Whitaker won. Since then, Whitaker went through financial struggles as his career transitioned from professional fighter to boxing trainer. He finished his professional career with an official record of 40-4-1 (17 knockouts). Thank you for inspiring me and all the future champions to do the sport that we love. After retirement, he also survived a cocaine overdose in 2001. "Sweet Pea" was one of the most brilliant boxers in the past decades and he was always a great friend of the WBC. Wow I cant believe this!!! pic.twitter.com/pZZEceN7h2. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene with police.. In 2010, Whitaker was inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame, honoring those who have contributed to sports in southeastern Virginia. . He suffered his first pro defeat when the judges awarded a split decision to Ramirez. His strong and fit body had a measurement of 42 inches chest, 32 inches waist, and 35 inches hips size. In his next fight on March 4, 1995, Whitaker added Julio Csar Vsquez's WBA super welterweight title to his collection. Pernell Whitaker was an American professional boxer who had his fights from 1984 to 2001. Known as "Sweet Pea," Whitaker, a southpaw from Norfolk, Virginia, was revered as perhaps the best defensive fighter in history, and his slick moves confounded opponent after opponent. The fight was much closer than what the scorecards showed, and many observers felt that Whitaker won the fight. 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 a vehicle. His youngest son, Devon, described his father as a cool guy on Monday. pic.twitter.com/sa4qZIDIIG, Im truly lost for words to hear Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker is no longer with us. In terms of his defense and ring generalship, Pernell Whitaker was the best fighter that I ever fought. Police in Virginia Beach on Monday say Whitaker was a pedestrian when struck by the car. Though he was not particularly hard puncher still considered as a strong counterpuncher. " C4TV" - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvSZMLlUrPISUCxiDsnFVPwPernell Whitaker (born January 2 . In just his eleventh and twelfth pro bouts, Whitaker defeated former world champion Alfredo Layne on December 20, 1986 and former WBA and lineal Super Featherweight and WBC Light Welterweight title holder Roger Mayweather on March 28, 1987. Whitaker, 50, bought the two-story brick home near the Botanical Garden in Norfolk, Va., for his mother in 1984 when he was still flush from his many wins in the ring. Caption: Pernell Whitaker, late American professional boxer. To me, he was one of the top five greatest boxers ever! "He could stand in front of you and you couldn't find him," HBO boxing announcerJim Lampleytold Richard Sandomir of theNew York Timeson Monday. But he now has two mortgages on the house and the alternative was if he didnt sell, it was going to go to foreclosure., But outside the courthouse on Wednesday, Whitaker appeared happy with court ruling to evict his mom. I'm still trying to process everything that's going on. On March 12, 1988, he challenged Jos Luis Ramrez for the WBC Lightweight title in Levallois, France. [30] In February 2014, Pernell made national headlines after he evicted his mother, Novella Whitaker, out of the house he purchased for her shortly after he turned pro. I could watch hours and hours of him. In my Top 2 fave fighters. Whitaker, defending his WBC championship and the mythical status as the best boxer in the world, pound for pound, 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.