03.06.04 – IBF No. 2 contender Verno Phillips will face former Pernell Whitaker nemesis and current IBF No. 15 contender, Carlos Bojorquez, for the vacant IBF junior middleweight championship Saturday, June 5, on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on West Coast). Bojorquez replaces IBF No. 1 contender Kassim Ouma, who withdrew Tuesday due to a training injury. Phillips and Bojorquez will meet in a scheduled 12-round bout for the title previously owned by Winky Wright, who was stripped of the belt. In the SHOWTIME co-feature from The Leggett & Platt Athletic Center at Missouri Southern State University in Joplin, Missouri, Jeff Lacy will defend his WBC/NABA and USBA super middleweight crowns when he meets IBF/WBA International titlist Vitali Tsypko. Gary Shaw Productions, LLC, in association with Tony Holden Productions, will promote the doubleheader.
VERNO PHILLIPS (37-9-1, 19 KOs)
“I have waited 16 years for a shot at one of the three major world title championship belts so the change in opponents is not going to bother me much, if at all. My focus was on Ouma, but my goal has always been to win a world title, and it does not matter to me who I have to beat to do so. This is my time and my opportunity to fulfill a lifelong dream. To be honest, I had a feeling Ouma might pull out anyway. I have seen tapes of Bojorquez and know he is a good fighter. He had Ouma in trouble but could not finish the job. This is going to be a great fight. There is no way I am going to take him lightly. I am dedicating this fight to my old trainer, Tony Rodriguez, who died a couple of years ago.”
CARLOS BOJORQUEZ (22-4-6, 18 KOs)
“I am a car salesman in Corona, Calif., and was in the process of finishing up the paperwork to sell a car when I got the call. I was very surprised, maybe even shocked when it came. There was little hesitation on whether I would take the fight, even on such short notice. Once I completed the car deal and talked to my trainer, Willie Silva, we accepted the fight. I only took a week off after my last fight on April 24 so I am in good shape. I have been running every day. My weight is fine. I would like to have had more time to train, but this is an opportunity of a lifetime and I will be ready. Maybe it is because things happened so fast, but I am not nervous at all. Phillips comes to fight, which is perfect for me. I am confident I will win.”
JEFF “LEFT HOOK” LACY (16-0, 13 KOs)
“I am here to do my thing, and that is to win. I have not fought since Dec. 13, but I have had a layoff like this before so I am not concerned at all. My eye is fine. This fight is for the No. 2 spot in the IBF, so the winner will fight the No. 1 contender for the vacant title. Tsypko is pretty durable and a nice boxer. He is also undefeated. But eventually I will catch him. I am dedicating the fight to all the troops in Iraq.”
VITALI TSYPKO (15-0, 8 KOs)
“My birthday is today but I won’t be celebrating until Saturday night. I am glad to be in the United States. This is my first visit to the country and I like it. I feel very good and am in great physical condition. I know that not too many people have heard of me, but I am a good fighter and will show it against Lacy.”