Sharmba Mitchell vs Vince Phillips - Who will win and land Tszyu rematch?

29.10 - OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - T-minus 12 days before former world champions and current top-10 junior welterweight contenders SHARMBA MITCHELL and VINCE PHILLIPS, rumble in front of thousands of fans at the Coca-Cola Arena in Oklahoma City, OK, and in front of millions of viewers as the main event on SHOWTIME Championship Boxing, Saturday, November 9, at 10 P.M. EST/ 10 P.M. PST.

The card, promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and Holden Productions, in association with The Sport Entertainment & Media Group, PLC, Golden Lion Promotions, Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing and Budweiser, will also feature undefeated 2000 U.S. Olympian Jeff Lacy challenging Ross Thompson for Thompson's WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title, as well as South Africa superstars, IBO bantamweight champion Silence Mabuza and the top-rated super featherweight contender Phillip N'Dou.

Here's what the "experts" had to say on Mitchell - Phillips:

"Mitchell wins on points, but may have to endure a few rough periods.
Phillips has the right hand to pull off a win, but I am not sure
how strong he can be over 10 rounds at 140 lbs.
Mitchell's southpaw skills, speed and movement ought to secure a victory.
- Claude Abrams, Boxing News

"Vince Phillips by unanimous decision."
- Carlos Arias, Orange County Register

"I am going with Vince Phillips by a razor-thin decision.
I believe Phillips has one big fight left in him
and I think Sharmba Mitchell should have taken another tune up
before jumping back into the mix. These guys will fight
in the trenches and give it everything they have."
- Ed Ludwig, EastsideBoxing.Com

"Phillips will win by a TKO in the seventh round.
He wants the rematch with Tszyu"
- Teddy Blackburn, The Fist (Australia)

"Cool Vince has certainly cooled off in recent years,
whereas Mitchell seems to be hungrier than ever since the Tszyu debacle.
The Little Big Man should use his speed, skills, and smarts
to out-slick an aging ex-champ whose best chance
is questioning Mitchell's questionable heart.
Mitchell passes the test and wins on points."
- Ted Bodenrader, The Ring

"This is a decent, competitive match-up, and whoever wins
will have earned a shot at the world champion Kostya Tszyu.
Phillips has the better chin and punch, but
Mitchell has the reflexes and speed to avoid serious trouble
and either capture a decision, or else possibly overwhelm
"Cool Vince" with combinations and stop him late."
- Dominic Calder-Smith, UK Boxing News

"Mitchell via seventh-round TKO."
- Bobby Cassidy, Newsday

"Dynamite match-up! My number on this fight would be Mitchell -140 (7/4).
That would make Cool Vince the value play if Herbie Hoops
(Herb Lambeck picks Mitchell 3-1) is on target with the price.
At even money, I'd have to tab Mitchell via the slimmest of margins.
That being said . . . if this comes down to a battle of heart and will,
Vince pulls it out."
- Dave "The Thermometer" Cokin, Las Vegas Punchline - ESPN Radio

"Cool Vince Phillips earned this fight by taking Nick Acevedo to school with his
superior experience. He rejuvenated his distinguished career once again,
but not enough to get him by someone as fast and skilled as Mitchell.
Unless his knee pops again, Mitchell cuts up, beats up and stops Phillips in 7."
- Andre Courtemanche, FightNews.Com

"Sharmba by decision, assuming his knee is healed. Too slick and too hard
to hit for Phillips, who will find out what most other boxers his age do –
your reflexes don't last as long as your punch."
- Tim Dahlberg, Associated Press

"Sharmba is looking sensational again. Growing into his proper weight
will tip the scales for him over a pound-for-pound tough guy in Phillips.
Mitchell by KO."
- Rich Daniel, ABC 7 Sports, (Washington, D.C.)

"Mitchell by decision. Despite recent appearances,
Phillips is not the guy he was a few years ago.
Mitchell still is and he's too quick for this version of Phillips."
- Bill Dettloff, The Ring

"Mitchell by TKO 9."
- George Diaz, Orlando Sentinel

"I like Mitchell over the distance. Mitchell has only lost to
top-flight opposition in their primes, neither of which I believe is true
about Phillips at this point in his career.
I have reservations about Mitchell's knee but
far more reservations about the fact that Phillips is 39-years-old."
- Jack Dunne, MaxBoxing.Com

"Sharmba is such a slick boxer and I just don't think Vince has
one last stand left in him. Sharmba by unanimous decision.
- Kurt Emhoff, MaxBoxing.Com

"I like Mitchell on points in a tight tactical battle.
Phillips hits harder, but Sharmba has more speed and mobility.
People forget that Mitchell, boxing with a serious injury, was even
on points with Kostya Tszyu at the time of the stoppage.
Mitchell is younger and faster.
Sharmba by close, but unanimous decision.
- Steve Farhood, Showtime

