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Hall Of Fame Nominee: Pernell Whitaker


Hall Of Fame Nominee: Pernell Whitaker  

  1. 1. Hall Of Fame Nominee: Pernell Whitaker

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Pernell Whitaker

 

http://www.boxingrepublic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/Pernell-Whitaker.jpg

 

Pernell Whitaker (born January 2, 1964), nicknamed "Sweet Pea", is a retired American professional boxer. A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Whitaker was the lightweight silver medalist at the 1982 World Championships, followed by the gold medal at the 1983 Pan American Games and the 1984 Olympics, and then embarked on a pro career in which he became world champion in four different weight divisions. During his career he fought world champions such as Julio César Chávez, Oscar De La Hoya and Félix Trinidad. For his achievements, he was named the 1989 Fighter of the year by Ring Magazine.

 

Whitaker is also the former WBA World Light Middleweight champion, WBC World Welterweight champion, the IBF World Light Welterweight Champion, the WBC World Lightweight Champion, the WBA World Lightweight Champion, the IBF World Lightweight Champion and the NABF Lightweight Champion.

 

After his retirement, Whitaker returned into the world of boxing as a trainer. Among his boxers there are Zab Judah, Dorin Spivey, Joel Julio and Calvin Brock. In 2002, Ring Magazine ranked him at number 10 in their list of 'The 100 greatest fighters of the last 80 years.' On December 7, 2006, Whitaker was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, in his first year of eligibility.

 

Fighting style

 

Whitaker was known for his outstanding defensive skills and for being a strong counterpuncher. He was not an over-powering hitter on offense but applied a steady attack while, at the same time, being extremely slippery and difficult to hit with a solid blow.

 

Amateur career

 

Whitaker had an extensive amateur boxing career, having started at the age of nine. He had 214 amateur fights, winning 201, 91 of them by knockouts, though he says that he has had up to 500 amateur fights. He lost to two-time Olympic Gold medalist Ángel Herrera Vera at the final of the World Championships 1982 but beat him four times, notably in the final of the Pan American Games 1983 in Caracas. He crowned his amateur career with Olympic Gold 1984.

 

Professional career

 

Lightweight

 

In just his eleventh and twelfth pro bouts, Whitaker beat Alfredo Layne on December 20, 1986, and another former WBA Super Featherweight world champion Roger Mayweather on March 28, 1987. Whitaker won both bouts before hometown crowds at the Norfolk Scope, less than a mile from where he lived as a child in a Norfolk housing project. Whitaker would fight nine times in the Scope arena during his career.

 

On March 12, 1988, he challenged José Luis Ramírez for the WBC Lightweight Championship in Levallois, France. He suffered his first pro defeat when the judges awarded a split decision to Ramirez.

 

Undisputed champion

 

Whitaker trudged on, winning a decision over Greg Haugen for the IBF lightweight title on February 18, 1989, becoming the first boxer to knock Haugen down, dropping him in the sixth round. He then added the vacant WBC belt by avenging his loss to Ramirez on August 20.

 

Now a champion, Whitaker proceeded to dominate boxing's middle divisions over the first half of the 1990s. In 1990, he defended his lightweight title against future champion Freddie Pendleton and super featherweight champion Azumah Nelson of Ghana. On August 11, 1990, he knocked out Juan Nazario in one round to add the WBA title and become the first undisputed lightweight champion since Roberto Durán. His highlight of 1991 was beating Jorge Páez.

 

Light Welterweight

 

In 1992, he began his ascent in weight, winning the IBF junior welterweight title from Colombian puncher Rafael Pineda on July 18.

 

On March 6, 1993, he decisioned James (Buddy) McGirt to become the linear and WBC welterweight champion.

 

http://www.andyamato.com/images/Whitaker.jpg

 

Welterweight

Julio Cesar Chavez

 

Whitaker was gaining momentum, boxing experts and fans felt that he needed to win against the pound for pound best boxer in the world: Julio César Chávez. The two met in a welterweight superfight on September 10, 1993 in San Antonio, Texas. In the eyes of many of the spectators, Whitaker outboxed the Mexican legend. However, 2 of the 3 judges saw an even bout, with the other scoring in favor of Whitaker. As in his first fight with José Luis Ramírez, Whitaker was not awarded a decision victory, this time having to settle for a draw. Sports Illustrated featured a cover titled "ROBBED!" after the conclusion of this fight and believed that Whitaker had won 9 of the 12 rounds in the fight.Chávez stated after the fight: "I felt I was forcing the fight ... he just kept holding me too much, he was throwing too many low blows too." There was no rematch.

