Yes, it was from a punch.
00:44:22Yes, sir.
00:44:23Yes, sir.
00:44:24And you hear referee Benji Estevez telling Larry Hazard at the State Athletic Commission
00:44:28that the blood is coming from a punch, not a butt.
00:44:32And that is a real bad cut.
00:44:48Let's go.
00:44:50They allow Phillips to continue.
00:44:52As you can see, the cut is over his eye, under the brow.
00:44:55A very precarious place, and it's gonna bleed into his eye, Roy.
00:45:00Yeah, but he's dealt with this before, I think.
00:45:04Hard right hand by Phillips.
00:45:08Good right hand counter by Sue.
00:45:11Sue takes a left hook.
00:45:18These guys are going all out.
00:45:20They want to end it right now, one way or the other.
00:45:26Well, now we know what World War III might have looked like.
00:45:52Two terrific junior welterweights, trading punches and blood at short range.
00:45:57Two terrific junior welterweights trading punches and blood at short range.
00:45:58I don't know how either guy is still standing.
00:46:04Spectacular effort by both fighters.
00:46:07Kosta Zu in the black trunks with the ponytail
00:46:10defending his world championship
00:46:12against a very hungry Vince Phillips of the USA.
00:46:20Kosta has a little knot under his left eye now.
00:46:25They make it out of round nine.
00:46:37Vince, can we see out of that eye?
00:46:39You all right?
00:46:40You want to keep going?
00:46:41Yes, sir.
00:46:42All right.
00:46:43Keep sure to get that mouth.
00:46:44Keep defending yourself.
00:46:45Here you go.
00:46:46Go ahead and do your work.
00:46:47Let's go, baby.
00:46:48Hey, Vince, listen up.
00:46:50Vince, Vince, listen.
00:46:52Vince, huh?
00:46:52You got to get rid of this guy.
00:46:54Well, we want to do this round, Vince.
00:46:55We got to use that jab a lot.
00:46:58Vince, I want to use your jab a lot.
00:47:01I'll do this here.
00:47:02Move away.
00:47:03Move away a little bit.
00:47:04Use your jab.
00:47:05Try to take this round off just a little bit, okay?
00:47:08Don't take it out.
00:47:09But when I say that...
00:47:10All right.
00:47:12It's hard.
00:47:14It's hard.
00:47:14All right.
00:47:21You'll see the right hand or the left that caused the cut right there.
00:47:26So three of the four eyes in this fight are bleeding.
00:47:31One of them twice.
00:47:39The only good eye left is Vince Phillips' left eye.
00:47:42His lead eye as he lines up in his conventional stance.
00:47:45And you heard his trainer coach, Kenny Adams, asking for him to go back to using the jab.
00:47:51Why does he want the jab?
00:47:52He told him to take off this round.
00:47:54I think he's hoping that Vince can back up and maybe kick off on the outside with a good punch
00:47:58like he just did right there.
00:47:59Well, I would have told Vince to fight the same fight he was fighting.
00:48:02He was in the fight.
00:48:02Very good.
00:48:04Wide change was working.
00:48:05All right.
00:48:05Step back, guys.
00:48:06Hold these.
00:48:06Let's go.
00:48:10But then again, I'm not a trainer.
00:48:17Oh, that was a good body shot by Phil.
00:48:21In round nine, Kosta Zu and Vince Phillips throwing and landing at just about an equal rate.
00:48:28The right hand buckled Zu inside.
00:48:31Indeed, his knees suddenly came unhinged.
00:48:36And Zu is still wobbling as Phillips goes after him.
00:48:39Vince Phillips on the verge of a big upset here.
00:48:42Zu is out on his feet.
00:48:45And that's it.
00:48:46Vince Phillips has finally won a world title.
00:48:50Yes!
00:48:51Yes!
00:48:52Yes!
00:48:53He doesn't call the rules again.
00:48:54Yes!
00:49:00Monumental upset in Atlantic City.
00:49:03Who, Vince Phillips of the United States, finally fulfills his talent?
00:49:16What an exhibition of power punching down the stretch by Phillips.
00:49:21Let me come back down to earth and explain to you what happened, though.
00:49:24The body shot that Phillips kept hitting Kosta Zu with weakened Kosta Zu.
00:49:28He turned the fight around in the fifth, sixth, and seventh rounds with shots to the body.
