This past weekend was bitter sweet for the fans of the “sweet Science”, all though there were some news makers on Friday Night Fights, along with a couple of victorious heavyweights trying to make a come back, the Sunday morning news that the fight world woke up to was a complete shocker. Former world champion and all around good guy Vernon Forrest was viciously gunned down at a gas station in Atlanta, GA by two unknown assailants.
Forrest, who was still a major player in the 154-pound division, was only thirty-eight years old and left behind a twelve-year old son. From what I have gathered from the news, Vernon pulled in the station Saturday night to check his tire when he was approached by a thug who tried to take his wallet. After a foot chase, Forrest headed back to his car and was ambushed and shot in the back. Reports say Vernon took seven to eight slugs from two semi automatic weapons. There will be more to this story in the coming days, hopefully an arrest and conviction could be made.
Our thoughts and prayers goes out to the former champ as well as to his family, may he rest in peace.
Forrest’s death was not the only one reported this weekend amongst the boxing community. Former amateur stand out and heavyweight prospect Francisco Montivias died Saturday from injuries sustained in his fight Friday night in Mississippi. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Montivias family.
Two Twins, Two Fights, only one Victory!
If you tuned into ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, then you witnessed some good action, and a major upset of a highly touted prospect.
In a double co feature that showcased twins Juan and Carlos Velasquez battling in separate bouts, both went in undefeated and only one remained that way.
Super featherweight prospect Carlos Velasquez 11-0 (9) stayed unbeaten by defeating Juan Nazario 6-2-1 (4) in six rounds of sheer ugliness. Cannot blame it all on Velasquez, it is not his fault his opponent should of worn track shoes, or maybe some lipstick. When Nazario wasn’t heating up the floor in sprints, he had his hands all over Carlos holding on for dear life. The fight ended with the unanimous decision in Velasquez’s favor. Just too bad his brother Juan’s fight could not have ended up that way.
Juan Velasquez 9-1 (5) entered his super bantamweight match-up undefeated, and by the looks of his opponent, Jose Angel Beranza 32-15-2 (25), who came into the fight only winning one out of his last seven bouts, it appeared Juan’s record would stay intact.
Wrong!
Velasquez came out winning the first two rounds, using his jab, but the third round was the beginning of the downfall of Juan when he hit the deck not once but twice in the round. All though Velasquez had his moments through the duration of the bout, it was the aggression of Beranza who stole the show earning a much needed W via unanimous decision.
Hometown Hero Doesn’t Digress
ESPN’s main event featured El Paso resident, junior featherweight contender Antonio Escalante 21-2 (13) who earned his way to a title shot by defeating the very game Cornelius Lock 18-4-1 (11). It was ten rounds of decent action as the border town of El Paso cheered on Escalante.
Escalante was more aggressive, faster and seemingly hungrier in this fight than Lock. You cannot count out Lock, he had heart, he was floored twice, stunned a few times, but battled on.
After ten rounds of Escalante winning the war, the judges saw it in his favor giving Antonio the unanimous decision victory. It appears that with this victory, Escalante will be biding for the 122-pound title in the near future.
Heavyweights on the Comeback Trail
This past weekend the fight world also seen the rise of two heavyweight contenders who are in search of another world title shot as well as the fall of a former world title holder, the question is, which will be the next to fall?
First we get to the former WBC heavyweight titlist Samuel Peter 31-3 (24), who was in dire need of a win. Dropping his last two bouts, first to Vitali Klitschko and then to Eddie Chambers, it appeared that the end could have been coming soon for the “Nigerian Nightmare”.
Well, in a fight that he should of won in kayo fashion, which he did, Peter gets his first win in nearly a year and a half by knocking out journeyman Marcus McGee 22-17 (11) in three rounds. What does this do for Peter?
Well, he earned himself a much needed win over an opponent that was safe to do so, in Peter’s defense, he did come weighing in twenty-two pounds less than he did when he lost to Chambers for months ago.
Former two-time heavyweight title challenger Fres Oquendo 31-5 (20) drew a little closer to contender status by knocking out former champ Bruce Seldon 40-8 (36).
Oquendo utilized his speed and craftiness to bang his way to the victory over Seldon, but all though forty-two years old and way passed his better days, Seldon did show some signs of aggression and power which made this a very good heavyweight bout.
All though Seldon did do his best in garnering the victory, the night was Oquendo’s who dropped Seldon in the ninth round with a combo, earning the victory at 2:35 when Seldon on one knee not even trying to beat the ten count. It is Oquendo’s second victory since losing the split decision to James Toney.
Where do these three heavyweights go from here?
First off, with all due respect to Bruce Seldon, in the opinion of many, maybe it is time to hang up the gloves and look to the future. As far as Oquendo and Samuel Peter, Peter is ranked while Fres is not. Maybe these two should meet up in the ring?
Stevenson Keeps them Sleeping!
To wrap up the weekends headliners, we will close with undefeated welterweight prospect James “Keep'em Sleepin” Stevenson10-0 (9), who put to sleep his foe Ken Dunham 6-9 (4) in three rounds to earn the NABC and WBF Americas welterweight titles.
This is the second time Stevenson has met up Dunham, Stevenson had Dunham down four times this past March en route to a second round victory. And all though Dunham was more elusive in this go around, the end result was the same, just a round later, as Stevenson floored Dunham three times to earn himself the victory at 1:31 in the third. It is reported that Stevenson will now take on Adrian Redmond 4-6-1 (3) later next month.
Stay tuned to Convicted Artist Magazine for upcoming interviews as well as breaking news in and out the sports world.
Benny Henderson Jr.
www.convictedartist.com