Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker, One of the All-Time Greats, Olympic boxing champions men's lightweight, Pan American Champions in Boxing Men's Lightweight, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pernell_Whitaker&oldid=1149470046, International Boxing Federation champions, Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States, Olympic gold medalists for the United States in boxing, International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees, Winners of the United States Championship for amateur boxers, AIBA World Boxing Championships medalists, World light-welterweight boxing champions, World light-middleweight boxing champions, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages with login required references or sources, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 12 April 2023, at 13:03. The American was known as a brilliant defensive boxer with many opponents struggling to lay a hand on him. Boxing legend Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker dead at 55. pic.twitter.com/56T1ueHiLh, So Sad. But he now has two mortgages on the house and the alternative was if he didnt sell, it was going to go to foreclosure.. After his retirement in 2001, Whitaker returned to the sport as a trainer. Also, Whitaker was known for his outstanding defensive skills who applied a consistent offense which makes it difficult for his opponents to hit with a solid punch. #RipSweetPea https://t.co/TSzFcf5d5Y, Very sad to hear the news about Pernell Whitaker today. Boxing community reacts to tragic death of Pernell Whitaker, Pernell Whitaker diedafter being struck by a vehicle. 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. Death. Whitaker also trained former IBF world champion Paul Spadafora between 2009 and 2010 for 3 fights in which Spadafora won all three. [25] The fight began with both boxers displaying aggressive styles, which included excessive pushing. A housing authority beating. Whitaker, who was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006, won world titles in four weight classes. Glad I got to sit next to him at the Ward v Kovalev fight in Las Vegas. R I P champ, one of the best fighters to ever do it. " C4TV" - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvSZMLlUrPISUCxiDsnFVPwPernell Whitaker (born January 2 . In addition, he won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics and 1983 Pan American Games. The house started to gather back taxes and since Whitaker could no longer afford it, he had to take action. Hell be a son forever until death do us part, but he is putting a rip through the family, Whitakers eldest sister, Zelda Brown told ABC News. He jumped at it, and Rovanda loved it also. Pernell Whitaker is legally having his mother evicted from a home she's been living in since 1984. They were all elected in their first year of eligibility. [28] The couple later divorced. Im praying for his family during this difficult time. WBC: Bivol not eligible for belt due to sanctions, Diaz surrenders to New Orleans police after brawl, Paul launches series for up-and-coming boxers, Ramirez to defend WBO title vs. Shimizu in July, IBA upset by 'rogue' boxing group as U.S. quits, Sources: Anderson-Kossobutskiy to meet July 1. (modern). 8:56 AM PT -- TMZ Sports just spoke with boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. -- a long time friend of Pernell -- who tells us how much Whitaker meant to boxing and to him personally. Whitaker's youngest son, Devon Whitaker, told The Virginian-Pilot newspaper that his dad was a "cool guy. The court ruled that Whitaker's 73-year-old mother, Novella Whitaker, had to vacate the house by March 31. During his long and successful career I never missed one of his fights. has died. Pernell Whitaker, a longtime pound-for-pound king and one of the greatest boxers in history, was killed Sunday night when he was hit by a car in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He currently holds the longest unified lightweight championship reign in boxing history at six title defenses. The victim succumbed to his injuries on the scene, a Virginia Beach Police Department spokesman said in a statement. We share so many great memories. Thats all I can say about him, he told the Virginian Pilot newspaper. A southpaw, Whitaker was known for his outstanding defensive skills and for being a strong counterpuncher. Seconds Out. During his professional career, he had 40 wins, 17 knockouts, four losses and one draw, per CNN. Outside the Virginia court, he said the ruling in his favor a beautiful moment. But he still showed up at the arena to marry his fiance, Rovanda Anthony, in the ring after the evenings last fight. In 2014, a Norfolk General District Court judge ruled in Whitakers favor, forcing his mother and siblings out of the house by the end of March of the same year. 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. Longtime friend, Olympic teammate and former heavyweight world champion Evander Holyfield tweeted: I am saddened to learn of my good friend and Olympic teammate Pernell Whitaker's untimely passing last night. Pernell Whitaker, heralded as one of the greatest boxers to ever lace up a pair of gloves, died Sunday night after he was hit by a pickup truck while walking across a wide thoroughfare in Virginia . His youngest son, Devon, described his father as a . In addition, he also fathered a daughter Tiara Whitaker from his past relationship. We share so many great memories. [32] He was 55. Whitaker won titles in the lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight divisions. #Boxing has lost one of its best and Ive lost a friend. Novella Whitaker said she was heartbroken by the decision. Chavez, the reigning junior welterweight titlist at the time, moved up in weight to challenge Whitaker for his welterweight world title before some 65,000 at the Alamodome in San Antonio in a showdown for pound-for-pound supremacy. I put an old-fashioned project beating on him. Pernell Whitaker Jr Passes Away Today From Rare Cancer Boxing and Basketball 12.9K subscribers Subscribe 12K views 7 years ago Make Sure you hit the Thanks Button Down Below This Channel to. He was a flawless fighter. But nothing was more controversial than the draw he was saddled with against Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. on March 12, 1993. Rest in Peace my friend. 