Vernon Forrest (February 12, 1971 - July 25, 2009) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1992 to 2008. He held multiple world championships in two weight classes, including the WBC, IBF, Ring magazine and lineal welterweight between 2002 and 2003, and the WBC super welterweight title twice between 2007 and 2009. He had 45 fights, 41 wins, 29 knockouts, 3 losses, and 1 no contest; he was a four time world champion.
After compiling an impressive 225–16 record as an amateur, he became the 1992 US junior welterweight champion, and won silver at the 1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships, losing in the finals to Kostya Tszyu.
He was a member of the 1992 US Olympic Team during the Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He was the gold medal favorite heading into the tournament. He would have to fight Cuban fighter Hector Vinent, a gold medalist, before reaching that goal. However, he was stricken with food poisoning a day before his first round bout and was beaten by Peter Richardson, who he'd previously defeated in a fight at the 1991 World Amateur Boxing Championships en route to winning the silver medal. He returned home to Augusta, then moved to Las Vegas, and made his professional debut on November 25, 1992.
He was involved directly with the creation of the Not for Profit Destiny's Child, a group home that assists people with developmental, emotional, and psychological disabilities and needs. He was also involved directly with helping the clients by organizing Destiny's Child's activities.
Atlanta Police would arrest and later charge 20-year-old Demario Ware, 25-year-old Jquante 'Quante' Crews, and 30-year-old Charman 'Twin' Sinkfield for his murder. Sinkfield was the shooter, Ware was the robber, and Crews was the driver. Crews and Ware are serving life sentences. (Georgia Department of Corrections). On October 28, 2016, Charman Sinkfield was sentenced to life without parole.
