WHAT A CHAMPION!

Vernon Forrest and I lived together along with Al Mitchell in Marquette for over three years (1989 - 1992), while boxing and residing at the OEC. I know his intense training habits and dedication as well as his deep yearning to emerge from poverty. I was Vernon's roommate when he, an unranked, unknown 17 yr old boxer from Augusta faced and defeated World ranked Terron Millet at the U.S. Championships.

I was there when Vernon "whupped" up on Shane in the trials. He proved to America and more importantly the ABF (Amateur Boxing Federation), the most political, unjustly biased, hypocritical assembly of people on the planet - that he was the better boxer and the more qualified to represent our nation than anyone in his weight class. Now although this didn't set well with the leaches that had to make this decision to disregard the acclaim that a "pretty boy with flashy hands" could bring amateur boxing - they were all cornered. The fight wasn't even considerably close as Mosley now says. Go with me, if it were a close fight -do you think for a second Vernon would have gotten the decision? No.

Vernon's prowess in the ring over Mosley that day placed this "governmental unit" into a situation where had they not been fair they simply would have been exposed given the magnitude of the fight. They HAD to recognize Vernon Forrest as the best 139-pounder in America. Aww, the poor ABF.

And now, as history repeated itself, once again we saw all of the pieces set up for another debacle in this competition. "Sugar", the pretty boy with nice clothes and a 'commercial perfect smile' dominated the fight program at the Garden with his quotes of passion and revenge. The press here in New York City ate it up. Each day they swarmed him as he sparred in preparations for a chance to avenge the only knock to his ego in over a decade. Vernon knew it. He'd been there before. Leading up to the fight he was as calm as ever. He wasn't upset or angered at his status -or lack thereof- leading up to and into the fight. Not at all. On the day of his physical he was as cordial and chummy as always while the two of us sat and laughed with Al over our Marquette days. It was truly wonderful. He still has a heart of gold and being overshadowed by Shane's entourage that passed by at the time had no affect on him. He just knew - so did we.

If you look at the replay of Vernon exiting the ring upon his victory on Saturday night, he fought his way through the press and cameras and immediately came up to me with a giant hug. Me, not an agent or promoter or even a celebrity; me, his college roommate. What a Champion.

Ricky Ray Taylor
Boxing Trainer / Church Street Boxing Gym (NYC)