Vernon Forrest

Name: Vernon Forrest
Alias: The Viper
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Birthplace: Augusta, Georgia, USA
Died: 2009-07-25 (Age:38)
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 183cm
Reach: 185cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record

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

Olympic Games results

• 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.

World Championships results

• 1991 Silver medallist at light welterweight in in Sydney, Australia.
  • Defeated Michele Piccirillo (Italy) (33-15)
  • Defeated Nara Cjantrapon (Thailand) (22-6)
  • Defeated Peter Richardson (Great Britian) (33-18)
  • Defeated Candelario Duvergel (Cuba) won by DQ 1 (low blow)
  • Lost to Kostya Tszyu (Soviet Union) (9-32)

Other Amateur results

Claimed Amateur Record: 225-15

• 1990 US National Golden Gloves Bronze medallist at light welterweight, losing to Mark Lewis (0-5)
• 1991 United States Amateur light welterweight champion
  • Defeated Lamar Murphy (4-1)
  • Defeated Hector Colon (3-2)
  • Defeated Stevie Johnston (4-1)
• 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 (5-0)
  • 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).

Awards & Recognition

• 2002 - Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year

Career Factoids

• Has a record of 6-3 1NC (1 KOs) in World Title fights.
• Has a record of 7-3 (2 KOs) against former or current world titleists.
  • Won against Santiago Samaniego, Vince Phillips, Shane Mosley (twice), Ike Quartey, Carlos Manuel Baldomir, Michele Piccirillo, Sergio Mora.
  • Lost against Ricardo Mayorga (twice), Sergio Mora.
• Forrest avenged his no contest with Raul Frank, his defeat to Sergio Mora and in the eyes of many should have avenged his first defeat to Ricardo Mayorga only to lose a controversial decision.

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."[1]

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.[2][3] [4]

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