HBO Boxing: Carlos Baldomir Hits Pacific Northwest For Vernon Forrest Fight

After spending more than three months in Southern California, former World Boxing Council welterweight champion Carlos Baldomir has arrived in the Pacific Northwest.

Baldomir is fighting for the vacant WBC super welterweight championship Saturday, July 28, when he faces veteran Vernon Forrest at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Wash.

“I’m excited and thankful to be fighting for a world title,” said Baldomir, who has been training at the new Sycuan Ringside Promotions Gym in San Diego. “This gives me the opportunity to win another “Green Belt.’ I’m ready for the challenge of being a World Boxing Council champion again.”

Baldomir weighed 159.6 pounds Friday for his WBC-mandated weigh-in seven days prior to his eagerly anticipated showdown with Forrest.

The weigh-in took place at the Sycuan Ringside Promotions Gym in San Diego, a state-of-the-art boxing facility where Baldomir has been conducting training camp. WBC vice president Mauricio Sulaiman presided over the weigh-in.

“I feel better than I did one week before I fought Mayweather Jr.,” Baldomir said. “I’m strong; I had no problems making this weight.”

Baldomir and Forrest originally were set to fight for the WBC super welterweight interim championship bout, but now are competing for the vacant 154-pound title after Floyd Mayweather Jr. elected to relinquish that belt and retain, instead, his WBC welterweight title.

Baldomir, who had impressive victories against welterweight powerhouses Arturo Gatti and Zab Judah last year en route to winning and retaining the WBC 147-pound crown, is coming in well rested and hungry for his battle against Forrest.

“I’ve had plenty of time to get ready,” said Baldomir, who has a record of 43-10-6 with 13 knockouts. “I didn’t have a lot of time between the Gatti and Mayweather fights. I don’t know how much difference that would have made, if any, against a great boxer like Mayweather, but it’s good that I am not hurrying into this fight against Forrest.”

Baldomir suffered his first loss in eight years when Mayweather snapped his 21-fight winning streak in Las Vegas during November and claimed the WBC welterweight belt. Since then, Baldomir has waited patiently for the right fight to arrive.

“It has been tough waiting this long to fight because I’m a fierce competitor,” said Baldomir, who is known for his aggressive and relentless style. “I hadn’t lost in such a long time that I wanted to get back in the ring the next day, but I knew I was going to have to wait.”

The bout will be televised on HBO Boxing After Dark, beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast.)

Remaining tickets, priced from $50 to $250, are on sale at the Emerald Queen Casino Box Office and at all TicketMaster outlets.

To order online go to http://www.ticketmaster.com