Cornellio Phipps and Jessie Mandapat find similar inspiration despite taking different paths

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.