Vernon Forrest Beats Sugar Shane Mosley A Second Time – July 20, 2002 (This Day In Boxing History)

On July 20, 2002, Vernon Forrest retained his WBC welterweight title after scoring a repeat 12-round unanimous decision over Sugar Shane Mosley at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The official scores were 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113.

Forrest had taken Mosley’s unbeaten record and captured a second welterweight title six months earlier. Forrest had an amateur win over Mosley at the 1992 Olympic trials, and an overall record of 225-16. However, he was still seen as an underdog due to Mosley’s decision win over Oscar De La Hoya two years earlier.

In spite of this, Mosley won the first fight by wide margins on all three scorecards.

Although the rematch was not as eventful, Forrest did go on to achieve another well earned victory. Mosley fought much more erratically this time around, while Forrest was able to hit some nice jabs.

”When you fight a guy that’s your equal, it’s tough,” Forrest said afterwards. ”I’m frustrating him, he’s frustrating me. I just kept my composure and kept working.”

Mosley would go on to win more world titles at welterweight and junior middleweight. Forrest also claimed two titles at 154 pounds. However, he was tragically killed after being robbed at an Atlanta gas station in 2009.