Welterweight Great Vernon Forrest Killed in Atlanta

A former welterweight great, Vernon Forrest, was killed in Atlanta Saturday night according to a spokesperson for the Atlanta police department.

Police say Forrest may have been robbed and was shot “multiple times in the back”. Mark Guilbeau, an investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner’s office, said an autopsy was planned for today.

Forrest was a member of the USA  1992 Olympic team and a former WBC super welterweight champion. In 2002 he beat Sugar Shane Mosely and then  reclaimed his WBC 154 pound title when he beat Sergio Mora in 2008.

Boxing promoter Gary Shaw said, “Vernon was one of the few decent people in boxing.”

The president of HBO sports, Ross Greenburg, said, “He was one of the most gracious and charitable fighters in boxing and he will be missed by the entire boxing community and all of his friends at HBO.”

The former welterweight great  lived in Atlanta and was a native of Augusta. He was 38.