 

Whitaker continued on to dominate for the next few years, defending his welterweight belt in a rematch against McGirt on October 1, 1994.

 

For good measure, in his next fight on March 4, 1995, Whitaker added Julio César Vásquez's WBA junior middleweight title to his collection but remained at welterweight to successfully defend his WBC belt against Scotland's Gary Jacobs on August 26, 1995.

 

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/fotos/whitaker_dela%20hoya555757.jpg

 

Oscar De La Hoya

 

He met a bigger, younger Oscar De La Hoya on April 12, 1997, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Whitaker succeeded in making De La Hoya look bad through his crafty defense, but he was unable to mount a sufficient offense to convince the judges, and despite receiving an official knockdown, De La Hoya won by a disputed unanimous decision. At the end of the fight, the judges' scores were 111-115, 110-116, 110-116. Aft.[4][5]

[edit] Felix Trinidad and farewell fight

 

On February 20, 1999, Whitaker suffered his first sound defeat against the much bigger, much fresher Félix Trinidad, gamely taking the Puerto Rican the distance.[6] The bout was for the latter's IBF welterweight title. The fight began with both boxers displaying aggressive styles, which included excessive pushing. 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.[6] In the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds the fighters exchanged combinations.[6] Later in the fight both boxers fell to the floor in what were ruled as "accidental slips."[6] On the seventh round Whitaker displayed more offense, trading power punches with Trinidad, but the champion retained control in the fight's tempo during the eight, ninth, and tenth rounds.[6] In the last round Whitaker, with a badly swollen right eye, displayed a purely defensive stance, avoiding his opponent throughout the round while Trinidad continued on the offensive until the fight concluded. The judges gave the champion scores of 117–111, 118–109 and 118–109.[6]

 

His last fight came on April 27, 2001, against journeyman Carlos Bojorquez. The former undisputed lightweight champion jumped into the ring at 155 pounds. Whitaker 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. Following this fight, Whitaker officially announced his retirement. He finished his professional career with an official record of 40-4-1 (17 knockouts).

 

In 2002, The Ring ranked Whitaker as the 10th greatest fighter of the last 80 years.

 

On December 7, 2006, Whitaker was inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame along with contemporaries Roberto Durán and Ricardo López. They were all elected in their first year of eligibility.

 

Nickname

 

As a youngster, Whitaker was known to friends and family as "Pete", and when he began to emerge as a top amateur, fans in his hometown of Norfolk used to serenade him with chants of "Sweet Pete." This was misinterpreted by a local sportswriter as "Sweet Pea", and when this erroneous report came out in the local newspaper, the new nickname stuck.

 

Source: wikipedia

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Nominated by grapevine241

 

Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker

 

"Regarded by many as one of the greatest defensive fighters of all time, along with Willie Pep and Wilfred Benítez.

 

As an amateur, Whitaker had a record of 201-14 with 91 KOs and captured gold at the 1984 Olympics.

 

As a professional his record stands at 40-4-1 with 17 KOs. Whitaker went 40-1-1 (the SD loss to Ramirez and the draw to Chavez are widely considered among some of the worst robberies in history) before losing to future IBHOF'ers Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad.

 

Pernell Whitaker was inducted in the IBHOF in 2006. He currently trains fighters including Zab Judah."

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Yes.

 

He was a very gifted boxer, had a great knack for not being hit but landing good clean punches and beat some great fighters including Roger Mayweather, Greg Haugen, Jose Luis Ramirez, Azumah Nelson, Jorge Paez, James McGirt, Julio Cesar Vasquez and got a draw with Julio Cesar Chavez.

 

Some people say he beat Chavez and some say he also should've been given the decision against Oscar De La Hoya. Three of his four losses came in his last 4 bouts and his only stoppage loss came in his final bout after breaking his collar bone.

