GL: How are you feeling just a few weeks removed from your July 28 bout with Carlos Baldomir? "I'm feeling really good. Training camp has gone real well and I'm looking forward to putting on a spectacular show on July 28."

GL: How do you feel about your inactivity? Are you concerend about ring rust at all?

Vernon Forrest: "I'm looking forward to getting back to business as usual. This isn't my first rodeo and I've got a few fights under my belt. I know what it takes to prepare and I'm getting some great work and solid sparring done here in Florida. Everything is looking proper and it's going to be a great show on July 28."

GL: Can you tell us what the Buddy McGirt experience has been like?

VF: "Working with Buddy has been great. He's a guy that got me back to doing some of the things I used to do, which is throw combinations and use my movement. I'm going back to the basics. For me, I think what seperates good fighters from the great fighters, is the great ones take their games, analyze it and make it better and I've been doing nothing but working on ways to improve my game."

GL: How do you feel about this fight taking place in Tacoma, Washington after the intial discussions of Atlanta, Georgia? Were you disappointed?

VF: "I would have loved to fight in my hometown and hopefully we bring it back to the A-T-L for the next one. Obviously I would have love to fight at home, but sometimes you don't always get what you want. I'm going to make the most of this though, show everyone in Washington what I'm working with and then work on coming to the south for my next one. Right now I want to get that WBC belt. I know that Mayweather will probably give the title up. One thing that I respect about him for a young cat is that he wants to fight the best from his era and the era before that. I'm from that era before that and if he wants to fight, I'd love that fight. But if he vacates that title I'm going to get the green belt one way or the other. But I would love to match skills and wits with him before he decides to hang them up."

GL: What do you think about Carlos Baldomir as a fighter?

VF: "He's a solid fighter. Like I said before, he's one of those guys who if you don't respect him, he upsets you. He was supposed to be a pit stop for Zab and he upset him and he did the same thing to Arturo Gatti. You have to respect the guy and he's maximized his skills and he's got a tremendous will to win. He's very effecient and he's very determined. When you got someone like that you have to bring your A game, because if you don't he might upset you."

GL: Are you 100% in your arm to the point where we can expect to see you letting those things go in combinations like Vernon Forrest circa 2002?

VF: "You're going to see a vintage Vernon Forrest performance. I haven't fought desperate in a long time and I haven't been letting my hands go the way I've wanted to and the way I will on July 28. People are going to see some great ring generalship and punches in bunches from me against Baldomir. I'm really looking forward to this fight. This is going to be one of my signature fights.

GL: Is there anything you'd like to say in closing?

VF: "I want everyone to look out for Fight Night Promotions my new promotional company. We're going to do some big things. Unfortunately we're going to Tacoma, Washington for this one, but my fans in the ATL and down south can look forward to seeing me in action soon. My company is new but we're going to be doing some real big things in the near future so look out for that."

M

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