Vernon Forrest (February 12, 1971 – July 25, 2009) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2008. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the WBC, IBF, Ring magazine and lineal welterweight between 2002 and 2003, and the WBC super welterweight title twice between 2007 and 2009. In 2002, Forrest was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring and the Boxing Writers Association of America.
In 2009, Forrest was murdered after he was robbed at a gas station in the Mechanicsville neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Vernon Forrest
- Born: February 12, 1971 — Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
- Died: July 25, 2009 — Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. (aged 38)
- Nationality: American
- Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
- Reach: 72½ in (184 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro debut: Nov 25, 1992 (Win by TKO vs Charles Hawkins)
- Last bout: Sep 13, 2008 (Win by UD vs Sergio Mora)
- Total rounds boxed: 253 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Light welterweight, Welterweight, Light middleweight
- KO percentage: 70.7% (29 KO wins in 41 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): IBF welterweight title May 12, 2001 – January 25, 2003 (won the vacant title from Raul Frank, after their August 26, 2000 title bout ended in a no contest; added the WBC and The Ring welterweight titles on January 26, 2002 against Shane Mosley and defended them in the rematch; lost the WBC and Ring titles to Ricardo Mayorga); WBC super welterweight title (first reign) July 28, 2007 – June 7, 2008 (won the vacant title from Carlos Baldomir; defended against Michele Piccirillo; lost to Sergio Mora); WBC super welterweight title (second reign) September 13, 2008 – 2009 (regained from Sergio Mora in his final bout) — all dates per the bout table
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 45
- Wins: 41
- Wins by KO: 29
- Losses: 3
- Losses by KO: 1
- Draws: 0
- No contests: 1
- Born: February 12, 1971 — Augusta, Georgia, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
- Reach: 72½ in (184 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Light welterweight, Welterweight, Light middleweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nov 25, 1992 | Charles Hawkins | Win | TKO | 1 (4), 1:29 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. |
| 2 | Jan 30, 1993 | Ray Garcia | Win | TKO | 1 (4), 2:35 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. |
| 3 | Jun 7, 1993 | Augustine Renteria | Win | TKO | 2 (6), 1:40 | Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 4 | Jul 17, 1993 | Theodore Carradine | Win | TKO | 3 (6), 2:08 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 5 | Oct 20, 1993 | Eldon Sneeze | Win | TKO | 1 | Casino Magic, Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 6 | Dec 18, 1993 | Lamont Johnson | Win | TKO | 1 | Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S. |
| 7 | Feb 5, 1994 | Elvesto Mills | Win | UD | 6 | The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 8 | Nov 5, 1994 | Randy Archuleta | Win | KO | 1 (6) | Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S. |
| 9 | Jan 25, 1995 | Carlos Cartagena | Win | UD | 6 | Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 10 | Mar 4, 1995 | Genaro Andujar | Win | KO | 1 | The Roxy, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| 11 | Apr 18, 1995 | Dezi Ford | Win | TKO | 4, 1:53 | The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 12 | Jul 15, 1995 | Julian Romero | Win | TKO | 2 (10) | Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S. |
| 13 | Sep 12, 1995 | Roberto Chala | Win | TKO | 3 (6) | Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. |
| 14 | Nov 3, 1995 | Jesus Mayorga | Win | TKO | 1 (10) | The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 15 | Nov 28, 1995 | Marlon Thomas | Win | UD | 12 | Bell Auditorium, Augusta, Georgia, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant IBC light welterweight title |
| 16 | Feb 22, 1996 | Tony Ortiz | Win | KO | 1 (8), 1:29 | Civic Center, Hammond, Indiana, U.S. |
| 17 | Apr 9, 1996 | Isaac Cruz | Win | KO | 8 (10), 2:05 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. |
| 18 | May 10, 1996 | Chris Slaughter | Win | KO | 1 (10) | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 19 | Jan 24, 1997 | Mike Rios | Win | TKO | 1 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 20 | Apr 5, 1997 | Francisco De Assis | Win | TKO | 1 (10) | Bally’s Park Place, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 21 | May 5, 1997 | Pedro Saiz | Win | RTD | 6 (10), 3:00 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 22 | Aug 19, 1997 | Jaime Lerma | Win | UD | 10 | Convention Center, Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| 23 | Nov 7, 1997 | Ray Oliveira | Win | UD | 12 | Bally’s Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBC Continental Americas welterweight title |