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I didn't/don't care for him, in fact I despise him and wish him nothing but the worst, but he's one of the top Lightweights in history and one of the slickest fighters ever. Like him or not, it's not a hard call...................except for Don grin//

 

 

 

 

I take it you had a bad experience with him,Dave? I've read from others that have met him that he wasn't the most pleasant of boxers that they had come across.

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I didn't/don't care for him, in fact I despise him and wish him nothing but the worst, but he's one of the top Lightweights in history and one of the slickest fighters ever. Like him or not, it's not a hard call...................except for Don grin//

 

interested to read what this is about...

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I didn't/don't care for him, in fact I despise him and wish him nothing but the worst, but he's one of the top Lightweights in history and one of the slickest fighters ever. Like him or not, it's not a hard call...................except for Don grin//

 

 

 

 

I take it you had a bad experience with him,Dave? I've read from others that have met him that he wasn't the most pleasant of boxers that they had come across.

 

Don-

Yes, several incidents that I witnessed in Canastota, none of them directly involving me, but annoying just the same. Here are a few but not all:

 

One time in Grazianos Bar, he was drinking and being left alone and then a young lady came along and wanted a picture, when he obliged then a crowd formed and he turned to the young woman who was still standing there and said, "this is all YOUR fault!".

 

Another time, some fan said something he didn't like (I didn't find out what) and instead of signing their glove, he took the marker and scribbled all over it.

 

At the Friday event in 2006 honoring the 30th anniversary of the '76 US Boxing Team, he took the podium and talked about how overrated that team was and how he'd accomplished more than anyone on it.

 

A lot more incidents I could share, I've seen him there four different years, starting with Lou Duva's induction in 1998 and then three other times.......it's been the same boorish behavior each time. His defenders try to blame it on his addiction and recovery, but I think it's simply that he's an Ass.

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I didn't/don't care for him, in fact I despise him and wish him nothing but the worst, but he's one of the top Lightweights in history and one of the slickest fighters ever. Like him or not, it's not a hard call...................except for Don grin//

 

 

 

 

I take it you had a bad experience with him,Dave? I've read from others that have met him that he wasn't the most pleasant of boxers that they had come across.

 

Don-

Yes, several incidents that I witnessed in Canastota, none of them directly involving me, but annoying just the same. Here are a few but not all:

 

One time in Grazianos Bar, he was drinking and being left alone and then a young lady came along and wanted a picture, when he obliged then a crowd formed and he turned to the young woman who was still standing there and said, "this is all YOUR fault!".

 

Another time, some fan said something he didn't like (I didn't find out what) and instead of signing their glove, he took the marker and scribbled all over it.

 

At the Friday event in 2006 honoring the 30th anniversary of the '76 US Boxing Team, he took the podium and talked about how overrated that team was and how he'd accomplished more than anyone on it.

 

A lot more incidents I could share, I've seen him there four different years, starting with Lou Duva's induction in 1998 and then three other times.......it's been the same boorish behavior each time. His defenders try to blame it on his addiction and recovery, but I think it's simply that he's an Ass.

 

that's a shame, sounds like jerk

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that's a shame, sounds like jerk

 

Yeah, and he was such a good fighter too. Not all fighters are likeable, and I've been forgiving of some of the ones who've shown up on their induction year and been less than fan friendly, it's not in everyone's nature.....but like I say, he'd chosen to be there four times including twice before he was inducted. If it's such a ordeal, then staying home was certainly an option. I feel sorry for someone who's a victim of their own ego to the point where they do something they don't want to do just for a few moments of attention.

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No question. If Whitaker doesn't get in the HOF, who is? This guy epitomizes what boxing stands for, namely hit and don't get hit back. And he didn't do it by running away either. He would often stand his ground and evade punches with effective body movement.

Plus, as far as I know, he fought pretty much anyone worth fighting. Didn't duck, didn't cherry pick.

Sad to hear he isn't much of a nice guy. Then again so isn't Holyfield, with his holier than thou-christian attitude while making women pregnant left and right. Didn't stop me from enjoying his fights and appreciating his in the ring accomplishments either.

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In reading the replies concerning Sweet Pea's personality, I would like to add a little snippit. During his bout with Roger Mayweather, between rounds, he left his stool, ran across the ring and pulled Mayweathers trunks down. Now if that is not complete professionalism, I don't know what is. However, he still gets a "Yes" vote from me.
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