On the opening bout of the HBO telecast from Memphis, Teneessee, former welterweight champion Ike Quartey returned to prominence with a close win over Verno Phillips in a junior middleweight bout. Phillips hurt Quartey in the first round and also won the second, but after that, he slowed down noticeably and Quartey began to walk Phillips down and put most of the middle rounds in the bank. But Phillips landed a compact left hook in the ninth that sent Quartey to the canvas. The Ghanaian Quartey got up and a slugfest ensued for the remainder of the ninth. Quartey arguably was knocked down again just before the bell sounded, but the referee called it a slip. After a more measured tenth round likely won by Quartey, the bout went to the scorecards, where Quartey won 95-94 (twice) and 96-93. Had Quartey's second trip to the canvas been scored a knockdown, the fight likely would have been a draw. Still, Quartey's fan friendly style should win him a high profile bout soon. Quartey, 36-2-1, reigned as the WBA 147-pound champion from 1994-1997. He is also well known for exciting losses to Oscar De La Hoya and Fernando Vargas. Phillips, now 38-10-1, entered the bout at #6 in Boxingtalk's junior middleweight ratings. -- Scott Shaffer