Today in Boxing History: Ricardo Mayorga stops Vernon Forrest

On this day in 2003, Ricardo Mayorga retained his WBA welterweight belt and won the WBC portion of that title with a third-round stoppage of Vernon Forrest in Temecula, California.

Forrest was 35-0 going into the bout and coming off of back-to-back decision victories over Sugar Shane Mosley. He was a 6-1 favorite against the wide-open Mayorga, who had won the WBA title with a fifth-round knockout of Andrew Lewis in March of 2002.

In the first round, Mayorga, throwing nothing but bombs, sent an off-balanced Forrest to the canvas. An action-packed second round followed. Forrest then came out for round three dictating the fight’s pace with his jab. Midway through the round, Mayorga nailed Forrest with a right hand that sent him into the ropes. He then put Forrest on the floor with a left hook to the chin. Forrest beat the ten-count, but referee Marty Denkin determined that he was in no condition to continue and stopped the bout.

Mayorga, always colorful, celebrated his victory by smoking a cigarette.

The two met for a rematch in July of 2003, with Mayorga winning a controversial majority decision. In his next bout, he faced IBF welterweight champion Cory Spinks and lost a close majority decision.

Following his rematch loss to Mayorga, Forrest took three years off from boxing. Since his return to the ring in 2006, he has won three straight bouts.