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Cory Spinks
Verno Phillips
Devon Alexander
Miguel Callist
Don King
| RESULTS FROM ST. LOUIS: SPINKS UPSET 38-year-old Verno Phillips (42-10-1, 21 KOs) is a world champion for the third time after a split decision win over reigning IBF junior middleweight champion Cory Spinks (36-5, 11 KOs) on Thursday night at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. In a very close fight, two judges favored Phillips' aggression 116-112, 115-113, while one preferred the movement and handspeed of Spinks 115-113. . . . . . . Unbeaten super lightweight Devon Alexander "The Great" (15-0, 8 KOs) scored a shutout twelve-round unanimous decision over Miguel Callist (24-7-1, 17 KOs) in a bout for both the WBC Continental Americas and WBA FEDELATIN belts. Alexander came on strong in the second half of the fight, dropping the survival-minded Callist in round twelve to punctuate an impressive performance. Scores were 120-105, 120-106, 120-106. "I felt great tonight but I always feel I could have done better," said Alexander afterward. "I was happy with the knockdown in the last round, but I would have liked to have had a knockout. St. Louis has a new champion and I am going to stay around. I want to fight for a world championship by the end of the year." Alexander’s trainer/manager Kevin Cunningham added, "Devon did what he had to do. There is not much you can do when a guy brings his track shoes instead of his boxing shoes. When Callist sat down in the sixth round and fought, Devon shut him out. Then he [Callist] got on his bike." Callist stated "He was a strong man. Besides strong, he was a little younger. I did my best, but he had the home crowd on his side. Yes, I think I did enough to win." . . . . . . Super lightweight John Jackson (11-1, 11 KOs) vaporized Leroy Newton (6-11-1, 4 KOs) in 2:10 of round one. "Action" Jackson dropped Newton twice, the second time for the count. . . . . . . In another early ending, unbeaten super middleweight Marcus "Too Much" Johnson (13-0, 10 KOs) knocked out Jose Medina (14-11, 10 KOs) with a left hook to the liver at 1:57 of round one. . . . . . . In the bout bout of the night to get past the first round, unbeaten cruiserweight Francisco "The Wizard" Palacios (14-0, 7 KOs) won an eight round unanimous decision over savvy veteran Zack Page (14-19-1, 5 KOs) by scores of 79-72, 79-72, 78-73. . . . . . . Super lightweight Angelo "La Cobra" Santana (2-0, 2 KOs) needed just 28 seconds to demolish Rasool Shakoor (1-3, 1 KO). . . . . . . Hard-punching heavyweight Bermane "B-Ware" Stiverne (14-1, 14 KOs) manhandled Jimmy "Hurricane" Haynes (18-15-2, 8 KOs), dropping Haynes three times en route to a first round annihilation at the 2:08 mark. . . . . . . Undefeated heavyweight Kertson "The Majii" Manswell (15-0, 13 KOs) needed just 93 seconds to desyroy Cerrone Fox (8-8, 8 KOs). Manswell punished Fox from the opening bell until the referee halted the slaughter. |
 BONUS PHOTO OF THE DAY The legendary boxing Spinks family poses with promoter Don King. From left, former heavyweight and light heavyweight world champion Michael Spinks, King, IBF junior middleweight champion Cory Spinks, and former heavyweight champion Leon Spinks. Leon is Cory's father, Michael is Cory's uncle. Both Leon and Michael will be working in Cory's corner when he puts his title on the line tonight against former two-time champion Verno Phillips in a bout that can be seen live on a groundbreaking FREE world championship webcast at DonKingTV.com. |
 PHOTO OF THE DAY Legendary promoter Don King is set for yet another promotional "first" tonight when he presents his first live boxing event on DonKingTV.com, which can be seen free worldwide beginning at 8PM ET. "This is another new and exciting adventure for us," said King. "Like the Gateway to the West, we will be taking St. Louis and this trailblazing fight card worldwide via the internet. Fans will be able to see IBF 154-pount champion Cory Spinks take on Verno Phillips and undefeated 140-pounder Devon Alexander against Miguel Callist. We want as many people as possible to see just how great our technology is, so we're making four exciting fights available free of charge." |
| SPINKS FAVORED TO RETAIN BELT IBF junior middleweight champion Cory Spinks (36-4, 11 KOs) is a heavy favorite to defeat former two-time champion Verno Phillips (41-10-1, 21 KOs) tonight in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. Sportsbook.com lists Spinks as a -675 favorite while Phillips backers can get +475. The numbers are slightly less lopsided for Spinks at bet365.com, where the champion is a -600 pick to Phillips' +400. In over-under wagering, bet365.com has set the odds at -400 that the bout will go more than 11.5 rounds, +275 if it goes less. Fight fans worldwide can see Spinks-Phillips via a FREE live webcast tonight, beginning at 8PM. |
