TEAM FORREST IS ON A ROLL

By Ron Brashear
Inside Boxing Writer/Columnist

INSIDE BOXING (10/08/02)- What do you get when you put the WBC Welterweight Champion (Vernon Forrest), with business advisor (Al Haymon), business manager (Charles Watson), and Publicist (Kelly Swanson)? Answer: One hell of a winning team!

As if that isn't enough, consider the following:

1. Vernon Forrest has Ronnie Shields and Al Mitchell as his trainers
2. Vernon will be presented with the Prestigious Award of World Boxing Hall of Fame Honors - Fighter of the Year in Los Angeles, CA on Saturday, October 19th.
3. A six-fight Network Contract with HBO

Well today I attended the Vernon Forrest conference call to hear what the Forrest team had to say about all of this wonderful news!

Al Haymon opened the call by acknowledging Vernon's business acumen and indicated that he was very glad to be working with Vernon. Al stated, "The thing that sets him apart, unlike some of the other combatants, Vernon is genuinely not afraid to fight anyone. That's why making the deal with HBO wasn't difficult."

Charles Watson stated, "Vernon is an exceptional fighter and exceptional man. His mind-set to be the best. The only thing he wants to do is fight the best. He has no problem making the weight of 147lbs. He will rule the Welterweight Division."

In return, Vernon gave praise to his advisor and team members as well. "I got the best negotiator in the business, bar none, in Al Haymon.

I asked Vernon a couple of questions during this session:

Q1: Vernon, when I spoke to you in LV, you stated that you have no desire to move up to 154 other than to fight De La Hoya. With the HBO contract in place now, does this alter your position?

A1: "Not at all, I worked hard to get to where I am today as Champion. It took me 10 years to get here. I don't want to start campaigning as a Jr. Middleweight, especially as a Challenger. Now if one of the Jr. Middleweight Champions wants to fight me for their Championship, I will be glad to do that."

Q2: Do you feel that if you were to move up to 154lbs, and let's say, you defeat Winky Wright for the IBF title, do you think that would lure De La Hoya into a fight with you?

A2: "Not at all, De La Hoya fights who he wants to fight. His team doesn't want to fight me. The fight with De La Hoya would not happen any sooner if I had the Jr. Middleweight belt or not."

Well fight fans, in my opinion, Vernon Forrest does not need the De La Hoya fight to secure his place in boxing history. He is a living testimony for what perseverance actually represents. He is not your over-night sensation and its good to see wonderful things happen to such a wonderful person. Expect BIG things from this Great Champion over the next few years.

It was great to hear Vernon say, "I appreciate Shane Mosley, and his father Jack Mosley, for granting me the opportunity to showcase my talents. Otherwise, I may still be on the outside looking in." As for Vernon's financial security, "I am already financially set, I am in this for the competitiveness of the sport. Any additional money being made, is just gravy." Those words alone, say a lot about what kind of guy Vernon Forrest is.

Here at Inside Boxing, we are looking forward to seeing his 1st fight under the new HBO contract on January 25th, 2003. At this time, the opponent has not been named.

You have just gone insideboxing.com

Ron Brashear can be contacted at brashear@insideboxing.com, ron@brasheargear.com