"Sharmba Mitchell via TKO 8."
- Bernard Fernandez, Philadelphia Daily News

"Vince Phillips by KO!"
- Pedro Fernandez, RingTalk

"Mitchell by decision.
Phillips is too old to compete with Mitchell's speed and youth.
The fight should be competitive, but Mitchell, one of the more underrated
fighters in the sport, will put himself in line for another shot at Tszyu –
this one with two good wheels."
- Thomas Gerbasi, MaxBoxing.Com

"Sharmba by decision as he's tough, still hungry and knows how
to turn up the juice when needed. Phillips has experience
but maybe a bit too much. Can you say retire?"
- Sandy Goldberg, FightNews.Com

"Mitchell by decision.
He's younger, faster, and closer to his prime than Phillips."
- Thomas Hauser, SecondsOut.Com

"Mitchell will outpoint Phillips comfortably. Phillips' best days are behind him.
Mitchell is a little too fast at this point in time."
- Jack Hirsch, Ring Sports Magazine

"Mitchell by decision. This is a good matchup in which
Mitchell should be stronger in the late going.
Veteran Phillips' biggest downside is giving away seven years in age."
- Michael Hirsley, Chicago Tribune

"Mitchell by decision. Too quick, too slick, plus his southpaw style has to be a
great factor, and it is a major plus for Mitchell having Buddy McGirt training him.
But Phillips' right hand is a threat, if he can land it with any consistency."
- Graham Houston, Boxing Monthly

"Vince Phillips by unanimous decision.
Phillips still has a lot of fight left in him,
as he showed by dominating Nick Acevedo.
I'm not sure the same is true of Mitchell."
- Kevin Iole, Las Vegas Review-Journal

"If Mitchell's got two legs to stand on, he should be able
to keep out of Phillips' way for 10 rounds and eke out a decision.
- Mike Katz, MaxBoxing.Com / Int'l Wine and Food Society

"Vince by decision. They've got got some miles on them."
- George Kimball, Boston Herald

"Phillips by KO."
- Jeff Lacy, undefeated super middleweight contender/2000 U.S. Olympian

"Sharmba Mitchell by decision.
He has too much speed and will pepper Phillips
enough to keep him off and away."
- Thom Loverro, The Washington Times

"I think Vince Phillips has still got something left.
His right hand could be the major punch that may stop Mitchell
from running around. I go with Phillips on points."
- Wayne McCullough, former WBC bantamweight champion

"Mitchell by easy decision. He's too fast for a game, but fading Phillips."
- Steve Nelson, Kuffler News Service

"Vince Phillips by decision."
- Sean O'Grady, former WBA lightweight champion

"Mitchell by decision. Mitchell isn't as quick and slick as he once was,
but he's still got enough to squeak past a game Phillips in what
should be a grueling and tough fight for both men."
- Dan Rafael, USA Today

"Vince Phillips by late TKO. Mitchell's legs are bad and he' prone to injury.
Phillips' conditioning will be better in the later rounds."
- Gary Randall, MaxBoxing.Com

"Mitchell by decision. The Little Big Man gave Kostya Tszyu
his toughest battle of the last few years and he wasn't
even 100% healthy at the time. I think Mitchell's punches will
swell up Phillips' face and earn Mitchell a win on the scorecards or possibly
a late-round TKO. Phillips is tough and skilled, but at his age, defeating
a guy like Mitchell would be an unlikely and remarkable accomplishment.
- Scott Shaffer, FightNews.Com

"I'll take Sharmba Mitchell to win on a unanimous decision.
He's too quick for Vince, and will avoid Phillips' power,
while building up points."
- "The Colonel" Bob Sheridan, Int'l Boxing TV Commentator

"I like Sharmba by decision."
- Dan Sisneros, formerly with Pro Boxing Update/Flash

"Sharmba Mitchell in a fifth round TKO."
- Tim Smith, New York Daily News

"Mitchell W 10 – Sharmba Mitchell has the skills and youth on his side,
but Vince is one tough fighter who never says quit.
If Mitchell can stay away from Phillips' right hand, he should be able
to win a points decision, but Phillips is always capable of a
late stoppage like he showed against Kostya Tszyu. A very intriguing fight."
- Paul Upham, SecondsOut.Com

"I like Sharmba in a close decision. Phillips is a quality veteran to fight,
but I don't think he has the speed or power to take on Mitchell."
- Calvin Watkins, Dallas Morning News

"I pick Phillips to win over Mitchell. By round three, Vince will find the range
and he will have too much power for Sharmba. Mitchell will run but cannot hide.
Phillips will chop down Mitchell and force a 10th-round stoppage."
- Ray Wheatley, World of Boxing (Australia)

"Phillips still has a high work rate, but not as good of a punch at this stage of his career. Sharmba is still slick, has every bit as much experience and youth.
Mitchell by decision."
- Johnnie Whitehead, The Ring / KO

"It's a pick´em fight. Sharmba is as slick as they come in this game.
He'll need to stay on the outside to win. Phillips still has game.
His right is lethal and he is still the only man to knockout Kostya Tszyu.
It will come down to the man who makes a mistake."
- Winky Wright, IBF Jr. Middleweight Champion

MEDIA POLL TALLY

Mitchell: 30
Phillips: 13
Pick ´em: 1