November 18, 2003
TOKYO, JAPAN-Ex-IBF junior welter champ Vince Phillips was miserably knocked out at 0:15 of the second round in a K-1 bout as a Japanese K-1 fighter named Masato kicked him at the thigh and Phillips fell for the count on Tuesday night in Tokyo, Japan. It was a pity that the 40-year-old ex-champ who once dethroned Konstantine Tszyu in 1997 appeared in another martial art than boxing and was annihilated in such a fashion. Not a few ex-world champs from the US may participate in a K-1 bout with the charm of dinero in the future, but hard-core boxing fans here will likely turn a deaf ear to such engagements.
(11-18-03)