00:49:33And overcame a cut over his right eye, which could easily have ended the fight in Zu's face.
00:49:40Yes, it could have.
00:49:42I like the way you took care of that, Doug.
00:49:44Way to miss it.
00:49:45Way to go, man.
00:49:46In the tenth round, en route to that knockout,
00:49:49Vince Phillips landed 20 of 25 punches in total, 18 of 20 power shots.
00:49:56And Kosta Zu didn't know where he was when referee Benji Estevez stepped in to stop it.
00:50:11Vince Phillips kept getting his chances.
00:50:14He got the chance against Quarte two years ago.
00:50:17Couldn't take advantage of that.
00:50:18He got the chance against Romales Ellis in January of this year.
00:50:22Appeared to have won the fight.
00:50:23Was denied on a split decision.
00:50:25Tonight, he would not be denied.
00:50:27And like I told you, a lot of times, God puts obstacles in front of us
00:50:31to make sure that we want what we want, what we think we want.
00:50:38Here's the finish, Roy.
00:50:40Phillips just working and working with that right hand
00:50:43as he had throughout the battle.
00:50:45Because he knew that he had Kosta Zu weakened.
00:50:49And this derails the Kosta Zu Express,
00:50:52which was well on the way toward a possible meeting with
00:50:56Miguel Angel Gonzalez or Julio Cesar Chavez
00:50:58to partially unify the 140-pound title.
00:51:01And maybe down the road, there was a De La Hoya fight in the future.
00:51:04But now Vince Phillips has some of those same possibilities.
00:51:10There's a good right hand over the top of Kosta's left.
00:51:13That's what hurt him in the beginning.
00:51:14That's where Zu's knees came unhinged.
00:51:16And Phillips knows when he has a fight of hurt.
00:51:19And he has always been a fantastic finisher.
00:51:22And what did you tell us earlier about Vince's belief in his right hand?
00:51:26I told you he would die thinking that he has one of the best right hands in the business.
00:51:29The only person that he would argue to say may have one close to his would be mine.
00:51:33Well, let's go ask Zu if he doesn't think Vince has one of the best right hands in the business.
00:51:39Tonight, Vince can make a strong argument for himself.
00:51:42He served Pensacola proud tonight.
00:51:45I'm so happy for him.
00:51:47I'm so happy for him, I don't know what to do.
00:51:49He threw nine rounds on the three scorecards.
00:51:52It was 85-85 dead even, 87-85 Phillips, 86-85 Sue.
00:51:59So the fight was still hanging in the balance as we entered the last three rounds.
00:52:05And now let's go up to Michael Buffer for the official particulars on a huge upset.
00:52:09Ladies and gentlemen, referee Benji Estevez steps in and calls a halt to this bout.
00:52:15The official time, one minute 22 seconds of round number 10.
00:52:20The winner in the tradition of a fighter who never ever gives up.
00:52:25And new RBF Junior World Reweights Champion of the World, Vincent Phelan.
00:52:37Let me do this. Let me do this. We got business now.
00:52:53All right. Thank you very much, guys.
00:52:57Nobody really can feel how you feel after a fight like this.
00:53:02Vince Phillips, you've come from a long way back to this point.
00:53:06First, I'd like to thank God for guiding me for this hard obstacle of training that I had to do.
00:53:10He guided me through this title. He let me saw it since November, this red belt around my way.
00:53:14Well, tell us about that vision you had.
00:53:16Well, back in November, I had a vision that I was going to fight for the IBF, well, red belt.
00:53:23And the only red belt I know is the IBF belt.
00:53:25And I saw a black guy picking me up. Just saw he did it after I won it.
00:53:29I never knew it was. Ackbar wasn't in my camp at the time.
00:53:32All of a sudden, the IBF title came up. Ackbar came back up.
00:53:35God guided me to this vision, and thank you, God, I won it.
00:53:38All right. Why did you win this fight?
00:53:40First of all, I'd like to dedicate it to you, baby.
00:53:42Well, thank you. I didn't do anything. Thank you.
00:53:44Just the support that you gave me in these fights that I fought with Ellis and all that,
00:53:49I appreciate it. Roy, I'm the champ, baby. I'm the champ.
00:53:52All right. Why did you win this fight?
00:53:54I won it because, first of all, I've noticed to just watch Zeus how you do.
