Shane Mosley, a former world champion in three weight classes, has picked Vernon Forrest as the hardest puncher he faced in his boxing career. Mosley shared this insight during a recent feature with The Ring Magazine, reflecting on his experiences against top opponents.
Mosley's boxing career spanned from 1993 to 2016, during which he won world titles in three weight classes and became a lineal champion three times - twice at welterweight and once at light-middleweight. The majority of his success came during the late 1990s and early 2000s, a period that saw him defeat Oscar De La Hoya twice.
Despite facing a roster of boxing greats including Oscar De La Hoya, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, and Fernando Vargas, Mosley singled out Vernon Forrest as the hardest hitter. In his own words:
"Vernon Forrest. I'm not sure why; maybe it was just natural. He just hit the hardest."
Forrest left a lasting impression on Mosley's career, handing him his first professional defeat and taking his WBC welterweight title by decision. The two would meet again, with Forrest coming out on top once more.
Vernon Forrest had an outstanding amateur career before turning pro. He went on to win world titles in both the welterweight and super-welterweight divisions. His professional record includes notable victories over Carlos Baldomir, Sergio Mora, and Ike Quartey, in addition to his two wins against Mosley in 2002.
Forrest's career, which spanned 45 fights, came to a tragic end in 2009. He was murdered at the age of 38, just one year after his final bout.
Mosley's recognition of Forrest's punching power, considering the caliber of opponents he faced throughout his 23-year career, speaks volumes about Forrest's abilities in the ring. It's a testament to the impact Forrest made on one of boxing's most accomplished fighters of the era.
