22 years ago

Date: 20th July 2002

Title: WBC World Welterweight Title

Promoter: Black Expo Inc

Tv: HBO World Championship Boxing

Vernon Forrest
( 34 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 147 lbs

Shane Mosley
( 38 - 1 - 0 )
Weight: 147 lbs

On Saturday, 20th July 2002, the highly anticipated rematch between Vernon Forrest and Shane Mosley took place at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. This bout, promoted by Black Expo Inc. and aired on HBO World Championship Boxing, was the first defense for Forrest of his WBC World Welterweight Title, which he had won from Mosley six months earlier at Madison Square Garden Theater in New York. Both fighters came into the ring with impressive records; Forrest was undefeated at 34-0-0, while Mosley had only a single loss to Forrest leaving him with a record of 38-1-0. The fighters both weighed in at 147 lbs.

The atmosphere was electric as 15,775 attendees filled the venue, making it the largest boxing crowd ever in Indiana. Laurence Cole served as the referee, overseeing the action in the ring. Forrest, hailing from Augusta, Georgia, was also defending his Ring Magazine welterweight world title, adding to the high stakes of the match.

Throughout the fight, Forrest and Mosley put on a thrilling display, showcasing their skills and determination. Both fighters had their moments, with Mosley attempting to avenge his previous loss and reclaim his title, while Forrest sought to prove his earlier victory was no fluke. They battled fiercely, exchanging punches and testing each other's endurance and willpower.

As the fight wore on, it was Forrest who managed to maintain his composure and execute his game plan more effectively. His tactical prowess and boxing intelligence were on full display, ultimately leading to him outperforming Mosley in the later rounds. After twelve hard-fought rounds, the judges' scorecards were collected, and the anticipation in the arena was palpable.

In the end, it was Vernon Forrest who emerged victorious, beating Shane Mosley by unanimous decision. The judges' scores were as follows: Tony Castellano scored the fight 117-111, Gary Merritt had it 116-112, and Jerry Roth saw it the closest at 115-113. The victory cemented Forrest's status as a dominant force in the welterweight division and proved that his initial win over Mosley was well-deserved.

The financial rewards for both fighters were substantial, reflecting the high-profile nature of the rematch. Forrest earned $3.42 million for his successful title defense, while Mosley took home $2.8 million.