25.09 - Former world jr. welterweight champions, SHARMBA MITCHELL and VINCE PHILLIPS, world-rated No. 2 and No. 6 by the WBA, respectively, will meet Saturday, November 9, at the Coca-Cola Arena in Oklahoma City, OK. The 10-round rumble will be televised live nationally on SHOWTIME, beginning at 10 P.M. ET/PT. The stakes are high, with the winner moving a step closer toward landing a rematch with the undisputed 140-pound world champion Kostya Tszyu.
The co-main event will feature undefeated super middleweight and 2000 U.S. Olympian JEFF LACY fighting for his first title -- in only his 12th professional bout -- when he challenges WBC Continental Americas super middleweight champion, Ross Thompson.
The card marks the television debut of GARY SHAW PRODUCTIONS, the show's promoter, in association with Holden Productions, Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing and Budweiser.
Mitchell, 49-3 (29 KOs), from Takoma Park, MD, captured the WBA super lightweight title in 1998, defeating defending champion Khalid Rahilou in France, via a dominating unanimous decision. Mitchell held the title for over two years, successfully defending it four times, before losing it in a unification bout against WBC champion Tszyu last year. Mitchell more than held his own against Tszyu, who literally threw or wrestled Mitchell down several times throughout the fight, resulting in a partial tear of the lateral collateral ligament in Mitchell's left knee as well as a hamstring injury. Mitchell's trainer, Marvin Sims told referee Joe Cortez that Mitchell could not continue.
"I was fighting on one leg for most of the fight," said Mitchell. "When I returned to my corner after the seventh round, my left knee was numb. That's when Marvin called the fight. I know I would have beaten him if he had not injured my leg. I want a rematch. I want to prove who the better man really is. And Vince Phillips is not going to stop me from getting my revenge and my title back from Tszyu."
Since having the ligament surgically repaired, Mitchell has won 10-round unanimous decisions over Bernard Harris and Frank Houghtaling this year.
Phillips, 44-6-1 (32 KOs), like Mitchell, is no stranger to big fights and world titles. In fact, Vince has the distinction of being the only man to deal a professional defeat to Tszyu, knocking him out in the 10th round of their 1997 IBF championship bout. Phillips held the title for nearly two years, successfully defending it three times – all by knockout – against Mickey Ward, former world champion Freddie Pendleton and Alfonso Sanchez, before losing the title in 1999 to Terronn Millett. Since the Millett fight, Phillips has fought eight times. His only losses during that span were 12-round decisions to Vernon Forrest and Ray Oliveira.
"I am the only man who can claim a victory over Tszyu," said Phillips. "I am not going to let Sharmba Mitchell come between me and a chance at doing it again. Knocking Tszyu out was so nice, I want to do it twice!"
Phillips' last fight was a unanimous decision victory over previously undefeated Nick Acevedo in March. Phillips is promoted by Sugar Ray Leonard Boxing.
Lacy, 11-0 (10 KOs), earned a spot on the 2000 U.S. Olympic team, with an amateur record of 209-12. In the Olympic Trials, Lacy went undefeated outscoring his opponents by the combined margin of 62-23. He followed that with a gold medal at the Olympic Box-Offs, earning him U.S. Olympian status. Following the Olympics, where he made it to the third round, Lacy made his pro debut, February 2, 2001, knocking out Jerald Lowe in the first round. The lethal punch was a left hook to the body. Not bad for a pro debut that had to be postponed from January 31, 2001, when the scheduled opponent, Kevin Butts, pulled out of the bout the morning of the fight – despite having his purse TRIPLED! – rather than face this heralded Olympic bomber. Known for a great left hook, and superior hand speed and power punching, the "Lacy Express" is steaming to a long and promising boxing future. He has only been extended past the third round once, a unanimous 10-round decision over Bobby Jones, 13-3, in Oklahoma City, last March.
Thompson, 25-6-1 (17 KOs), unsuccessfully challenged Fernando Vargas in 2000, for Vargas' IBF jr. middleweight title, losing by a fourth-round TKO. Thompson rebounded from that loss to capture the WBC Continental Americas super middleweight title in March, stopping Ron Johnson in the first round. Thompson has gone the distance against some of the toughest fighters including, former world champions James Page and Aaron Davis, and three-time world title challenger Oba Carr.
