By Steve Ninvalle
in New Jersey
Stabroek News
May 10, 2001

The battle of words was waged yesterday between the two boxers who will meet this Saturday to decide the new International Boxing Federation (IBF) welterweight title holder.

One has promised provide a southern whipping while the other proved much more musically inclined by pledging to put his opponent on the `Midnight train to Georgia'.

If it was as easy as talking then Vernon Forrest would need six rounds or less to take care of Raul Frank when the two meet at Madison Square Garden.

Obviously in a confident mood at yesterday's press conference at the Madison Square Garden Arena yesterday Forrest, rated number two by the International Boxing Federation promised to send Frank back to Brooklyn with only a southern whipping to show for his efforts.

"This fight will is not going to make the distance. It (the knockout) will definitely be in the first half of the fight," Forrest assured during his turn at the microphone. The undefeated American claimed that Frank had tried all in his power to keep from fighting him but has finally run into a dead end.

"Raul and myself were scheduled to fight about three times. Every time it was something different. His legs hurt, his knuckles hurt, he broke a toe nail. Finally I had to come in his backyard to whip his ass".

Frank and Forest will meet in the main supporting bout on the William Joppy versus Felix Trinidad card at Madison Square Garden. "I was confident the first time it's just that the fight didn't go long enough. This time around we are going to take care of business. I want this title more than anything in the world," Forrest stressed.

Two years younger than the Guyanese Frank, Forrest claimed to have gained a lot from the first encounter last August 26. "I know that I must keep my hands high and my head back." A clash of heads prematurely halted their first encounter after three rounds. Frank received a gash over his right eye that resulted in a no contest.

I'll be cautious about a head butt this time. I know that is was my time to win a world title and to have something so freaky as that happen and put my career back fifteen months. It will be a concern of mine but it wouldn't distract me from doing what I have to do. The only thing Raul is taking back to Brooklyn is a Southern ass whipping."

In response Frank declared. "Vernon, we are going to send you back on the `Midnight train to Georgia'." He later told Stabroek Sport that although some persons are upset that he has chose Panama Lewis as his trainer, he has no regrets.

I'm better prepared now than before. I have my brother (Steve) and one of the greatest trainers in the sport (Panama Lewis) have prepared me well for this fight. I have no regrets about the decision to bring in Lewis. He is the best trainer and I'm one hundred prepared for Saturday."Frank has not lost a

bout since controversial back-to-back defeats to Michael Benjamin in June and December of 1992 in Guyana. Since then he has had 12 fights with seven knockouts. The Frank/Forrestbout will be the 41st world title bout to be held at the MSG,

the first being Joe Frazier versus Buster Mathis on the fourth day in March, 1968.