By Mark Vester

Scottrade Center, St. Louis - Mandatory, veteran challenger Verno Phillips (42-11-1, 21KOs) won the IBF Junior middleweight title with an upset twelve-round decision over Cory Spinks (36-5, 11KOs).

The split-decision scores were 115-113 for Phillips, 115-113 for Spinks, and 116-112 for Phillips. The fight appeared to be a one-sided affair for Spinks and very few ringside observers scored the fight in favor of Phillips. Spinks appeared to have too much speed and defense for the 38-year-old challenger.

Phillips was outboxed for the majority of the fight while landing an occassional decent right hand. Phillips tried his best to turn the fight around in the last three rounds, but Spinks would never let him establish a good rhythm. A right hand or two appeared to shake Spinks up, but nothing major and Phillips did little to follow-up either time.

In the co-feature, unbeaten junior welterweight Devon Alexander (15-0, 8KOs) won an easy twelve-round decision over Miguel Callist (24-7-1, 17KOs). Callist was dropped in the twelfth and final round, the only knockdown of the fight. The scores were 120-105, 120-106 and 120-106.

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