the13th POLL


Who Wins Tyson Fury VS Oleksandr Usyk?





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2007-12-03
Viper Victorious
Saturday night at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut Vernon "The Viper" Forrest (39-2-1, 2 successfully defended his WBC Super Welterweight crown by stopping WBC #2 contender Michele Piccirillo (48-3-1, 29) via 11th round TKO. The fight was Forrest?s first title defense since lifting the crown from previous champ Carlos Baldomir.



The fight started slowly as both fighters attempted to establish their jabs, Piccirillo throwing double and triple jabs, with Forrest shooting the left to set up his vaunted right hand. As the fight entered the second round, Forrest showcased aggressiveness and precision, throwing combinations, picking his spots and landing to both the body and head of Piccirillo. Moving forward, Forrest stalked the back peddling Piccirillo, landed a left-right combination, then rolled out of the way, slipping the challengers counter punches.



Although Forrest's clinical dissection continued, the gritty Piccirillo fought hard, scoring well with double jabs and the occasional straight right hand. In the waning seconds of round five, both fighters worked inside, banged the body, and exchanged several borderline low blows. The Viper struck quickly in the sixth round, landing a left hook, which sent Piccirillo into the ropes. Forrest followed up, scoring with hard shots to the body and head. Piccirillo boxed off the ropes, and Forrest began to walk down his opponent. Late in the round, after landing several right hands, Forrest uncorked an overhand right which landed on the back of Piccirillo's head, sending the Italian challenger to the canvas. Referee Arthur Mercante, Jr. ruled the punch was legal and the knockdown as legit.



Picicirillo fought hard the next two rounds, but had a difficult time landing on Forrest as the champion exhibited slick defense, slipping, moving and blocking. Piccirillo stepped up the aggression in round eight, sticking his quick left jab into Forrest's face. With :33 seconds remaining in the round, Forrest landed a left hook south of the border which dropped Piccirillo to one knee. Mercante, Jr. intervened, called time out, granted Piccirillo a five-minute recovery period and warned Forrest of the infraction. As the bell sounded to end the eighth, both fighters continued to throw punches and had to be separated by Mercante, Jr.



To open the ninth, Forrest looking fresh, moved quickly to cut off the ring, and landing several quick stiff jabs. Midway through the round Forrest connected with a solid left hook punctuated with a short right uppercut that seemed to stun the challenger. With 1:10 remaining in the round, Forrest, behind the left jab, landed a powerful right hand that dropped Piccirillo to the canvas. Piccirillo beat Mercante's count but the punishment absorbed during the nine rounds was taking its toll.



Piccirillo survived the tenth, as both fighters appeared tired. But in the eleventh, Forrest and Piccirillo started the round with flurries: Piccirillo landing two and Forrest, with the heavier punches, answering back with four solid connects. Forrest, bidding his time, looked to land something big: Feinting with a right hand, Forrest came right back landing flush with a 1-2 left right combination. Forrest immediately fired a left hook/right hand combination that sent the reeling Piccirillo into the ropes. Forrest then uncorked a thundering right hand square on Piccirillo's chin sending the challenger to the mat. During his fall, Piccirillo's right knee was bent at an awkward angle, which caused his right ankle to buckle. Merante, Jr. stopped the fight at 2:21.















At the time of stoppage, all three judges had the fight scored identically for Forrest 98-90. TTR mirrored those scores. Forrest displayed a quick, powerful jab, a heavy right hand, and precision punching; but more importantly exhibited great footwork and slick defense. At the age of 37, there may not be many miles left in the career of Vernon Forrest, however if the boxing display Saturday night by the WBC Super Welterweight champion is any indication, he will be more than a challenge for all opponents. Hopefully his next fight will be one of redemption against nemesis Ricardo Mayorga.
 
Article By: Jeff Cox