madjack
28-01-2003, 06:35 AM
Forrest loses WBC title
From correspondents in Temecula, California
January 26, 2003
RICARDO MAYORGA defeated previously unbeaten American Vernon Forrest in the third round to capture the World Boxing Council welterweight belt in a unification bout tonight.
Referee Marty Deakin stopped the bout after Mayorga floored Forrest with an overhand right two minutes and six seconds into the third round.
Forrest has been mentioned as a possible future opponent for Australia's undisputed world super lightweight champion Kostya Tszyu who defeated the American 11 years ago at the world amateur championships in Sydney.
The 29-year-old Nicaraguan came out from the opening bell throwing everything he had at Forrest, knocking the former WBC champ down in the first round.
Mayorga, who was a six-to-one underdog, now has another belt to go with the World Boxing Association strap he won with another surprise decision over Andrew "Six Heads" Lewis.
Mayorga has 25 wins, three losses, one draw and 23 KOs.
"Before the fight I told everyone Forrest doesn't mean anything to me," he said.
"I predicted I would knock him out in the seventh but I knew I would knock him out before the seventh."
Mayorga picked up $US400,000 ($A678,500) for the win.
The unheralded Mayorga fought only once last year, capturing the WBA title with a surprising fifth-round stoppage of Lewis in March.
Forrest drops to 35-1 with 26KOs in his first title defence since beating Shane Mosley twice in 2002.
Forrest felt Mayorga got lucky with the win.
"Sometimes you go in and trade with a guy and you come out clean and sometimes you don't."
Forrest disagreed with the ref on the knockdown in the first.
"We got into a tangle and he hit me with a shot as I was stepping around him and I just lost my balance."
Forrest wants a re-match and said the contract guaranteed he got one with Mayorga.
Asked if he took Mayorga too lightly Forrest said: "No, I trained hard for this.
"I don't know how I feel right now. I am going to go home and reflect.
"I will play the fight over in my head. Even now I am playing it back in my head."
Forrest had been hoping to beat Mayorga and then meet current IBF champ Michele Piccirillo of Italy.
Piccirillo is slated to defend his title in March in a rematch against American Cory Spinks.
"I will be more angry and more determined when I come back," said Forrest.
"When I am by myself I will be able to reflect on it better."
From correspondents in Temecula, California
January 26, 2003
RICARDO MAYORGA defeated previously unbeaten American Vernon Forrest in the third round to capture the World Boxing Council welterweight belt in a unification bout tonight.
Referee Marty Deakin stopped the bout after Mayorga floored Forrest with an overhand right two minutes and six seconds into the third round.
Forrest has been mentioned as a possible future opponent for Australia's undisputed world super lightweight champion Kostya Tszyu who defeated the American 11 years ago at the world amateur championships in Sydney.
The 29-year-old Nicaraguan came out from the opening bell throwing everything he had at Forrest, knocking the former WBC champ down in the first round.
Mayorga, who was a six-to-one underdog, now has another belt to go with the World Boxing Association strap he won with another surprise decision over Andrew "Six Heads" Lewis.
Mayorga has 25 wins, three losses, one draw and 23 KOs.
"Before the fight I told everyone Forrest doesn't mean anything to me," he said.
"I predicted I would knock him out in the seventh but I knew I would knock him out before the seventh."
Mayorga picked up $US400,000 ($A678,500) for the win.
The unheralded Mayorga fought only once last year, capturing the WBA title with a surprising fifth-round stoppage of Lewis in March.
Forrest drops to 35-1 with 26KOs in his first title defence since beating Shane Mosley twice in 2002.
Forrest felt Mayorga got lucky with the win.
"Sometimes you go in and trade with a guy and you come out clean and sometimes you don't."
Forrest disagreed with the ref on the knockdown in the first.
"We got into a tangle and he hit me with a shot as I was stepping around him and I just lost my balance."
Forrest wants a re-match and said the contract guaranteed he got one with Mayorga.
Asked if he took Mayorga too lightly Forrest said: "No, I trained hard for this.
"I don't know how I feel right now. I am going to go home and reflect.
"I will play the fight over in my head. Even now I am playing it back in my head."
Forrest had been hoping to beat Mayorga and then meet current IBF champ Michele Piccirillo of Italy.
Piccirillo is slated to defend his title in March in a rematch against American Cory Spinks.
"I will be more angry and more determined when I come back," said Forrest.
"When I am by myself I will be able to reflect on it better."