Damn.....


Atlanta police say former professional boxer Vernon “The Viper” Forrest was killed Saturday night when a robbery turned into a gunfire exchange.

The incident began at the Chevron on Whitehall Street in Southwest Atlanta when Forrest, 38, stopped to put air in the tires of his Jaguar, said Atlanta Police Detective Lt. Keith Meadows.

A male suspect approached Forrest and robbed him of a few items at gunpoint, he said. Forrest, who was also armed, then chased the suspect to an area near McDaniel and Fulton Streets, where the men exchanged gunfire.

Forrest was shot seven to eight times in the back, Meadows said. Meadows said there is evidence Forrest used his weapon but did not know if the suspect was shot.

An 11-year-old boy, the son of Forrest’s girlfriend, was in the Chevron at the time of the robbery. The boy was able to provide police with a description of the suspect. Police are looking for that man and a second suspect who left in a red Monte Carlo, Meadows said.

The boy did not witness the shootings, he added.

The APD is interviewing witnesses today.

Forrest, a longtime Atlanta resident, started boxing at age 9 and won his first major title in 2001, when he defeated Raul Frank for the IBF welterweight title.

He is a recent WBC middleweight champ and 1992 Olympian who had a 41-3 career record with 29 knockouts.

Forrest achieved long-sought recognition with two wins over “Sugar” Shane Mosley in 2002 that earned him the title of Ring Magazine’s Fighter of the Year.

“My goal, once I’m done, is to be considered one of the best boxers in my era,” Forrest told the AJC in 2007.

Forrest beat Ricardo Mayorga in 2003 for the WBC welterweight title and WBA super welterweight title. In 2007, he won the WBC light middleweight title against Carlos Baldomir.

In his last major match-up, in 2008, Forrest reclaimed his WBC 154-pound title at age 37 after battering his rival, 27-year-old Sergio Mora in a unanimous decision.

Forrest was also involved in charity work. He started Destiny’s Child Inc., which provided housing and assistance to mentally challenged adults

Damn, what is REALLY going on this year???

I loved watching him fight. RIP Vernon.

Even tho that was some dumb ass shit to do.

Damn, I didn't know that fighter Alexis Arguello was found dead earlier this month. Wow.
[Edited 7/26/09 8:44am]

wow...


known for his 2 wins against Shane Mosley






and his 2 losses against Ricardo Mayorga

He was shot an incredible seven to eight times in the back by the suspect. It seems unfathomable that people can be that brutal and heartless, but life means nothing in these times.

SCNDLS said:

This year has been very strange..... RIP Vernon

Unbeleivable! What the Fuck?

SCNDLS said:

Was he the guy that was strangled by his wife?

Man, you can't be driving in certain parts in a fancy car. Which is a shame. What the hell is going on?

RIP

Additional details surface


http://www.boxingscene.co...w&id=21245

KatSkrizzle said:

Nah, that's Arturo Gatti. THREE well know boxers died in less than a month. WTF???

funkpill said:

So he lost his life over a few dollars? Ridiculous.