Vernon Forrest Living Up To His "Viper" Moniker

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

By Keith Idec - Vernon Forrest’s nickname, “The Viper,” never seemed suitable for an affable fighter who has always been respectful and understated.

Until now.

An unusually feisty Forrest, offended by the mere mention of Sergio Mora becoming the third “Contender” to pull off an upset within the past year, stunned virtually everyone on a conference call Wednesday by mocking Mora and humiliating Jeff Wald, the front man for the “Tournament of Contenders” promotional group.

Forrest dismissed Mora’s boxing style as “garbage,” repeatedly referred to him as a “pretender” and promised punishment when they fight for Forrest’s WBC super welterweight title June 7 in Uncasville, Conn.

“On June 7, I just want you to come to fight,” Forrest (40-2, 29 KOs, 1 NC) told Mora (20-0-1, 5 KOs). “If you come to fight, I promise you they’re going to take you out on a stretcher. If you do all that running (stuff) that you normally do, then it’s going to be a boring fight and I’ll win a unanimous decision. But if you come to fight, they’re going to take you out on a stretcher. I guarantee you that. … If you come to fight, like a proud Mexican warrior, I’m knocking your (butt) out.”
[details]

[v.cassiusali@ya]

vernon is a good boxer before mayorga came and mosley can attest to that. sergio's ability in fighting bigger names hasn't been tested yet. sergio will get his baptism of fire in vernon.
experience-wise, vernon has the edge but mora maybe bringing in some surprise.

if mora box like mayorga, vernon maybe in trouble but i don't see it happening.

vernon by decision.

[Robenson]

“From this point on in my career, every fight is personal,” Forrest said. “No more ‘Mr. Nice Guy.’ Those ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ days are over. Nice guys always finish last. People are saying, ‘Well, you’ve changed.’ I haven’t changed. In order for me to go where I want to go and make my mark in this sport, then there are certain things that I’m going to have to do that some other people might not agree with. So be it. This is my career and these are the things I choose to do.”

I think this statement of forrest means he has to have a loud mouth and act as a villain to sell fights and be marketable like hopkins and mayweather.

[DA1CATAS]

“From this point on in my career, every fight is personal,” Forrest said. “No more ‘Mr. Nice Guy.’ Those ‘Mr. Nice Guy’ days are over. Nice guys always finish last. People are saying, ‘Well, you’ve changed.’ I haven’t changed. In order for me to go where I want to go and make my mark in this sport, then there are certain things that I’m going to have to do that some other people might not agree with. So be it. This is my career and these are the things I choose to do.”

I think this statement of forrest means he has to have a loud mouth and act as a villain to sell fights and be marketable like hopkins and mayweather.

You either have to be conceited and TOO sure of your boxing ability... Or the nice guy and have very exciting fights... Or a loser with ability that people just can't stop believeing in...

Nice guys that win won't be stars.. you must talk...

"The sport of Boxing is dying because no one talks anymore" Muhhamed Ali

[LOLORSKATES]

if mora box like mayorga, vernon maybe in trouble but i don't see it happening.

vernon by decision.

I don't know what kind of "boxing" Mayorga was doing against Forrest, but if what you're saying is that Mora needs to go for broke early and try to bomb Forrest out, then I disagree.

Mora can't exchange power shots with Forrest, he needs to stay at angles and make the older fighter move around.

As for Forrest, this win will prove very little. Let's see him talk tough against James Kirkland or something. He's had problems with the left shoulder in recent years so he won't be able to use his jab to keep Kirkland off all night.

[2501]

You either have to be conceited and TOO sure of your boxing ability... Or the nice guy and have very exciting fights... Or a loser with ability that people just can't stop believeing in...

Nice guys that win won't be stars.. you must talk...

"The sport of Boxing is dying because no one talks anymore" Muhhamed Ali

Wrong, you must FIGHT and talk. the reason boxing is dying is because stars TALK, disappoint and don't bring the right fights.

[jbin333]

Hey Vernon,

Call Out Winky Wright!! Winky Has Been Silent For A While, And It Appears He Isn't Getting Any Calls From Anyone To Eager To Fight Him......it Would Be Nice To See Vernon Call Winky Out, After He Destroys Mora!!! To Me It Seems Like A Very Good Matchup On Paper And Probably Will Earn Both Fighters A Decent Payday. At This Point In Their Careers Neither One Seems To Be In Line For A Big Money Payday. It Doesn't Look Like Arum Is Considering Winky As A Potential Opponent For Pavlik, So Winky Need Sto Fight Someone Decent And That Would Be Vernon!!! I Hope They Can Make This Happen!!! What Do You Guys Think?

[jpeck]

I don't know what kind of "boxing" Mayorga was doing against Forrest, but if what you're saying is that Mora needs to go for broke early and try to bomb Forrest out, then I disagree.

Mora can't exchange power shots with Forrest, he needs to stay at angles and make the older fighter move around.

As for Forrest, this win will prove very little. Let's see him talk tough against James Kirkland or something. He's had problems with the left shoulder in recent years so he won't be able to use his jab to keep Kirkland off all night.

Erbad - funny you said this. Just the other day I was thinking that Forrest vs Kirkland would be a good fight to make sometime down the road. Anyone think James is ready to step up like this yet?

[jbin333]

it would be an okay fight, because both guys are no nonsense type fighters, it just depends on whether Kirkland can handle getting cracked by Vernon's 1-2 combination punch, when Vernon is on,he's very dangerous, When I watch Kirkland he seems a little bit on the raw side, he hasn't shown any boxing skills improvement in his game, what happens when a guy takes his best shot....Vernon has displayed in his career the ability to stand and fight and also alter his style to box when needed, so at this time i'd give the edge to Vernon if these guys fight. I'm just not sure how long Vernon is looking to stay in this boxing game....At this point it's all about gaining the most dollar, if he were to somehow lose to Kirkland you could pretty much say that would be the end of the line.....I think Kirkland should go get that belt from Alcine, and make himself more marketable...

[Scott9945]

Forrest has always had a big mouth and been a crybaby but he skates because of his work with kids. Forrest showed zero class at the press conference so I hope Mora embarrasses him.