Pernell Whitaker, Champion in Four Boxing Classes, Dies at 55 His youngest son, Devon, described his father as a cool guy on Monday. Wow I cant believe this!!! Pernell Whitaker, a former boxing champion and Olympic medalist, has died after he was hit by a car in Virginia Beach. But midway in the 11th round, Whitaker landed a left hook that hurt Hurtado and, in a rare display of aggression and power, unleashed a barrage of left-handed power shots, pummeling Hurtado into the ropes, knocking Hurtado out and almost completely out of the ring before referee Arthur Mercante Jr. stopped the fight at the 1:52 mark, giving Whitaker the come-from-behind TKO win. Getty But in a fight that many observers thought Whitaker had won easily, two judges called it a draw and a third voted for Whitaker, leaving the fight ruled a draw. Im going to surviveIm a survivor..Im going with my daughtershe is taking me in, she said. Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) July 15, 2019, It was an honor to share the ring with him. Floyd paid tribute to Pernell on social media saying, "R I P champ, one of the best fighters to ever do it.". Thats all I can say about him, he told the Virginian Pilot newspaper. pic.twitter.com/Zsgqa66FKF, When Pernell Whitaker was world champion from lightweight to light middleweight, he was something special. "I can't really say how I'm feeling because I'm feeling shocked. In his lifetime career, he had won four-weight world champion with the titles lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, and light middleweight; the undisputed lightweight title; and the lineal lightweight and welterweight titles. Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker Dead At 55 After Hit By Car, Driver Not The International Boxing Hall of Fame announced that it would fly its flags at half-staff in Whitaker's memory. Max Kellerman talks about Pernell Whitaker's legacy in the boxing world after Whitaker's death Sunday night. Whereas the boxer was sentenced dead at the spot. He was 55. Sweet Pea has two siblings: a brother, Raymond, Jr., and a sister, Monique. On my NY public access TV show Max on Boxing (1989-1998), I talked Pernell Whitaker more than any other fighter; it was basically the Pernell Whitaker show. He added: I mentally and physically beat him. He was small in statue but yet so big in heart and skills inside the ring, there will never be another like him, he will truly be missed pic.twitter.com/IqmXkqpqkG, May you Rest In Peace.. Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker! The late boxer had an average height of 5 feet 6 inches or 1.68 meters and weighs around 70 kg. He was the pound for pound best for half a decade, and one of the 3 greatest pure boxers who ever lived. Death. Its significantly diminished over the years and hes not able to maintain this $400,000 house for his mother and siblings to live in.. 10:49 AM PT -- The driver in the crash was NOT arrested -- and law enforcement officials tell us they do NOT believe drugs, alcohol or speed was a factor. He broke his clavicle in round four and was forced to retire; at the time of the stoppage Whitaker was trailing in all the judges' scorecards by 28-29. Mauricio Sulaiman. Since the glory days, Whitaker has been training young boxers, but work is slowly drying up, according to Gould. Whitaker originally won the fight, but the win was nullified & changed to a No Decision after he failed a post-fight drug test. "He had a lot of problems outside the ring, and those problems probably cut his career short," Duva said. Pernell Whitaker, widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive boxers of all time, has died after being hit by a car. Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker's Death Accidental; Suffered Blunt Force Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker was in the class of Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard as one of the most entertaining fighters in my lifetime. Condolences to his family. (1:45). [22][23] Whitaker was suspended for six months, but the commission lifted the suspension after he agreed to random testing and his title bout with Quartey was to proceed as scheduled, however, the bout was cancelled after Whitaker tested positive for a second time. Pernell Whitaker was an American professional boxer who had his fights from 1984 to 2001. His youngest son, Devon, described his father as a . Hes limited to what he can make training other boxers, Gould said. Whitaker also trained former IBF world champion Paul Spadafora between 2009 and 2010 for 3 fights in which Spadafora won all three. "Everyone at the Hall of Fame joins the boxing community in mourning his passing and offers our condolences to his family.". R.I.P. He was the