00:53:58Zeus had a tendency of lunging in. He's short with his punches, and I just kept my distance.
00:54:04I went back to my old style of what Roy Jones Sr. taught us and watching what I had to
00:54:10do,
00:54:10not just going at him, keeping my strength and my vision together.
00:54:13Was he a little too reckless in the way he came to you and was unguarded?
00:54:18Was that just open all night for you?
00:54:20No, he wasn't reckless. He was trying to do what he knew how to do.
00:54:22All I had to do was keep my focus and count it. If I didn't count it, I would have
00:54:26been out,
00:54:27just like everybody does.
00:54:27Did he hurt you at all?
00:54:28No, yes. He hurt me one time, I think, in the second or the third round. He caught me with
00:54:32an
00:54:33overhand right, I think, and that was the last shot.
00:54:36All right. You suffered that bad, bad gash on your right eye in the round just before the fight
00:54:43was stopped. Did you feel a desperation that you had to end it?
00:54:46No, I didn't really feel a desperation. My corner told me to go out, get my distance,
00:54:51utilize my jab, come over with the right hand, throw the love hook, and keep my distance and hit him
00:54:55with a power shot.
00:54:56That's what I did, and I caught him, and I ended him, Frank Paddy. I did it, baby.
00:55:01Mom and Daddy, your son is now the IVF junior weatherweight champion of the world. Thank you, God.
00:55:07Congratulations against Vince.
00:55:09Jim?
00:55:10All right. Thanks very much, Larry Merchant. We told you about the three official scorecards,
00:55:14one even, one with Zoo ahead, one with Phillips ahead. How about you, Harold?
00:55:18I agree with the judges. I had it all even at 85-85, but I want to tell you, what
00:55:23a fantastic finish by Vince Phillips.
00:55:25I certainly had him winning 7, 8, 9, and he just whacked him out. He did what he had to
00:55:30do, Jim.
00:55:32Brave comeback victory for Vince Phillips, who seemed a little bit out of it in the early rounds
00:55:36against the stronger Costa Zoo and then wore him down and won the fight. Let's go back into the ring
00:55:40to Larry Merchant. All right. Thank you. And you saw that Vince Phillips was telling you that you fought
00:55:46a terrific fight and you'll be a champion again. Why are you now an ex-champion?
00:55:51That's a good question. We got some loss. Simple as that.
00:55:56Was he just stronger or smarter than you thought?
00:56:01Uh, I can't say, I predict this kind of fight. I predict this kind of thing. I can tell it's
00:56:09my
00:56:09mistake because I didn't fight well like I should do.
00:56:13Your corner kept saying, hold your hand up high because he was catching you with that.
00:56:19It doesn't matter where you point. If your hand's here, right hand's coming here. It doesn't matter.
00:56:24It's anywhere. He's got good right hand. He's got very quick right hand. And I get all credit to him.
00:56:30And I fought well, but not well enough to beat him. And I'm sure if he give me a rematch
00:56:39one day,
00:56:39I will fight for sure. And it's going to be much better for it.
00:56:44Well, it couldn't be much better than this fight was. Thank you very much for a great effort.
00:56:48And back to you, Jim.
00:56:50All right. Thanks, Larry. And thank you, Costa Zoo, for giving us your time after that disappointing loss.
00:56:55Final punch stat numbers. And you can see how even it was toward the end. Costa Zoo in the closing
00:57:00rounds
00:57:00throwing more punches than Phillips did. But Phillips raising his accuracy rate throughout the fight
00:57:06and landing half the power punches that he threw in the fight. That ultimately was the difference,
00:57:11particularly his ability to continue landing the big right hand. And let's say one thing very plainly here.
00:57:16Any of you out there who find your lives damaged by the ravages of crack cocaine and think that you
00:57:22can never beat that particular demon, here's living proof you can do it. Because Vince Phillips has been
00:57:27down and out at the hands of crack cocaine. He won that battle and came back to win his first
00:57:32world
00:57:33title tonight. Roy. It makes Pensacola, myself and God, very proud of him. When he was a young man and
00:57:39you
00:57:39were his buddy and you were training with him in the gym, he had so much talent, you had to
00:57:43assume that
00:57:43this kind of victory would come long before now. Yeah, and I used to be upset with him as a
00:57:48grown up
00:57:48and as a professional because I expected him to win a title slightly before I did because he was older.
