Former welterweight champion Vernon Forrest murdered in Atlanta

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Vernon Forrest, left, pictured during the seventh round of a WBC super welterweight fight against Sergio Mora in September 2008. Photograph: Jae C. Hong/AP

The former welterweight boxing champion Vernon Forrest has been shot and killed during an apparent robbery in Atlanta, according to reports in the United States. Forrest, 38, may have been robbed and was shot "multiple times in the back", said a spokeswoman for the Atlanta police department. A post mortem is planned for today but currently there are no suspects, police said.

"Vernon was one of the few decent people in boxing," said the boxing promoter Gary Shaw, who led tributes from across the sporting community that focused on Forrest's charity work as well as his achievements in the ring.

Forrest, who lived in Atlanta, was a member of the USA team at the 1992 Olympics and was also a former WBC super welterweight champion. He beat Sugar Shane Mosley in 2002 and then reclaimed his WBC 154-pound title by beating Sergio Mora in 2008.

The win over Mora was Forrest's last fight. He injured a rib while training for an April bout against Jason LeHoullier, which was cancelled as Forrest vacated his title. There were tentative plans for a title fight against Sergio Martinez, perhaps in October, according to Shaw.

"He was one of the most gracious and charitable fighters in boxing and he will be missed by the entire boxing community and all of his friends at HBO," said the president of HBO Sports, Ross Greenburg.

Forrest, who had a 41-3 career record with 29 knockouts, is the third prominent boxer to die this month. Arturo Gatti, who retired in 2007, was found dead on 11 July at a Brazilian resort. Gatti's wife, Amanda Rodrigues, is being held as the prime suspect. Another former champion, Alexis Arguello, was found dead on 1 July 1 at his home in Managua, Nicaragua.

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that's just sad.

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