“I am deeply, deeply saddened by this senseless horrible tragedy and my heart goes out to his mother and family.
“Vernon was a great fighter but much more importantly, he was a very special person outside the ring. His charitable efforts are all well-known and documented but that was only the tip of the iceberg.
“Vernon was a genuinely kind-hearted, caring and supremely principled and loyal human being. I came to know him and love him as a great friend far beyond the realm of boxing.
“He was the first fighter I became involved with as an advisor and he and I had a special bond from the very beginning. Vernon was a great human being and the world was a better place with him in it.
“I will always treasure the time we spent together and I will always love him and miss him. May God bless and keep him.”
– Al Haymon