"BATTLE OF ORLEANS'' QUOTES: TRAINER RONNIE SHIELDS

10.07 - In a highly anticipated rematch of perhaps the year's biggest upset, Ricardo "El Matador" Mayorga will defend his WBC/WBA welterweight titles against former WBC 147-pound champion Vernon "The Viper" Forrest in one of three world title fights Saturday, July 12, at The Orleans in Las Vegas. In the other championship fights, DeMarcus "Chop Chop" Corley will defend his WBO junior welterweight crown against former IBF junior welterweight titleholder Zab "Super" Judah and WBA super welterweight champion Vivian Harris will defend against unbeaten mandatory challenger, Souleymane "The Sensation" M'Baye.

The outstanding eight-bout fight card, which is promoted by Don King Productions, will also include two world title elimination bouts -- IBF No. 3 contender Pete Frissina faces No. 5 Jesus Perez in an IBF bantamweight eliminator and former WBA light heavyweight champion and current WBA No. 2 contender, Lou Del Valle, will battle No. 5 Manuel Siaca in a WBA light heavyweight eliminator. Tickets, priced at $350, $250, $150, $50 and $35, are available by calling 866-87-FIGHT or (702) 284-7777 Wednesday-Saturday from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at The Orleans, via the Internet at www.orleansarena.com and at other Las Vegas outlets, including the Sun Coast, Gold Coast, Meadows Mall, Boulevard Mall and Galleria Mall. The Mayorga-Forrest and Corley-Judah bouts will be televised by HBO.

Forrest's head trainer, Ronnie Shields, took a few moments to talk about his charge after arriving at The Orleans Wednesday. Here is what he had to say:

"Vernon is doing great, really great. He is in great shape and ready to win the fight. He is very excited, like a kid in a candy store. He can't wait.

"I know a lot of the press are disappointed that Vernon hasn't been talking much lately, and they are making a big deal out of the fact that he has not, but this is not unusual. He always shuts down before a fight to concentrate, and this, obviously, is a big fight.

"Vernon did not go into a big depression after losing. He didn't sulk. He understands that he lost the fight and accepted it like the man that he is. Outwardly, he has always acted the same with me, and I have known him long enough to know if something was wrong, or up. One of the first things he did was ask for an immediate rematch. Now that it is here, he is ready to win and get his belt back.

"We have watched the tape of the first fight together a few times. I don't dwell on the bad memories, but I do point out what he did both right and wrong. But this fight is not about what Mayorga is going to do, but what Vernon is going to do. That has been our main focus in camp.

"Honestly, I hope Mayorga rushes out from his corner after the opening bell. He says he is going stop Vernon in the second, which means he'll have to start in the first.

"I expect Vernon to be at his best and box. That is the game plan. Everybody knows that.''