For someone who accomplished as much as Vernon Forrest in the ring, it seems like he's somewhat forgotten. I don't know if it's because of his early death or him being overshadowed by other talents in his generation. Do y'all think The Viper deserves more respect for his career?
Amplifying on that, if things had broken just a little differently, I have a hard time imagining Vernon losing any time soon at welterweight. Had Mosley faced 6 Heads Lewis earlier, as rumored several times before he faced Mayorga, I would favor Vernon over anyone. But Ricardo Mayorga wound up being the absolute worst thing imaginable for him at that particular time. I think Shane would have beaten Lewis, and was always a little shocked and disappointed when it never came together. But if it had, Mayorga might not have gotten a shot at Forrest until a later date, or perhaps not at all. And I like Vernon's chances against anyone else at 147 for several years thereafter. What he did against Shane was spectactular. Especially that first bout.
Vernon Forrest was a mentor, working at a group home for adults with mental disabilities, his ex gf, he was taking care of HER son, his dad wasn't around, so Vernon showed him the ropes like a father figure, even after the two of the man and woman broke up. I remember his amicable demeanour when he asked Larry merchant:" I just beat the tiger woods of boxing, does that make me tiger woods?" Larry replied on behalf of Mosley:" just because you beat tiger woods doesn't mean that makes you tiger woods" lol. I think it was a damn shame the way he went out: from what I remember 2 Thugs were flashing their guns in plain sight in the middle of what would be a n armed Roberry at a gas station. Vernon showed his piece, the teens backed down, then as he walked away they blasted him in the back, from what I remember, his young boy almost like a son to him was there too. Some sad ish. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Awesome post, Mike. Although I have to say, I remember that quote, and I could have sworn the analogy was Michael Jordan, not Tiger Woods. I could be mistaken, but I was almost certain Larry said "Just because you beat Michael Jordan, doesn't mean you become Michael Jordan".
He really was a fantastic fighter and from what I have hear an even better person. I got to see him fight once in person at an amateur tournament in the 90's and he was everything that I had heard he was. Huge for his division with a terrific classic style. One thing about him was he struggled when an opponent could back him up like Mayorga did with his wild swinging style and later on when Quartey used his power jab to great effect pushing backward with his physical strength. If I remember correctly, he had a lot of shoulder problems later in his career was having a more difficult time even making 154. Shame what those two cowardly pieces of **** did to him. He had so much more life to live.
Controversial opinion but I would of favoured Forrest over ODLH had they fought. A fight with Mayweather would of been interesting aswell. Also the beating Mosley suffered at the hands of Forrest was inhuman at times, the 2nd round brutal right hand and right uppercut snapping Mosley's head back. Not to mention Mosley yelling out in pain, when Forrest brutalised him to the body in round 10.
I don't think that's especially controversial, and I've seen a number of people over the years (especially at the time) say the same thing about Vernon-Oscar. I temd to agree, I'd favor The Viper as well. I think he has a decent chance outboxing Floyd., too. He had a rare set of tools for 147. At the very least, I tend to think Vernon does better against Floyd than Oscar or Shane did.
This is from Wiki - MurderEdit At about 11:00 pm EDT on July 25, 2009, Forrest stopped at a gas station in the Atlanta neighborhood of Mechanicsville.[12] With him was his 11-year-old godson. As the boy went inside the gas station, Forrest went to the back of his car to add air to a low tire. As this occurred, a man robbed him at gunpoint and fled. Forrest, who was armed, went after the man and shots were exchanged. After a short distance, Forrest gave up the chase and began talking to a second man. It was this man that shot Forrest seven to eight times in the back. According to police, the shooter and a second person left the scene in a red Pontiac.[13] Forrest died at the scene and the death was ruled a homicide. Atlanta Police would arrest and later charge 25-year-old Jquante Crews, 20-year-old Demario Ware and 30-year-old Charman Sinkfield for his murder. It is believed that Sinkfield was the shooter, Ware was the robber, and Crews was the driver.[14] Crews and Ware are serving life sentences. (Georgia Department of Corrections). On October 28, 2016, Charman Sinkfield was sentenced to life without parole. I always wish he would have just stayed with the kid and not pursued the robber but easy to say not in the heat of the moment.
Prior to that, there were (I believe) 2 different instances when a Mosley-Lewis unification bout was rumored to happen. It never came together obviously, but my point was that if Shane had beaten 6-Heads (as I believe he would have), then Mayorga might not have a clear path to Vernon. It could have worked out that Mosley faced Mayorga either before or after Vernon, and Forrest was unfortunate in the sense that Mayorga was at his peak then, and he had that crazy unorthodox style that gave Vernon trouble.
