Abstract: A system and method are provided for phase recovery of a signal received by a receiver having digital equalization. A sample acquisition unit periodically acquires a plurality of I and Q samples of the received signal. The sample acquisition unit includes a delay portion to enable selective mutual comparisons between a current I sample ID0, a first preceding I samples ID1, and a second preceding I sample ID2. A transition detection unit generates at least one transition detect signal responsive to the ID1, ID0, and Q samples. The transition detect signal indicates a logic state transition in the received signal between the ID1 and ID0 samples. A transition filtering unit generates an equalization detect signal indicative of excessive equalizing correction of the received signal at the ID0 sample, and selectively passes in response the transition detect signal as a timing output signal.