Welterweight Fighter

HBO presents

November 04, 2000

Welcome to another boxing fan dream--to talk to an outstanding boxer. Vernon Forrest is one of the best fighters in the world and he's out to prove that. Read what he had to say about his sport, women in boxing, and how Mike Tyson's problems have affected the public image of boxers.

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HBO: Vernon, Thank you for joining us tonight!

Vernon Forrest: Thank you very much. I'm happy to be here.

Boxer: Who is the person you want to fight the most?

Vernon Forrest: The champion, whoever the champion is at that time. Whoever the public deems is the best fighter.

Isaiah: Name the fighter you look up to the most?

Vernon Forrest: There are two fighters that I really respect, the first one is Roy Jones. I respect Roy because he does things his way. And the other fighter that I respect is Bernard Hopkins. Because after all the adversity, he's still on top.

Me: What do you think of Shannon Taylor?

Vernon Forrest: Shannon Taylor, I don't know too much about Shannon Taylor.

Cool Guy: What is the greatest moment in your boxing career?

Vernon Forrest: Making the Olympic team in 1992, representing the United States at the Olympics.

Me: Who will you fight next?

Vernon Forrest: I have a rematch with Raoul Franks. We fought August 26th, for HBO and the fight was a draw. It was actually a no-contest. And we have to do a rematch, so we'll probably end up fighting in January. I can't wait. I'm on pins and needles just waiting for the opportunity to get in the ring with him again.

Marty3: Hello Vernon, Describe how it feels to be one of the best Welterweight Fighters today in Boxing?

Vernon Forrest: I feel great! Sometimes I get overlooked at times, when it comes to the general public, because a lot of the general public aren't familiar with boxers other than the ones that are on TV a lot, the more popular fighters. But hopefully that will change with some of the fights.

Uppercut: What old time fighter you would want to fight, and why?

Vernon Forrest: Probably Sugar Ray Robinson, because he is the fighter that all fighters are measured on, so definitely, I would like to test myself with him; he is the best of the best.

Lil: Is there a rematch in the near future for Mosley against De La Hoya?

Vernon Forrest: I think so, eventually. I think right now, De La Hoya is dealing with things outside of boxing--his legal issues--but I think once that is cleared up, he probably will fight again.

Jab N Weave: If you could change one thing in your career what would it be, and why?

Vernon Forrest: The one thing I could change in my career? I don't think I would change anything. The way my career has gone it's based on a higher power and I don't want to second guess what my God has planned for me, so I would rather not say I would change this or change that, because I would be second-guessing Him.

Irish Guy: The best amateur fight I ever saw was you against England's Peter Richardson. Do you remember much of it?

Vernon Forrest: Which one are you talking about? We fought twice. The first time we fought, we fought in Sydney, Australia, and I beat him easy. The second time we fought in Barcelona, Spain, in the Olympics in 1992, and I lost in what I consider to be a controversial opinion against him. I thought I beat him, and it should have been an easy decision.

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