The Curious Case of Boxing Deaths in 2009

It has been reported that former WBC World Welterweight Champion Vernon Forrest (pictured left) was shot and killed in an apparent car jacking this past weekend. Forrest was reportedly shot seven to eight times, in the back, by two men that pulled up to the former champion while he was putting air in the tires of his Jaguar, at an Atlanta gas station. The Augusta, GA native was one of the real "good guys" in the sport. Forrest wasn't one of the most well known boxers, but during his run through the welterweight class he defeated "Sugar" Shane Mosely (considered the best pound-for-pound boxer of this decade) twice in 2002. On Sept. 13, 2008, Forrest reclaimed his WBC 154-pound title by beating Sergio Mora. The Mora fight would be Vernon's final fight. He suffered a rib injury while training for an April fight against Jason LeHoullier. That fight was canceled, and Forrest had to vacate his title. This news comes as a shock after the report of former two-time champion Arturo Gatti (pictured right), who retired in 2007, being found dead July 11 at a Brazilian resort. Gatti's wife, Amanda Rodrigues, is being held as the prime suspect. It's made me wonder what's going on with people connected to professional boxing this year. Even gentlemen who were on the verge of turning pro have been struck down this year. John Nii Kacsu Abbey, 26, was stabbed in the chest as he waited with his daughter Natalie at a bus stop in London Road, West Croydon, on January 30th, of this year. Abbey, who boxed as a featherweight for Ghana at the Manchester Commonwealth Games in 2002, had been on his way to the Mayday hospital. Besides Forrest and Gatti, here is a list of those we've lost who were associated with professional boxing, and ask yourself if this doesn't seem like a curious case of boxing deaths in 2009 (and we still have five months to go).

Alexis Argello, 57, three-time world champion boxer and member of the Boxing Hall of Fame, July 1 (gunshot)

Chuck Bodak, 92, noted cutman and member of the World Boxing Hall of Fame, February 6 (complications of a stroke)

Vince Cervi, 41, Australian heavyweight boxer, March 9 (shot)

Benjamin Flores, 30, super bantamweight boxer, May 5

Ludumo Galada, 26, featherweight boxer, January 10(car accident)

Reg Gutteridge, 84, boxing journalist, television commentator and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, January 24 (stroke)

Ingemar Johansson, 76, former boxing world heavyweight champion, 1952 Summer Olymics boxing silver medalist and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, January 30 (Alzheimer’s disease)

Raul Macias, 74, bantamweight champion boxer, March 23 (cancer)

Greg Page, 50, former heavyweight boxing champion, April 27(complications from brain injury)

Giovanni Parisi, 41, former 1988 olympic gold medalist and lightweight boxing champion, March 25 (car crash)

Giselle Salandy, 21, top contending woman boxer, January 4 (car accident)

Jose "Chegui" Torres, 72, former world light heavyweight boxing champion and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, January 19 (heart attack)

Masatate Tsuji, 30, Japanese boxer, March 24 (brain hemorrhage sustained in boxing match)

Rest In Peace...