Vernon Forrest

Vernon Forrest

Name: Vernon Forrest
Alias: The Viper
Born: 1971-01-12
Birthplace: Augusta, Georgia, USA
Died: 2009-07-25 (Age:38)
Nationality: US American
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 6′ 0″   /   183cm
Reach: 73″   /   185cm
Boxing Record: click

Trainers: Ronnie Shields, Mark Breland, James (Buddy) McGirt
Managers: William Baxter and William Coleman

Amateur Career

Amateur Record: 225-15

• 1991 United States Amateur light welterweight champion
• 1991 2nd place at light welterweight in the World Championships in Sydney, Australia. Results were:
  • Michele Piccirillo (Italy) won on points (33-15)
  • Nara Cjantrapon (Thailand) won on points (22-6)
  • Peter Richardson (Great Britian) won on points (33-18)
  • Candelario Duvergel (Cuba) won by DQ 1 (low blow)
  • Kostya Tszyu (Soviet Union) lost on points (9-32)
• 1992 won the AIBA World Championships Challenge at light welterweight in Tampa, FL.
  • Defeated Candelario Duvergel (Cuba) on points (17-14)
• 1992 won the light welterweight Olympic Trials in Worcester, MA. Results were:
  • Defeated Robert Frazier on points
  • Defeated Shane Mosley on points (25-14)
  • Defeated Stevie Johnston on points (39-31); and defeated him again at the Box-Offs in Phoenix, also on points (32-19).
• Represented the United States at light welterweight at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games
  • Lost to Peter Richardson (Great Britian) on points (8-14), in a first round match.

Awards & Recognitions

• 2002 - Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year
• 2002 - World Boxing Hall of Fame "Fighter of the Year": [1]

Titles Held

• World Boxing Council Light Middleweight Title (2007-08, 2008-09)
• World Boxing Council Welterweight Title (2002-03)
• International Boxing Federation Welterweight Title (2001)
• NABF Welterweight Title (1998-2000)
• WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Title (1997)
• IBC Light Welterweight Title (1995)

Philanthropy

In 1997, Forrest founded Destiny's Child Inc. which provides assistance to the mentally challenged, providing housing and 24-hour supervision by trained professionals. "It was truly his calling," Swanson said of his work with children. "When he wasn't boxing, this was his full-time job. ... When they would see him, they would just light up, and some of them couldn't even talk. Vernon was very much involved. He'd have some of the kids over to his house on Sundays. They were part of his family."[2]

Death

Forrest was killed on July 25, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. He reportedly stopped at a gas station to put air in the tires of his Jaguar around 11 p.m. when another car pulled up and he was approached by at least two men in an attempted robbery. At some point, Forrest gave chase. He was shot multiple times. Three men, 28-year-old Jquante Crews, Demario Ware, and the alleged gunman Charmon Sinkfield were convicted of the crime.[3][4] [5]

Preceded by: Felix Trinidad Vacated	IBF Welterweight Champion 2001 May 12 – 2001 Dec 12 Vacated	Succeeded by: Michele Piccirillo
Preceded by: Shane Mosley	WBC Welterweight Champion 2002 Jan 26 – 2003 Jan 25	Succeeded by: Ricardo Mayorga
Preceded by: Floyd Mayweather Jr. Vacated	WBC Light Middleweight Champion 2007 Jul 28 – 2008 Jun 7	Succeeded by: Sergio Mora
Preceded by: Sergio Mora	WBC Light Middleweight Champion 2008 Sep 13 – 2009 May 21 Stripped	Succeeded by: Sergio Gabriel Martinez