00:57:54And, you know, I just thought that by him going training pro first, he would be the first one to
00:57:59a belt. However, I'm still not complaining. He got there. Pensacola now has two world champions.
00:58:04They got a lot of things coming. Teddy Weed, Dynamite D, some rappers, knockout production.
00:58:08Everything is coming from the south right now. I love Pensacola. I love Vince Phillips and I'm so
00:58:12proud of him tonight until I have to go back and get my title back come August 7th. I know
00:58:17you've
00:58:17always thought that Vince could win big fights like this if he could get his life together.
00:58:22Did you believe that he could win the war against drugs or did you ever give up on the notion
00:58:25that
00:58:26he could do that? No, I never gave up. I was one of the people who stayed on him. He
00:58:29used to avoid me
00:58:30sometimes because I stayed on him so hard about winning that battle. I wanted for him to win that battle
00:58:35first because I know that until he beat that, he'd never be world champion. He beat that,
00:58:40he beat this, and all that is proof to show that if you are willing, God can show you the
00:58:45right way.
00:58:46God will guide you the right way. Step one, Vince Phillips beat crack. Step two,
00:58:51he beats Costa Zoo and wins a world championship. Larry, this was about as inspiring as any victory
00:58:55we've seen in a long, long time. Well, I guess you might say that age and experience and not youth
00:59:01were served tonight. These were two professional prize fighters, the kind of fighters that really
00:59:08make the game. The superstars are the ones that we are all attracted to, fabulous athletes with
00:59:14great ambitions. But when you see two fellows like this still going at it, still training hard,
00:59:22still putting themselves on the line, body and soul. It's what uplifts us all. And all four fighters
00:59:30showed us something about what makes prize fighting so attractive to all of us. Indeed. Great night in
00:59:37Atlantic City. Thank you very much, Larry. Thanks, Roy, for another terrific effort. Thank you. We'll have a
00:59:41final word on what happened in the boxing ring in just a moment. First, some words about upcoming programs
00:59:45here on HBO. One, two, three. The first three episodes of Spawn back to back. The Spawn trilogy,
01:00:03only on HBO. Don't be left in the dark. Premieres Thursday at midnight.
01:00:11Next Saturday on HBO. They came. That's what I call a close encounter. They saw. Are you watching?
01:00:22Oh, yeah. They conquered. He gets the hands back up. Tua tries to finish.
01:00:28The billion-dollar season continues next Saturday with the premiere of Independence Day at 8,
01:00:33followed by Perversions of Science at 10.30 and Boxing After Dark at midnight. Next Saturday on HBO.
01:00:42That's Saturday, June 7. Also in June, Oscar De La Horia returns for the first time since
01:00:46having decisioned Pernell Whitaker fighting David Kamau of Kenya. On the same card, you'll see
01:00:50Gennaro Hernandez coming off his gutty victory over Azuma Nelson facing Anatoly Alexandrov in a super
01:00:56featherweight title fight. And watch for HBO's upcoming documentary, Long Shots,
01:01:00The Life and Times of the American Basketball Association. Relive one more time. Dr. J's
01:01:06dunks, Rick Barry's passes, Darnell Hillman's mountain of hair. It's all coming your way in two weeks.
01:01:13Finally, tune in for all of Wimbledon, tennis's grandest event. HBO's live coverage begins from day
01:01:18one, June 23, and goes through the men's semifinals. Injuries permitting, you'll see Pete Sampras attempting
01:01:23to regain his title from Richard Krejcik. And Steffi Graf defending her title against tennis's
01:01:28newest sensation, Martina Hingis. That's Wimbledon starting June 23. Tonight, here at the Trump
01:01:35Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, a technical knockout at 253 of the eighth round for Jesse Ferguson
01:01:40against the favorite Samson Pouha. Pouha looking for a spot among the ranks of rising young heavyweight
01:01:48stars instead falls prey to the greater ring savvy of the 40-year-old but resurgent journeyman,
01:01:54Jesse the Boogeyman Ferguson. And then another upset. Vince Phillips becomes the new junior
01:01:59welterweight world champion, knocking out Kastazu of Russia and Australia with a furious assault
01:02:06in the 10th round, despite a bleeding cut over his right eye.
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