Atlanta police say former professional boxer Vernon “The Viper” Forrest was killed Saturday night in an attempted carjacking.

The shooting occurred at a gas station near the corner of McDaniel and Fulton Streets in Southwest Atlanta, police said.

WSB reports that Forrest, 38, stopped to put air in the tire of his Jaguar when he was approached by two men.

“It appears that the victim may have been robbed, which lead to an altercation,” Atlanta Police Department Spokeswoman Sgt. Lisa Keyes said in a press release.

Keyes said Forrest was shot multiple times in the back.

Police have no suspects at this time, she said.

Last fall, Forrest emphatically reclaimed his WBC 154-pound title, battering Sergio Mora in a lopsided unanimous decision that re-established the 37-year-old veteran as an elite junior middleweight.

Forrest (41-3) had lost his title to Mora in an ugly majority-decision upset June 7, 2008, but the Atlanta native had little trouble sending Mora to the first loss of his career in the mandated rematch. With one knockdown and consistently superior speed, Forrest punished Mora (21-1) in almost every round, winning each scorecard by at least seven points.

http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/pro-boxer-vernon-forrest-100822.html

:rip:

Man, this has been a sad few weeks for pro boxing, MMA, and pro wrestling. First in pro wrestling with the tragic in ring death of legendary Japanese wrestler Mitsuharu Misawa, and then the tragic murder of the boxer with the most heart I've ever seen, Arturro Gatti, then you had the death of MMA star Kimo Leopoldo, and now we got this senseless murder of from all that I've read, not only a great boxer, but a great human being in Vernon Forrest. Being a fan of all three sports, these deaths have really hit me hard. The four of these men will never be forgotten by wrestling, boxing, and MMA fans alike. May all four of them rest eternally in peace!!! :(

Btw, I just learned that the reports of MMA fighter Kimo Leopoldo's death was a hoax, and that he is alive and well. He held a press conference on July 20th regarding his supposed demise, and even stated that he looked to fight in one last match. Anyway, I'm just glad we can take Kimo of this sad list of recent deaths. I just wish the others had been hoaxes as well!!