Forrest Killed

It was only two weeks ago when the boxing world KO’d with news of the murder of former featherweight champion, Arturo Gatti (and three since Alexis Arguello). As of yesterday, the sport was delivered a TKO with another life tragically cut short due to violence, former world champion Veron Forrest. The man whose two bouts with “Sugar” Shane Mosley became the stuff of boxing history was murdered after an attempted carjacking while putting air in his tires at a local service station.

After the robbery failed, Forrest chased the two men and was then shot close to eight times with semi-automatic weapons. All this while his godson sat in the back seat of his Jaguar. In what has proven to be my biggest (yet expected) fear: black on black crime seems to be the result with police searching for two black males in the Atlanta area driving a red Monte Carlo. According to Charles Watson, Forrest’s manager, the situation played out rather quickly.

“Somehow, Vernon had his wallet out and the guy snatched his wallet and started running,” Watson said. “Vernon pursued after him. The guy turned the corner and Vernon didn’t see him. He turned around to go back to the car. That’s when he started firing.”

Forrest, who was known in the community for his work with the mentally challenged, was said to set training again on August 1 for a return to the ring. In wake of the tragedy, promoter Gary Shaw began to question the message boxing broadcasts across the world.

“What can you say? Alexis Arguello, Arturo Gatti and Vernon Forrest all leaving us within 30 days? I think it’s a little much for our sport to handle,” Shaw said, referring to the recent high-profile deaths of two other boxing stars. “The violence, the guns have to go. Violence belongs inside the ropes. Not outside them. It’s just senseless. Maybe boxing ought to dedicate itself to keeping the violence inside the ropes and try to send that message out to the world.”

While I’m sure boxing has nothing to do with the crimes, it is a sad reminder of how cruel life can be. As each day turns, it really seems as if the idea of “life expectancy” is becoming a thing of the past. Rest in peace. Those are three words I’m truly tired of saying at this moment.

Former World Champion Boxer Veron Forrest Killed In Atlanta Shooting [ESPN]