PRESS RELEASE: On Saturday, July 28, HBO Boxing After Dark (10:15 P.M. ET/PT) will broadcast the Vernon Forrest-Carlos Baldomir world title fight, live from Tacoma, Washington. It's promoted by Gary Shaw Productions, in association with Brian Halquist Promotions and Sycuan Ringside Promotions.

 

Besides being a "pick 'em" fight, these two former world champions offer great personal stories of perseverance and drive that not only made them world champions but also helped return them to this world title fight.

 

It's an all-or-nothing fight, where the winner returns to boxing's big picture as a world champion and the loser is sure to be out of the big show.

 

Carlos Baldomir.    

 

Known as boxing's "Cinderella Man" for his 2006 "Upset of the Year" victory over undisputed welterweight champion  Zab Judah.  Carlos successfully defended his world title, knocking out Arturo Gatti last summer, before losing it via a 12-round decision to Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in December.  A true rags-to-riches story that you can only find in boxing, Baldomir spent the majority of his boxing career selling feather dusters on the streets of his native Santa Fe, Argentina to supplement his often-meager purses just to make ends meet for his family.  Inspired by his hero and fellow Santa Fe compatriot, the late Hall of Fame middleweight champion Carlos Monzon, Baldomir, under Monzon's former trainer Amilcar Brusa, 85, blossomed into a world champion as well as a profile in courage.  Baldomir is training in San Diego. 

 

 

Vernon Forrest

 

Has it really been 15 years since Vernon Forrest represented the U.S. as an Olympian? After knocking out Charles Hawkins in the first round in his pro debut on November 25, 2002, Forrest won his next 35 bouts, which included consecutive world welterweight titles against Raul Frank and Shane Mosley, then considered boxing's No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter. He has a career winning percentage of 95% -- losing only to Ricardo Mayorga.  Thoroughly healed from various physical ailments, Forrest, enjoying a three-fight winning streak, is rested and ready to go and on the verge of becoming boxing's "Comeback of the Year".  The first fighter to win back-to-back awards from the Boxing Writers Association of America (Fighter of the Year in 2002 / Marvin Kohn Good Guy Award in 2003), Forrest is one of those rare athletes that WANTS to be a role model.  Forrest is the co-founder of Destiny's Child, an Atlanta-based company that provides group home housing placement and assistance for the mentally challenged.  Forrest is training in Florida with Buddy McGirt.