(IB-January 27, 2003) - It's too late. You can’t retrieve all the awards, accolades and praise you have given Vernon Forrest. After Forrest defeated Shane Mosley twice, the media went wild: God's gift to boxing, pound-for-pound the best, indestructible, the man that beat the man that beat the man.

Yes, the Forrest bandwagon was very obese to say the least.

I’m not convinced Forrest is on the same level with Oscar De La Hoya. I wasn’t convinced before the fight against Ricardo Mayorga and I’m less convinced now that Mayorga easily knocked Forrest out.

(IB- January 26, 2003) - If you missed Vernon vs. Mayorga Saturday night at the Pechanga, I hope you were having the time of your life because you missed one hell of a three round fight. It was scheduled for 12 but fate had other plans this weekend. Things that weren’t supposed to happen happened. The Twenty-first Century Fight Gods have been generous so far. The same way they gave us Mosley Forrest I and II, they gave us Gatti Ward I and II, Dorin Balbi I and don’t forget Barrera Morales. Now, Forrest Mayorga, in the classic battle between boxer vs. brawler.

Vernon Forrest has been plugging away in obscurity long before rising to the spotlight of Boxing’s most celebrated. After he dismantled the heavily hyped “pound-for-pound great” Shane Mosley once, and then soundly a second time in a fight full of more holding and less excitement, he was a big star. More

(IB – January 25, 2003) – Can you say upset? Well that’s exactly what the boxing world witnessed on this Saturday night. Ricardo Mayorga (25-3-1, 23 KOs) showed what a nothing to lose attitude, along with an intense desire to win, can do for you. Despite knowing that his was going up against 2002’s most celebrated fighter, Mayorga brought his A game to the ring and shook up the boxing world by handing Vernon "the viper" Forrest (35-1, 26 KOs) his first loss as a professional fighter. What is even more amazing is that Mayorga TKOed Forrest at 2:06 of the third round and became the unified Welterweight Champion of the world.

The fight took on a fast pace very early in the first round with Mayorga pressing the attack and Forrest in a counter-punching mode. This round was appearing to be pretty evenly matched until late in the round, Mayorga lands a left hook that catches Forrest off-balance and is ruled a knockdown. The round is scored 10-8 in favor of Mayorga automatically. More

(IB-January 20, 2003) - Vernon Forrest has waited a long time for his moment of glory.  It wasn’t long ago when boxing fans didn’t even know who Vernon Forrest was… and really didn’t care.  That was before Shane Mosley unlocked the gate and released the Viper.
The Viper is out and intents to poison anyone who dares get into the ring against him.
“To be the best you have to beat the best” We hear this from many champions but in Forrest’s case he intents to follow through with his promise to fight the best. More

(IB – January 20. 2003) – On Saturday night, live from Temecula, CA and televised on HBO, Vernon "the viper" Forrest (35-0, 26 KOs) will take a big step toward unifying the Welterweight titles. In order to do this, he must defeat the WBA Welterweight champion Ricardo Mayorga (24-3-1, 22 KOs) in their 12 round title fight.

Forrest is proving that he is a man of his word. Vernon informed the boxing community back when he 1st landed the six- fight contract with HBO that he wants to only fight the best fighters. Let's face it, Forrest had the luxury to hand pick any opponent yet he opted to go straight for the WBA champion to seek unification. This is an example of Forrest's character. This great champion is daring to be great and is seizing the opportunities to attempt great things. So when you speak about a P4P contender, its qualities found in Forrest that shapes a best P4P fighter. The fighters who are willing to step up and take on the best opponents in their respective weight classes. More

(IB-26 de Enero 2003) - Vernon Forrest andaba todo volado paseándose entre las nubes presumiendo premios y condecoraciones a su prestigio que se elevo a lo máximo al darle una dosis amarga doble al azucar del boxeo contemporaneo: Shane Mosley el cual no se suponia que perderia. Pero la química de boca de que en el boxeo no hay niveles se puso otra vez en manifiesto.

Los expertos en estas diferencias de precio pusieron a Forrest como candidato al triunfo contra Mayorga quien entro al juego de la ruleta de competencia en las altas esferas del reconocimiento, no muy alabado por cierto en su conquista de la corona Welter AMB ante Andrew “Seis Cabezas” Lewis quien sin dar crédito total a la pesadilla viva de ser despojado a la buena de su harem se quedo en el sexto asalto mirando las maripositas de colores completamente anesteciado. Continuar