Vernon Forrest (February 12, 1971 – July 25, 2009) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2008. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the WBC, IBF, Ring magazine and lineal welterweight between 2002 and 2003, and the WBC super welterweight title twice between 2007 and 2009. In 2002, Forrest was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America.

In 2009, Forrest was murdered after he was robbed at a gas station in the Mechanicsville neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia.

Early years and amateur career A native of Augusta, Georgia, Forrest began boxing at the age of 9. After compiling an impressive 225–16 record as an amateur, he became the 1992 US junior welterweight champion, and won silver at the 1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships, losing in the finals to Kostya Tszyu.HBO: Fighters Bio; VERNON FORREST 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 into the tournament. He would have to fight Cuban fighter Hector Vinent, a gold medallist, before reaching that goal. However, he was stricken with food poisoning a day before his first round bout and was beaten by Peter Richardson, who he'd previously defeated in a fight at the 1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships en route to winning the silver medal. 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. Through 1996, Forrest stopped 13 out of 15 opponents. Five were stopped in the first round.

Welterweight As the years went by Forrest won a few minor title belts. In the year 2000 Forrest finally got his chance to fight for a major title belt against Raul Frank (for the IBF welterweight title). Unfortunately for Forrest however, a cut caused by an accidental head butt ended the bout in round three and the fight was ruled a no contest.

IBF welterweight champion

Forrest met Frank again in a rematch at Madison Square Garden on May 12, 2001, on a Félix Trinidad undercard. Forrest dominated his opponent and won the fight by a unanimous decision to claim his first major professional boxing title.

Forrest vs Mosley I

In 2001, Forrest fought the WBC and lineal 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. Despite being the favorite, Mosley was dominated in this bout. Both fighters initially started strong, landing hard blows, but in the second round Forrest had Mosley hurt early and knocked him down for the first time in his career. A series of strong punches would put him down yet again later in the round. With his dominant performance, Forrest was also awarded the Ring Magazine welterweight title.

Forrest vs Mosley II

Six months later, Forrest once again squared off against Mosley in a rematch. Despite a stronger performance from Mosley, Forrest won a clear cut decision, using his jab more effectively and through superior ring generalship. Forrest was now considered by many to be one of the top fighters in the world.

Forrest vs. Mayorga I

In January 2003, Forrest fought the WBA welterweight champion, Ricardo Mayorga. Mayorga was a mostly unknown fringe contender from Nicaragua and few gave him a chance to win against the significantly bigger and stronger Forrest. Mayorga shocked the world when he easily dominated Forrest, dropping him once in the first round and again in the third round. The referee would call off the fight after the second knockdown, as Forrest was visibly dazed and unable to get his footing.

Forrest vs. Mayorga II

Forrest would rematch Mayorga six months later, losing again, this time by a majority decision. The bout was close and competitive, with Mayorga mostly chasing Forrest around the ring while Forrest was content to fight from the outside.

Light middleweight 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 controversial 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.

WBC Light middleweight champion 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.

Forrest vs. Mora 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". However, Mora succeeded in pulling off the upset victory. The final scores were 114–114, 115–113 and 116–112 in favor of Mora.411mania.com: Sports – Mora Upsets Forrest – Williams Gains Revenge

Reclaiming the title Forrest reclaimed his WBC 154-pound title on September 14, 2008, against Sergio Mora via unanimous decision, the judges scores were 118–109, 117–110, and 119–110.ap.google.com, Forrest batters Mora, recaptures 154-pound crown

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, and psychological disabilities and needs. Forrest was also involved directly with helping the clients by organizing Destiny's Child's activities.

Murder At about 11:00 pm EDT on July 25, 2009, Forrest stopped at a gas station in the Atlanta neighborhood of Mechanicsville. 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 Pontiac. Forrest died at the scene and the death was ruled a homicide. Atlanta Police would arrest and later charge 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. Crews and Ware are serving life sentences. (Georgia Department of Corrections). On October 28, 2016, Charman Sinkfield was sentenced to life without parole.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes45WinSergio MoraUD12Sep 13, 200844Loss40–3 Sergio MoraMD12Jun 7, 200843Win40–2 Michele PiccirilloTKO11 (12), Dec 1, 200742Win39–2 Carlos BaldomirUD12Jul 28, 200741Win38–2 Ike QuarteyUD10Aug 5, 200640Win37–2 Elco GarciaTKO10 (10), Oct 21, 200539Win36–2 Sergio RiosTKO2 (10), Jul 16, 200538Loss35–2 Ricardo Mayorga12Jul 12, 200337Loss35–1 Ricardo MayorgaTKO3 (12), Jan 25, 200336Win35–0 Shane MosleyUD12Jul 20, 200235Win34–0 Shane MosleyUD12Jan 26, 200234Win33–0 Edgar RuizKO4 (10), Aug 24, 200133Win32–0 Raul FrankUD12May 12, 20013231–0 Raul FrankNC3 (12), Aug 26, 200031Win31–0Vince PhillipsUD12Jan 22, 200030Win30–0Santiago SamaniegoTKO7 (12), Aug 27, 199929Win29–0Ed GoinsKO4 (10), Jun 19, 199928Win28–0Steve MartinezTKO1 (12), Apr 16, 199927Win27–0Mark FernandezTKO2 (8), Feb 20, 199926Win26–0Ed GriffinTKO2 (12), Dec 12, 199825Win25–0Adrian StoneTKO11 (12), Aug 18, 199824Win24–0Gilberto FloresTKO2Mar 28, 199823Win23–0Ray OliveiraUD12Nov 7, 199722Win22–0Jaime LermaUD10Aug 19, 199721Win21–0Pedro Saiz6 (10), May 5, 199720Win20–0Francisco De AssisTKO1 (10)Apr 5, 199719Win19–0Mike RiosTKO1Jan 24, 199718Win18–0Chris SlaughterKO1 (10)May 10, 199617Win17–0Isaac CruzKO8 (10), Apr 9, 199616Win16–0Tony OrtizKO1 (8), Feb 22, 199615Win15–0Marlon ThomasUD12Nov 28, 199514Win14–0Jesus MayorgaTKO1 (10)Nov 3, 199513Win13–0Roberto ChalaTKO3 (6)Sep 12, 199512Win12–0Julian RomeroTKO2 (10)Jul 15, 199511Win11–0Dezi FordTKO4, Apr 18, 199510Win10–0Genaro AndujarKO1Mar 4, 19959Win9–0Carlos CartagenaUD6Jan 25, 19958Win8–0Randy Archuleta1 (6)Nov 5, 19947Win7–0Elvesto Mills6Feb 5, 19946Win6–0Lamont JohnsonTKO1Dec 18, 19935Win5–0Eldon SneezeTKO1Oct 20, 19934Win4–0Theodore CarradineTKO3 (6), Jul 17, 19933Win3–0Augustine RenteriaTKO2 (6), Jun 7, 19932Win2–0Ray GarciaTKO1 (4), Jan 30, 19931Win1–0Charles Hawkins1 (4), Nov 25, 1992

References

External links

Vernon Forrest obituary in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Vernon Forrest obituary at The Daily Telegraph