Boxing: Boxing: Mayorga promises shorter fight in rematch with Forrest

Associated Press - May 20, 2003


LAS VEGAS (AP) - Ricardo Mayorga needed only three rounds to knock out Vernon Forrest the last time they met. He expects the rematch to be even shorter.

``He is going down. I am hungrier for this fight than I have ever been,'' Mayorga said Tuesday. ``I invite everybody to come out and watch two great rounds of boxing.''

Mayorga will defend his WBA and WBC 147-pound (66.678-kilogram) titles July 12 against Forrest, who was unbeaten and coming off of two big wins over Shane Mosley when Mayorga stopped him in the third round Jan. 25.

The free-spirited Mayorga was a 6-1 underdog but turned the fight into a brawl in the third round and landed a big right hand that ended the fight.

To celebrate, the Nicaraguan fighter smoked a cigarette in the ring and then went to have a few beers.

``I am a super champion and I am super crazy,'' Mayorga said.

Mayorga (24-1-3, 22 knockouts) made the comments at a press conference to announce the fight at the Orleans hotel-casino. Forrest (35-1) was a no-show, as was promoter Don King, who went with Mayorga to Nicaragua to celebrate after he beat Forrest.

He had a smoke and a beer afterwards, I like this guy

yeah that was pretty funny. Larry Merchant was interviewing him after the fight and he was smoking a cigarette in the ring.

[Edited on 22-5-2003 by Ocelot]