 As an amateur, Phillips won the U.S. National Golden Gloves in 1985, and the U.S. National Championships in 1985 and 1986, all in the lightweight division.Phillips made his professional debut on February 28, 1989, stopping Octavio Guardado in two rounds.He would win his next 27 fights until losing to Anthony Jones November 18, 1993, due to cuts in the seventh round.