| 24 | Mar 28, 1998 | Gilberto Flores | Win | TKO | 2 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 25 | Aug 18, 1998 | Adrian Stone | Win | TKO | 11 (12), 1:27 | Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBC-NABF welterweight title |
| 26 | Dec 12, 1998 | Ed Griffin | Win | TKO | 2 (12), 2:38 | Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC-NABF welterweight title |
| 27 | Feb 20, 1999 | Mark Fernandez | Win | TKO | 2 (8), 1:48 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 28 | Apr 16, 1999 | Steve Martinez | Win | TKO | 1 (12), 1:56 | Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC-NABF welterweight title |
| 29 | Jun 19, 1999 | Ed Goins | Win | KO | 4 (10), 2:57 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 30 | Aug 27, 1999 | Santiago Samaniego | Win | TKO | 7 (12), 1:21 | Bell Auditorium, Augusta, Georgia, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC-NABF welterweight title |
| 31 | Jan 22, 2000 | Vince Phillips | Win | UD | 12 | The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC-NABF welterweight title |
| 32 | Aug 26, 2000 | Raul Frank | NC | NC | 3 (12), 1:45 | Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Vacant IBF welterweight title at stake; NC after Frank was cut from an accidental head clash |
| 33 | May 12, 2001 | Raul Frank | Win | UD | 12 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant IBF welterweight title |
| 34 | Aug 24, 2001 | Edgar Ruiz | Win | KO | 4 (10), 2:03 | Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort, Chester, West Virginia, U.S. |
| 35 | Jan 26, 2002 | Shane Mosley | Win | UD | 12 | The Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBC and vacant The Ring welterweight titles |
| 36 | Jul 20, 2002 | Shane Mosley | Win | UD | 12 | Conseco Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 37 | Jan 25, 2003 | Ricardo Mayorga | Loss | TKO | 3 (12), 2:06 | Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBC and The Ring welterweight titles; For WBA (Super) welterweight title |
| 38 | Jul 12, 2003 | Ricardo Mayorga | Loss | MD | 12 | The Orleans, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBA (Super), WBC, and The Ring welterweight titles |
| 39 | Jul 16, 2005 | Sergio Rios | Win | TKO | 2 (10), 2:43 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 40 | Oct 21, 2005 | Elco Garcia | Win | TKO | 10 (10), 1:58 | Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California, U.S. |
| 41 | Aug 5, 2006 | Ike Quartey | Win | UD | 10 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 42 | Jul 28, 2007 | Carlos Baldomir | Win | UD | 12 | Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBC super welterweight title |
| 43 | Dec 1, 2007 | Michele Piccirillo | Win | TKO | 11 (12), 2:21 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC super welterweight title |
| 44 | Jun 7, 2008 | Sergio Mora | Loss | MD | 12 | Mohegan Sun Arena, Montville, Connecticut, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBC super welterweight title |
| 45 | Sep 13, 2008 | Sergio Mora | Win | UD | 12 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBC super welterweight title |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): IBF welterweight title May 12, 2001 – January 25, 2003 (won the vacant title from Raul Frank, after their August 26, 2000 title bout ended in a no contest; added the WBC and The Ring welterweight titles on January 26, 2002 against Shane Mosley and defended them in the rematch; lost the WBC and Ring titles to Ricardo Mayorga); WBC super welterweight title (first reign) July 28, 2007 – June 7, 2008 (won the vacant title from Carlos Baldomir; defended against Michele Piccirillo; lost to Sergio Mora); WBC super welterweight title (second reign) September 13, 2008 – 2009 (regained from Sergio Mora in his final bout) — all dates per the bout table
- Nov 28, 1995 vs Marlon Thomas: Won vacant IBC light welterweight title
- Nov 7, 1997 vs Ray Oliveira: Won vacant WBC Continental Americas welterweight title
- Aug 18, 1998 vs Adrian Stone: Won vacant WBC-NABF welterweight title
- Dec 12, 1998 vs Ed Griffin: Retained WBC-NABF welterweight title
- Apr 16, 1999 vs Steve Martinez: Retained WBC-NABF welterweight title
- Aug 27, 1999 vs Santiago Samaniego: Retained WBC-NABF welterweight title
- Jan 22, 2000 vs Vince Phillips: Retained WBC-NABF welterweight title
- Aug 26, 2000 vs Raul Frank: Vacant IBF welterweight title at stake; NC after Frank was cut from an accidental head clash
- May 12, 2001 vs Raul Frank: Won vacant IBF welterweight title
- Jan 26, 2002 vs Shane Mosley: Won WBC and vacant The Ring welterweight titles
- Jul 20, 2002 vs Shane Mosley: Retained WBC and The Ring welterweight titles
- Jan 25, 2003 vs Ricardo Mayorga: Lost WBC and The Ring welterweight titles; For WBA (Super) welterweight title
- Jul 12, 2003 vs Ricardo Mayorga: For WBA (Super), WBC, and The Ring welterweight titles
- Jul 28, 2007 vs Carlos Baldomir: Won vacant WBC super welterweight title
- Dec 1, 2007 vs Michele Piccirillo: Retained WBC super welterweight title
- Jun 7, 2008 vs Sergio Mora: Lost WBC super welterweight title
- Sep 13, 2008 vs Sergio Mora: Won WBC super welterweight title
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-11-01.