7:26 AM PT -- Pernell took a photo with Floyd Mayweather at an autograph show they were both appearing at in Virginia on the day before he died. Max Kellerman talks about Pernell Whitaker's legacy in the boxing world after Whitaker's death Sunday night. . In January, 1997, Whitaker put his title on the line against Cuban fighter Diosbelys Hurtado. Hes not happy that it was necessary to go to court, his lawyer Bruce Gould told ABC News. [27] On December 7, 2006, Whitaker was inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame along with contemporaries Roberto Durn and Ricardo Lpez. Pernell's lawyers said that he is not making the same kind of money as a trainer that he was as a boxer, and needed to sell off the home to satisfy the tax debt owed in order to prevent the property from being seized and put into foreclosure. In 2002, The Ring ranked him in the list of 10th Greatest Fighter of the Last 80 Years. A street fighter as a youngster, he learned to box at a local recreation center. His humble beginnings started in Youngs Park Housing Community where he was inspired to start his boxing career. Whitaker would fight nine times in the Scope arena during his career. To everyone please respect my familys privacy in this trying moment as I wanna inform people that today we lost a legend truly one of boxings greatest Pound 4 Pound champions my father Pernell Sweetpea Whitaker, the post said. Caption: Pernell Whitaker, late American professional boxer. [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. 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. pic.twitter.com/gqf41jo6IO, This man was one of the greatest boxers ever to lace up gloves, loved watching him growing, defensive savant and as brave as they come. Four-weight champion struck by car on Sunday night, Considered by many to be greatest defensive boxer of all time. His death led to an outpouring of condolences from other the era's other superstars. Whitaker won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics and became a champion in four weight classes as a professional. 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. The pro-boxer died at the age of 55 after hitting by a car in Virginia. His fall from grace and solvency involved numerous incidences of drug abuse and a history of arrests and run-ins with police. Pernell Whitaker, right, fighting Julio Cesar Vasquez in Atlantic City in April 1995. 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. "Hes not happy that it was necessary to go to court," Gould said. However, at the time of his demise, his net worth has an estimation of around $5 million. According to reports, he was a pedestrian and while crossing the street in Virginia Beach, he was struck and killed by a vehicle and the driver remained on there. [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. Legendary boxer Pernell Whitaker suffered "multiple blunt-force injuries" leading to his death at the age of 55 after being struck by a car while walking Sunday night in Virginia Beach,. Whitaker won. Condolences to his family. Whitaker, trained by the longtime team of Lou Duva and George Benton and managed by Shelly Finkel, won his first world title at lightweight by outpointing Greg Haugen in 1989. His first fighter, Dorin Spivey fought matches in 2006. "He was far from a perfect person and a pain in the ass at times, but I still loved him. #PernellWhitaker pic.twitter.com/IZv3IQOo2f Felix Trinidad throws a punch during a fight against Pernell Whitaker. As a trainer, he trained Joel Julio and also the trainer for heavyweight Calvin Brock. In 2002, The Ring ranked him tenth in their list of "The 100 Greatest Fighters of the Last 80 Years". We're told officials received a call around 10:04 PM in response to an accident at the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and Baker Road. He was only 55. He crowned his amateur career with an Olympic gold medal in 1984, beating Luis Ortiz to obtain it. He was only 55. A planned fight in 1998 against Ike Quartey, then the W.B.A. We ended up paying for the wedding and had the reception after the show at the fight hotel.". No matter what he was going through, Pete had a great heart. VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia -- Pernell Whitaker, an Olympic gold medalist and four division champion who was regarded as one of the greatest defensive fighters ever, has died after being hit by. "It was an honor to share the ring with him. On Wednesday, a Norfolk General District Court judge ruled in Whitakers favor, ordering Novella Whitaker and two other children and their families also living in the home to leave the house by March 31. He was one of the greatest boxers of all time. 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. Following this fight, Whitaker officially announced his retirement. "From Olympic gold to world championships in four weight divisions, Pernell Whitaker was one of the greatest boxers to ever lace up a pair of gloves," Hall of Fame executive director Edward Brophy said. As an amateur, Whitaker won a silver medal at the 1982 World Boxing Championships, a gold at the Pan-American Games in 1983 and a gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, all in the 132-pound lightweight division. This photo was taken 7/13/19. Pernell Whitaker, who forged a reputation as arguably the greatest defensive boxer who ever lived, died late Sunday in Virginia Beach . Moreover, as a professional boxer, he played around 46 fights in which he won 40. ", "That's all I can say about him," he told the newspaper. It was a blowout, a shutout. Its sad for him to have to take action against his mother, but none of the family would contribute to the real estate and he had no alternative but to use the court process, Whitakers lawyer Bruce Gould told ABC News in 2014. Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. The Virginia Beach Police Department said the incident remains an active investigation, but Whitaker was apparently hit by a vehicle at around 10 p.m. Sunday when he was walking at an intersection. He was 55. 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. On behalf of everyone at Golden Boy, we send our prayers and condolences to his family and friends.". My prayers are with his family and loved ones. Im a scientist now, Im not a boxer. Glad I got to sit next to him at the Ward v Kovalev fight in Las Vegas. At 10 he fought in the Norfolk Arena; by 13 he was battling sailors from the nearby naval base. "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. In December 2005 Whitaker became a boxing trainer in his home state of Virginia. In my Top 2 fave fighters. On behalf of everyone at Golden Boy, we send our prayers and condolences to his family and friends. Whitaker (40-4-1, 17 KOs) might have had four losses and a draw on his record, but to many, he lost only twice, in the final two bouts of his career: a one-sided decision to then-prime welterweight world titleholder Felix Trinidad and a fourth-round stoppage loss to Carlos Bojorquez when Whitaker suffered a broken clavicle.

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