Tacoma, WA - Vernon “The Viper” Forrest, fighting for the first time in almost a year, won a unanimous 12-round decision over Carlos Manuel Baldomir at the Emerald Queen Casino Saturday night to take the vacant WBC light middleweight title.
Graffiti Wall reports Boxing Results: The 36-year-old Forrest (39-2), from Atlanta, Ga., was fighting for only the fourth time in four years, and entered the ring for the first time since a 10- round decision over Ike Quartey in August of 2006. He showed no signs of rust, though, dominating thoroughly from the beginning, and won by an impressive margin on the scorecard of 118-109, 118-109, 116-111.
Baldomir (43-11-6) usually a welterweight fighter, had never fought at light middleweight before Saturday. The Argentinian put up a good fight, but couldn’t match Forrest shot for shot as the fight wore on.
Forrest landed two strong right hooks to the head midway through the fourth round, but Baldomir brushed them off and kept coming. The round ended with two violent shots by Forrest, though, both left hooks to the head. The second blow pushed Baldomir into the ropes.
Baldomir, also 36, coming off a 12-round loss by decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in November of last year, landed a combination of jabs to Forrest’s head as the bell sounded ending the seventh round, but Forrest still held a noticeable advantage.
The Argentinian hurt Forrest with two uppercuts midway through the ninth round, and Forrest responded with a hard shot to Baldomir’s right leg, a low blow that caused referee Jay Nady to stop the fight and deduct a point from Forrest.
“The Viper” came back and won going away, though, landing strong combinations into the 12th round, even after he clearly had the decision locked up.
