Cornellio Phipps and Jessie Mandapat might be at different stages of their careers, but they meet at a unique career crossroads on Friday night with similar motivations. 

The two will face off in a six-round featherweight bout at the Commerce Casino in Commerce, California, as part of the Red Owl Boxing telecast. 

Phipps, 5-0 (2 KOs), is a 13-time national champion and was a bronze medalist at the youth world championships. The 20-year-old is best known by his moniker “Chada,” which was mentioned and murmured amongst boxing circles during his rise up the ranks in the amateurs. Phipps had a daughter named Anla in 2024, and that has given him a deeper motivation.

“My motivation is my daughter’s future. I want her future to be better than my own,” Phipps told BoxingScene. “She changed my life, helped me get more focused and made me more mature as I headed into the professional game.”

Mandapat, 9-2-1 (5 KOs), will enter the ring with the same motivation.

“My motivation is my daughter,” Mandapat said. “Especially coming back from a previous loss. I need this fight.”

Mandapat is not the blue-chip prospect Phipps is, but he is a local fighter with a notable regional buzz. Mandapat, a 27-year-old who trains at Real Boxing in Anaheim, California, had a rough two-year stretch. In March 2024, he saw a bout ruled a no-contest after a head clash. Then, nearly a year later, he found himself in another no-contest in Mexico. He fought on DAZN in May. In that fight, he was knocked out by Jose Ramirez in the third round.

“It seems like a series of bad luck,” Mandapat told BoxingScene. “Over here, we don’t believe in luck. This is the fight I need, and the fight that I want.”

Despite his amateur accolades, Phipps has been tested as a young pro. When he faced Gary Hampton in October 2024, he had to battle back from some adversity. Phipps' last bout was a split-decision win over Sharone Carter; one that he and his team believe shouldn’t have been a split.  

“Fighting good opponents brings out my skills,” Phipps said. “It shows my intelligence in the ring.”

Phipps was straightforward when discussing his opponent, who isn’t as decorated as an amateur.

“His style is a kickboxing style,” Phipps said. “I have fought people like that when I went overseas at the Youth Worlds. I have seen that style before.”

Mandapat, who trains with father Jesus Mandapat, better known as Jesse, and EJ Llamido, the father of professional boxer Japhethlee Llamido, understands the importance of the bout. For Mandapat, it is about activity and opportunity. This will be his most active year since 2019. Also, a loss here would mean he is not that far from being considered a gatekeeper to up-and-coming prospects.

“I am excited to get back in for my third fight of the year,” Mandapat said. “Usually, I don’t get this many fights in one year.”

When asked why he believes he took the fight after a loss, Phipps responded: “I think he looks at the age and height and he thinks he has an advantage over me. I think he is overlooking me. I hit harder than his last opponent, and he is going to feel all the pressure.”