With profound sorrow, on behalf of the World Boxing Council I am declaring today a day of world mourning for the tragic passing away of our dear and loyal friend, many times a world champion and WBC Peace and Concord Ambassador Vernon Forrest, who loved the green and gold belt loyally and was an active financial sponsor of the mentally handicapped, as well as a sponsor of other associations that benefit those in need.
He was a truly exemplary man from the United States.
Vernon was an Olympic fighter in Barcelona, World Boxing Council Continental Americas champion and NABF champion. After personally asking me for a title shot, he amazed the world when he won the WBC welterweight world title by defeating then-champion, Shane Mosley, and later amazed everybody again when he defeated Mosley in the rematch. Vernon also won the WBC super welterweight world title, which he had to leave due to an injury, and he was preparing to challenge for the WBC world title once again when he was murdered.
The WBC sends its deepest condolences to his family and friends, among whom some of them stand out: Al Haymon, his eternal manager, Charles Watson, and all the fans of the U.S.A. and the whole world.
It is truly regrettable that so many tragedies have struck boxing in 2009, as just recently former WBC world champions Alexis Arguello of Nicaragua and Arturo Gatti of Canada went through tragedies that ended their lives.
The WBC said its goodbyes to them by placing a green and gold world championship belt on their coffins, exactly the same thing that was done when Mexican fighter Raul “Raton” Macias, the top idol of Mexican people, recently passed away.
Other former world champions, heroes of their countries and boxing, have also passed away in this tragic 2009: Ingemar Johansson of Sweden, who won the title by defeating the immortal Floyd Patterson; Saensak Muangsurin of Thailand, who was buried after receiving the honors of his Majesty, the King of Thailand; Johnny Caldwell of Ireland, one of the greatest bantamweight fighters in his time; Jose “Chegui” Torres of Puerto Rico, a great friend of ours, the 1956 Olympic silver medalist and light heavyweight world champion; Alfredo Marcano of Venezuela, super featherweight world champion and an idol in his country; Giovanni Parisi of Italy, lightweight world champion and the idol of Italian promoter, Salvatore Cherchi; Jisselle Salandy of Trinidad and Tobago, WBC female super welterweight world champion and an example to the world. Parisi and Salandy also passed away in a tragic way.
May they rest in peace and May God comfort their families and all the people who loved them.