by James Slater – A good fight that makes sense is up as happening on BoxRec on September 17th in Primm, Nevada, between former world champions at welterweight and light-middleweight, respectively, Carlos Quintana and Verno Phillips.
This battle between two men who have both fought Paul “The Punisher” Williams recently – with mixed results – could well be a cracking encounter.. Southpaw Quintana of Puerto Rico is the younger and fresher man at age 32, while Belize-born Phillips, at 39, is one of the most experienced men in the game today. Both men have real pride, and the fight (if it happens, let’s hope it does) should tell us something about how much both men have left to offer at top level.
Quintana, 26-2(20), may well start favourite; based on two things: his age and the fact that in his initial encounter with the aforementioned “Punisher,” in Feb. of last year, he was able to score an impressive upset points win (winning the WBO 147-pound belt in the process). Sure, Carlos was destroyed in the quickly arranged return fight – in just one-round – but “El Indio’s” world class credentials were plain to see in the first contest. Not a fighter who has taken a lot of wear and tear (Quintana’s only other loss being a 5th-round TKO at the hands of Miguel Cotto), the Puerto Rican will surely feel he has what it takes to defeat 55-fight veteran Phillips.
But Verno, 42-11-1(21) knows all about being world class and fighting against world class men himself. The former WBO light-middleweight and former two-time IBF 154-pound champion may not have fought since his 8th-round TKO loss at the hands of Williams, but possible ring-rust aside Phillips will give a good account of himself – he always does. Not only hugely experienced, Phillips is also as tough as they come. Tougher and more durable than Quintana? Maybe.
Stopped just twice in his quite astonishingly long twenty-one year pro career, Phillips has also beaten good men like Julio Cesar Vasquez, Gianfranco Rossi, Julian Jackson and Cory Spinks. Quintana’s win over Williams notwithstanding, there is no doubt about which fighter of next month’s clash has the better resume. But September’s fight is all about who has the most left, and at seven years and over 20 fights younger, that may be Quintana.
Quintana’s southpaw stance doesn’t figure to give Phillips any problems (see Verno’s win over the crafty Cory Spinks), but his youth just might. A good fight on paper, the loser may have nowhere to go but into retirement – especially if it’s the 39-year-old. This will make sure both men give their all in a fine, prideful affair. Neither guy is a murderous banger, but Phillips is the far more established fighter at 154 (this will be Quintana’s second fight at light-middle), and he may be the stronger man as a result.
A tough fight to pick, Quintana will probably edge it on points. However, Phillips is a guy who can never be written off.