Vernon Forrest
, known as "The Viper"
, [1] (February 12, 1971 – July 25, 2009) was an American professional boxer who became a world champion in the welterweight and light middleweight divisions and noted for his two victories over Shane Mosley.
|
VERNON FORREST TICKETS
|
Early years and amateur career
Forrest began boxing at the age of 9. After achieving an impressive 225-16 record as an amateur, he became the 1992
US junior welterweight champion, and won the
1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships national title.
[2] Forrest was the first in his family to graduate from high school receiving his diploma from
Marquette Senior High School in
Marquette, Michigan. Staying in Marquette, Forrest was on scholarship to
Northern Michigan University where he majored in
business administration through the
U.S. Olympic Education Center. Forrest continued to train with the US National Team under head coach
Al Mitchell.
He was a member of the
1992 US Olympic Team during the Summer Olympics in
Barcelona, Spain.
He earned his Olympic position by beating
Shane Mosley in the trials. After that fight, Forrest was the
gold medal favorite heading in to the tournament, he would then have to fight Cuban fighter
Hector Vinent, a gold medalist, before reaching that goal. However, he was stricken with
food poisoning a day before his first round bout and was beaten by
Peter Richardson. He returned home to Augusta, then moved to Las Vegas, and made his professional debut on November 25, 1992.
Professional career
In his professional debut in November 1992, Forrest defeated Charles Hawkins. He won his first professional title, IBC Jr. Welterweight Championship, in November 1995.
Through 1996, Forrest stopped 13 out of 15 opponents. Five were stopped in the first round.
As the years went by Forrest won a few minor title belts. It the year 2000 Forrest finally got his chance to fight for the
IBF welterweight title against Raul Frank. A cut caused by an accidental head butt ended the bout in round three and the fight was ruled a no contest.
Winning his first major title
Forrest met Frank again in a rematch at
Madison Square Garden on May 15, 2001, on a
Felix Trinidad undercard. Forrest dominated his opponent and won the fight by a
unanimous decision to claim the title.
Forrest vs Mosley I & II
In 2001, Forrest fought the
WBC welterweight champion,
Shane Mosley. Many considered Mosley to be the best fighter in the world, and he was the betting favorite to win the fight. However, Forrest scored an upset and beat Mosley by a unanimous decision. Six months later, Forrest once again defeated Mosley by a unanimous decision. His two wins over Mosley earned Forrest the
Ring Magazine 2002 fighter of the year award.
Setbacks against Mayorga
In January 2003, Forrest fought the
WBA welterweight champion,
Ricardo Mayorga and suffered his first professional loss when Mayorga knocked him out in the third round. Later that year, he fought Mayorga again and lost by a majority decision.
[3]
On the comeback trail
Forrest took two years off from fighting because of injuries; Forrest had complete
reconstructive surgery on his left arm. He had three surgeries two on his shoulder to repair a
torn rotator cuff and one on his left elbow to repair torn cartilage and nerve damages.
In his first fight since losing twice to Mayorga, Forrest knocked out Sergio Rios in two rounds. After the fight against Rios, Forrest stopped Elco Garcia in the tenth round.
Forrest won a ten round unanimous decision over
Ike Quartey on August 5, 2006, at Madison Square Theatre, New York City. The judges at ringside scored the fight, 95-94, 95-94, and 96-93.
On July 28, 2007, Forrest won a unanimous decision against
Carlos Baldomir in
Tacoma, Washington, frequently firing off heavy right blows at Baldomir. After twelve rounds, Forrest won a lopsided 118-109, 116-111, 118-109 decision to take the vacant WBC light middleweight title.
On December 1, 2007, at
Foxwoods Resort Casino, he successfully defended his light middleweight title against Italian
Michele Piccirillo, scoring an eleventh round TKO.
Losing the title
On June 7, 2008, Forrest lost his title to
The Contender
winner
Sergio Mora via a 12 round majority decision. In the build-up to the fight, Forrest referred to Mora as "the pretender" and threatened to send him "out on a stretcher".
[4] However, Mora succeeded in pulling off the upset victory.
[5] The final scores were 114-114, 115-113 and 116-112 in favor of Mora.
[6] [7]
Reclaiming the title
Forrest (41-3) reclaimed his WBC 154-pound title on September 14, 2008, against
Sergio Mora via unanimous decision, the judges score were 118-109, 117-110, and 119-110.
[8]
Charity work
Forrest was involved directly with the creation of the
Not for Profit Destiny's Child, a group home that assists people with developmental, emotional, psychological disabilities and needs.
[9] Forrest was also involved directly with helping the organization's clients as a part of Desitiny's Child's activities.
[10]
Murder
At about 11:00 pm
EDT on July 25, 2009, Forrest stopped at a gas station in the
Atlanta neighborhood of
Mechanicsville.
[11] With him was his 11-year-old godson. As the boy went inside the gas station, Forrest went to the back of his car to add air to a low tire. As this occurred, a man robbed him at gunpoint and fled. Forrest, who was armed, went after the man and shots were exchanged. After a short distance, Forrest gave up the chase and began talking to a second man. It was this man that shot Forrest seven to eight times in the back. According to police, the shooter and a second person left the scene in a red Monte Carlo.
[12] Forrest was pronounced dead at the scene and the death was ruled a homicide. Atlanta Police have arrested and charged 25-year-old Jquante Crews, 20-year-old Demario Ware, and 30-year-old Charman Sinkfield for his murder. It is believed that Sinkfield was the shooter, Ware was the robber, and Crews was the driver.
[13]
See also
- List of WBC world champions
References
- Vernon Forrest Biography and Statistics
- HBO: Fighters Bio; VERNON FORREST
- HBO Boxing Event, July 2003
- ESPN - Mora in search of respect against Forrest - Boxing
- 'Contender' Mora shocks Forrest for WBC superwelter belt
- 411mania.com: Sports - Mora Upsets Forrest - Williams Gains Revenge
- Pavlik retains middleweight titles, Mora beats Forrest | Sports | Reuters
- ap.google.com, Forrest batters Mora, recaptures 154-pound crown
- Destiny's Child, Inc Main Webpage
- Friends on killed boxer
- Boxing Pro Vernon Forrest Murdered in Atlanta
- Police: Killer shot boxer Vernon Forrest in back
- How police cracked the Vernon Forrest case