 THE STAGE IS SET: WEIGH-IN RESULTS Brian Grammer at The Scales Cory Spinks 153 vs Verno Phillips 153 (IBF junior middleweight championship) Devon Alexander 137 vs Miguel Callist 140 (WBC C/A and WBA Fedelatin jr welterweight titles) Marcus Johnson 168 vs Jose Medina 170 Francisco Palacios 198 vs Zack Page 197 Bermane Stiverene 248 vs Jimmy Haynes 229 Kertson Manswell 242 vs Cerrone Fox 214 John Jackson 132 vs Leroy Newton 134 Angelo Santana 136 vs Rasool Shakoor 135 |
 SPINKS: PLAYTIME IS OVER!Cory "Next Generation" Spinks stood smiling in the atrium of the Scottrade Center in St Louis, Missouri declaring that "Playtime is over!" and that "This title ain't going nowhere!" At the other end of the dais sat former trainer and father figure, Kevin Cunningham, staring straight ahead, completely ignoring Spinks' gaze. Cunningham was in unfamiliar territory, separated from Spinks by the podium that they had shared on many occasions . . . . Click here for more |
| ALEXANDER-CALLIST ANALYSIS! Up and coming junior welter Devon Alexander is featured in his home town of St. Louis on Don King’s inaugural internet show when he meets Panama’s seasoned Miguel Callist in an all-southpaw 12-rounder. Alexander was workmanlike in his last fight when outpointing DeMarcus “Chop Chop” Corley in January, which was his first 12-rounder. Callist, 33, is a good test for the unbeaten 21-year-old. A former lightweight title challenger, Callist has won six of his last seven fights but the fact that was stopped in all six of his losses indicates he is not the most durable of boxers . . . . Click here for more by Graham Houston |
| SPINKS WILL HAVE FATHER, UNCLE IN CORNER (AP) Cory Spinks split from his longtime trainer and manager about three weeks ago. He's turning to some familiar faces for his latest title bout Thursday . . . click here for more |
 SPINKS, PHILLLIPS MEET AT PRESSER Promoter Don King watches as IBF junior middleweight champion Cory Spinks (36-4, 11 KOs) and former two-time world champion Verno Phillips (41-10-1, 21 KOs) face off during today's press conference in advance of Thursday night's world title showdown at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The fight can be seen live over the internet during the FREE debut card presented on Don King's groudbreaking new DonKingTV.com internet boxing network. The webcast portion of the show will start at 8:00 EDT (7:00 local time in St. Louis), with four live fights. |
| SPINKS-PHILLIPS OFFICIALS NAMED! Chicago referee Gerald Scott will be the third man in the ring whan IBF junior middleweight champion Cory Spinks (36-4, 11 KOs) defends his title against former two-time world champion Verno Phillips (41-10-1, 21 KOs) this Thursday night at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Judges for the world title fight will be Jerry Griffin, Robert Hoyle, Robert Paolino. The fight can be seen live over the internet during the FREE debut card presented on Don King's groudbreaking new DonKingTV.com internet boxing network. The webcast portion of the show will start at 8:00 EDT (7:00 local time in St. Louis), with four live fights. |
| SPINKS-PHILLIPS ANALYSIS! Cory Spinks has known agony and ecstasy in big fights in his hometown of St. Louis — the agony of getting blasted to defeat by Zab Judah, the ecstasy of upsetting the odds by outscoring Roman Karmazin to win the junior middleweight title. Spinks is back in the Gateway City on Thursday when he defends his title against veteran Verno Phillips. The fight marks something new, which is promoter Don King’s first venture into the realm of live internet coverage of his shows . . . . Click here for more by Graham Houston |
| MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES! ST. LOUIS—A large media contingent arrived for open workouts by hometown sons Cory Spinks and Devon Alexander “The Great” who are appearing in separate championship matches as part of Don King’s “Pride of St. Louis” event at Scottrade Center and Web cast on DonKingTV.com on Thursday . . . . Click here for more |
| VIDEO INTERVIEWS! "The Pride of St. Louis" interview show on DonKingTV.com: Click here for more |
| LINE-UP UPDATED "The Pride of St. Louis" undercard line-up has been finalized: Click here for updated bout sheet |
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| PRESS CONFERENCE REPORT ST. LOUIS—Don King was in St. Louis today to formally announce his championship boxing twin bill at Scottrade Center on March 27 featuring hometown stars Cory Spinks and Devon Alexander . . . . Click here for more |
| TICKET INFORMATION Tickets are priced at $200, $100, $50 and $25 are on sale now and can be purchased at the Scottrade Center Box Office, all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers, by phone at 314-241-1888 for an automated line or 314-421-4400 or 618-222-2900 for sales rep, or online at ticketmaster.com. |
| Official bout sheet |
