Former Boxing Champion Vernon Forrest Found Dead

Sports Betting News - July 27th, 2009 - Written by Bruce

Former world champion boxer Vernon Forrest was shot and killed in an attempted robbery Saturday night in Atlanta. Forrest who has long lived in the Atlanta area was said to have been shot seven or eight times by two men who had just tried to rob him. Forrest was stopped at a gas station putting air in the tires of his Jaguar when the incident occurred. Forrest had a gun on him and was fatally wounded when he tried to confront the men. The two men were said to have shot him multiple times with semi automatic weapons shooting Forrest at least once in the head. One of the men had approached Forrest asking him for some money, he then snatched the wallet from Forrest before the former boxer began chasing him on foot.

This tragic incident puts an end to the life a truly great boxer. Forrest was a member of the 1992 US Olympic team beating Shane Mosley to earn a spot on the team. Ten years later the two fought again and Forrest beat him yet again to earn the WBC Welterweight Title. The two fought again later in the year and Forrest prevailed in a hard fought match.   Forrest was best known for these two victories against Shane Mosley but had a very successful career finishing with a professional record of 41-3. His boxing accomplishments paled in comparison to his charitable contributions as Forrest was the founder of Destiny's Child, a foundation for people with mental disabilities in Atlanta. It is a shame for a man who did so much to help others to be brutally murdered in such a fashion.

The death of Vernon Forrest is sadly the third death to occur in the boxing world in the last 30 days. Alexis Arguello and Arturo Gatti also recently died making it a very sad time for boxing fans. Forrest was not done fighting either as he had planned to begin training in the next month for his next scheduled fight. To lose such a gracious fighter who devoted so much of his time to helping others is a very unfortunate tragedy for the family of Vernon Forrest to endure. Forrest will always be remembered as a warrior in the ring who gave back to the community.