Brick City Boxing

By: Christopher Roche

July 2009 is proving to be one of the worst months in terms of athletes violently passing away. Former welterweight and junior-middleweight title holder Vernon Forrest is now reportedly part of that ominous list, which includes Steve McNair, Alexis Arguello and Arturo Gatti.

ESPN.com is reporting this morning that Forrest was putting air in the tires of his Jaguar at an Atlanta gas station, when two armed men confronted him, in an attempted carjacking. Forrest, who was also armed, chased the men, only to be shot dead. Forrest, whose girlfriend's young son was also in the car, was only 38 years old.

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Vernon “The Viper” Forrest was perhaps one of the most underrated boxers of this era, and he finished his career at 41-3, with 29 knockouts. He was an amateur standout, and he represented the USA in the 1992 Olympics. Two of Forrest’s losses came at the hands of Ricardo Mayorga, but their second fight was a controversial majority decision. His other defeat, against Sergio Mora, was quickly avenged.

Forrest is most noted for inflicting a terrible beating on “Sugar” Shane Mosley, in their first fight, back in January of 2002. In an event that incredibly took place in the cramped Theater at Madison Square Garden (the big arena had a college basketball game taking place), Forrest nearly stopped Mosley in the second round on his way to a wide upset decision. In an immediate rematch, Forrest defeated Mosley again, proving that his victory was no fluke.

I attended the Forrest-Mosley I fight as a spectator, and it was indeed a night to remember. The late Arturo Gatti was also on the card, and he stopped Terron Millett in four rounds. Now, those two great fighters, Gatti and Forrest, are sadly linked by the terrible events of July 2009.

After a layoff due to rotator cuff surgery, Forrest reinvented himself in recent years at 154 lbs. and earned the WBC title in 2007. Forrest eventually lost his belt to Sergio Mora in a majority decision, but he immediately avenged that defeat with a convincing unanimous decision victory, in what would be his final bout.

Forrest did not officially retire, and he was recovering from a rib injury in hopes of returning to the ring soon. Although he never garnered the mainstream attention of Mosley or Oscar De La Hoya, those who follow boxing know that Vernon Forrest was an incredible, hall of fame talent, and he will be greatly missed.