In yet another tragic event for the boxing world, Vernon Forest was shot to death during an apparent robbery attempt.  Throughout his career Forrest had the ability to look his opponent in the eye and fight according to the fair rules of the sweet science, the decency not extended to him by his cowardly attacker who shot him in the back in a truly senseless act of violence. In instances like these it is impossible not to get lost in grief and sadness over a tragic loss of a young life. At 38 years of age Vernon Forrest, while a veteran by boxing standards, was by all respects a man in his prime with a full life ahead of him.

     A credit to the sport and the human race, Vernon was a class act that proved that nice guys can finish first.  Whether through facing Shane Mosley, Ricardo Mayorga, or a string of tough injuries, Forrest always handled the good and the bad times with dignity and a mental toughness most people can only dream of having.  Outside the ring Forrest was actively involved in charity work with kids and also worked to provide homes for the mentally disabled in Atlanta. So while his life was tragically cut short, Vernon Forrest made sure to make the most of the short time he did have on this Earth by thrilling fans inside the ring and changing lives outside it.

     This story highlights the many ills that still exist in our society today. Lax gun control laws, poor education or what many foreign observers deem to be the inherently violent nature of American culture are responsible for many deaths each year. As citizens we can take a stand by pressuring our elected officials to regulate the sale of firearms more stringently, something they have failed to do despite a series of tragic events that have stricken our country in the last decade. On a more personal level we can take note that we are not guaranteed tomorrow and so we should live our lives to the fullest, helping as many as we can along the way.