undisputed lightweight world champion and won titles at junior welterweight, welterweight and junior middleweight as one of the dominant forces in boxing for much of the 1980s and 1990s. Whitaker also became the head trainer of former undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah,[26] who defeated Kaizer Mabuza in March 2011 to win the vacant IBF light welterweight title. This photo was taken 7/13/19. How good will the promotion be? Whitaker is survived by three of his four children with Anthony -- Pernell Jr. died a few years ago -- and a daughter from a previous relationship. Pernell Whitaker - This is Boxing - YouTube super lightweight title in 1992 and Buddy McGirt for the World Boxing Council welterweight belt in early 1993. Whitaker was a four-division world champion who emerged as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world during his prime, which stretched from the late 1980s through the mid-1990s. Local boxing legend Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker dies in Virginia Beach accident by: WAVY Web Staff, Andy Fox Posted: Jul 14, 2019 / 11:13 PM EDT Updated: Jul 15, 2019 / 11:28 PM EDT VIRGINIA. Last night it was like someone put a knife in me and twisted it, Whitaker told Sports Illustrated the next day, irate at the decision. While one judge did score the fight in favor of Whitaker (115-113), the other 2 judges saw an even bout (115-115), resulting in a majority draw. Boxing legend Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker dies in Virginia Beach accident WAVY TV 10 66K views 3 years ago EXCLUSIVE Pernell Whitaker: I'M The GREATEST Defensive Fighter EVER!! On behalf of everyone at Golden Boy, we send our prayers and condolences to his family and friends. Pernell Whitaker is legally having his mother evicted from a home she's been living in since 1984. By subscribing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. Hurtado gave Whitaker all he could handle and then some. Further, he holds the longest unified lightweight championship reign in boxing history to date with six title defenses. Im praying for his family. He lost to two-time Olympic Gold medalist ngel Herrera Vera at the final of the World Championships 1982 but beat him four other times, notably in the final of the Pan American Games 1983 in Caracas. Pernell Whitaker - Can't Be Touched https://t.co/VlhdiThsAt via @YouTube, The thing about Sweet Pea was that he was the antithesis of Mike Tyson in the boxing ring. He was 55-years-old. The former four-division world champion had made a good earning out of his career in his lifetime. Moreover, in 2002, he was convicted of possessing cocaine after the judge found him violating the terms of his previous sentence in the month of March. Examined. He was a flawless fighter. Boxing legend Pernell Whitaker was killed Sunday night after he was hit by a car in Virginia Beach, TMZ Sports has learned. Novella Whitaker said she was heartbroken by the decision. Ring Magazine named him the Fight of the Year in 1989. Pernell Whitaker, an Olympic gold medallist and four division champion who was regarded as one of the greatest defensive fighters ever, has died after being hit by a car in Virginia. Whitaker outpunched De La Hoya and scored the only knockdown, but the judges awarded De La Hoya a unanimous decision. But unfortunately, he had a car accident in which he lost his life on the spot in Virginia Street on 14 July 2019. February 27, 2014. Following the fight, he announced his retirement and recorded his professional career with 40-4-1 with 17 knockouts. Pernell also had a daughter, Tiara, from a prior relationship. welterweight champion, was scuttled when Whitaker again tested positive for cocaine. Pernell Whitaker - Wikipedia He passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2019. [2] He had six siblings, two brothers, Raymond Whitaker, Jr, Raynell Whitaker; and four sisters; Zelda Brown, Sylvonia Whitaker, Lucinda Manley, and Monique Williams. There's no doubt.". I always wanted a church wedding, Anthony said, but since we cant seem to keep Pete out of the boxing ring, I guess this is the best place.. 11:09. Loved him. I could watch hours and hours of him. Legendary boxer, Pernell Whitaker passed away Sunday after being hit by a car. Four-weight champion struck by car on Sunday night, Considered by many to be greatest defensive boxer of all time. across the cover and they believed that Whitaker had won no less than 9 of the 12 rounds in the fight. Pernell married Rovanda Anthony on December 21, 1985 in the boxing ring at the Virginia Beach Pavilion Convention Center. Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker killed after he's hit by a vehicle in RIP Sweet Pea. His first fighter, Dorin Spivey fought matches in 2006. . [28] The couple later divorced. [29], Pernell had personal struggles and in June 2002 was convicted of cocaine possession after a judge found he violated the terms of a previous sentence by overdosing on cocaine in March. Before his professional career, Whitaker won a gold medal in the lightweight division at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. To me, he was one of the top five greatest boxers ever! [16][17] The win set up a showdown with undefeated 1992 Olympic gold medalist Oscar De La Hoya. Hes limited to what he can make training other boxers, Gould said. All rights reserved. One of the greatest boxers of my lifetime and my good friend Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker passed away last night. His mother, Novella told ABC News she was heartbroken by the decision but mentioned she will be fine because she is a fighter. "[31], At about 10 p.m. on July 14, 2019, Whitaker was crossing the street in Virginia Beach, at the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and Baker Road, when he was struck and killed by the driver of a vehicle. Whitakers career was recognized by other great boxers and athletes on social media, including Oscar De La Hoya and Magic Johnson. Loved him. "I loved Pernell Whitaker, and he loved me -- there was no doubt," Duva, whose late husband, Dan, signed Whitaker out of the amateurs along with several 1984 U.S. Olympians, told ESPN. But he was a cool guy.". The driver was not cited -- though we're told that person is cooperating with authorities. Heres what you need to know about Whitakers family: Getty Pernell Whitaker throws a punch at Wilfredo Rivera in a 1996 match. "Sweet Pea" was one of the most brilliant boxers in the past decades and he was always a great friend of the WBC.We are deeply saddened with this new; May the legend rest in eternal peace. Moreover, from the age of nine, he started his training in an amateur boxing career. The autopsy on Pernell Whitaker has been completed -- with officials saying the boxer died from "multiple blunt force injuries" in a car accident that has been labelled an "accident." TMZ. Apparently, back taxes were owed on the house and Pernell said that neither his mother nor his siblings, who also stayed in the house, were doing anything to help keep the house afloat financially. In the following rounds, both boxers used their jabs most of the time, with Trinidad gaining an advantage when Whitaker attempted to attack inside, eventually scoring a knockdown in round two. In 1992, he began his ascent in weight, winning the IBF light welterweight title from Colombian puncher Rafael Pineda on July 18. He was a successful trainer after his retirement although he became involved in an ugly dispute with his mother over money in recent years. Boxing Hall of Famer Pernell Whitaker dies in auto accident - Yahoo Sports R I P champ, one of the best fighters to ever do it. Source: Business Insider. Cops are investigating. Max Kellerman (@maxkellerman) July 15, 2019 July 15, 2019 Pernell Whitaker, a left-handed defensive master in the boxing ring who won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics and became a champion in four weight classes as a. Im going to get married in there, Whitaker said. My prayers are with his family and loved ones. Also, he made national headlines in 2014 when he evicted his mother out of the house he bought in 1984 for her after winning a gold medal. Whitaker, who won gold medals at the 1983 Pan American Games and the 1984 Olympics, turned pro in 1984 and went on to cement himself as an American boxing legend. He was born on 2 January 1964, in Norfolk, Virginia. "I'm deeply saddened by the loss of this great champion, who gave a tremendous amount of joy to those who watched him," De La Hoya, now chairman of Golden Boy promotions, said in a statement. He passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2019.[27]. This was a highly controversial decision (considered one of the worst ever by many analysts), as most boxing observers felt that Whitaker easily won.[6][7][8]. In 1984, he won his amateur career with an Olympic gold medal. They offered contrasting styles: Whitaker was mobile and slippery, Chavez an aggressive attacker. Women's boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Did Baumgardner do enough to overtake Serrano? After the fights, we dropped the ropes, and they got married in the ring. Rest in Peace my friend. Divisional rankings: Where do Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia land after their megafight? Virginia Beach - Pernell Whitaker Jr was born on October 5, 1984 and passed on Tuesday September 1, 2015. Hes not happy that it was necessary to go to court, his lawyer Bruce Gould told ABC News.