RIP VERNON FORREST

I'm sad to hear that former welterweight champion, Vernon Forrest, was murdered last night at a gas station in Atlanta.  He was shot 8 times.  He leaves behind his family, a great life as a world champion and being the founder of Destiny's Child (a home for the mentality ill).  He had an outstanding amateur career and a solid pro career that was spent mostly being the most avoided by top fighters from 147-160 lbs before Shane Mosley (his amateur rival) gave him a title shot and he came up big by demolishing Mosley.  The rematch was a solid repeat showing his superior boxing skills.  Fighters like Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad avoided him their whole careers.  He fought Ricardo Mayorga in his first fight on his big six-fight HBO contract.  The fight was a coming out party for Forrest since he was mostly avoided his whole career and this was his time to shine but no one bothered to mention that to Mayorga.  It was a great three rounds of fighting but Forrest ended up on the canvas in the end.  A rematch happened later that year and Mayorga did enough to win again.  The execs at HBO forgot about Forrest and he then spent the next 2 1/2 years fighting off injuries then made a few comeback bouts on the undercards of bigger fights.  He kept winning and was still avoid by the top fighters.  Nothing new.  Finally he got some bigger fights by beating Ike Quartey, Carlos Baldomir (won the vacant WBC 154lb title) and Michele Piccirillo.  He then lost to Sergio Mora but beat him in a rematch.  That was his last fight before his death but at least died being a current champion.

I'll always remember Forrest as a nice guy because I meet him out in South Beach one night.  We talked for a while about boxing, chicks and our mutual love for Barack Obama.  I've met plenty of fighters in my day and most of them are nice but not too bright.  Forrest was an exception.  He was sharp and introspective.  The sport of boxing lost a class act.