Pernell Whitaker

IBHoF Bio

Name: Pernell Whitaker
Alias: Sweet Pea
Hometown: Norfolk, Virginia, USA
Birthplace: Norfolk, Virginia, USA
Died: 2019-07-14 (Age:55)
Stance: Southpaw
Height: 168cm
Reach: 175cm
Pro Boxer: Record
Amateur Boxer: Record

• Manager: Shelly Finkel
• Trainers: George Benton and Lou Duva
• Pernell Whitaker Photo Gallery

Amateur Achievements

1984 Los Angeles Olympics

• Amateur Record: 201-14
• Defeated 1 Olympic Gold Medalist: Angel Herrera.
• 1982 National AAU Lightweight Champion. Results:
  • Derrick Hudson W 3 (5-0)
  • Robert Montoya KO 1
  • Frankie Randall W 3 (4-1)
  • Ray Ordonio W 3 (5-0)
  • Joey Belinc W 3 (5-0)
• Lightweight Silver Medalist for the United States at the 1982 World Championships in Munich, Germany. Results:
  • Ismaldi Pineda (Colombia) W 3 (5-0)
  • Christopher Ossai (Nigeria) W 3 (3-2)
  • Hussein Khalili (Kenya) W 3 (5-0)
  • Milivoj Labudovic (Yugoslavia) W 3 (5-0)
  • Angel Herrera (Cuba) L 3 (2-3)
• Lightweight Gold Medalist for the United States at the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracus, Venezuela. Results:
  • Kenworth Minus (Cuba) KO 1
  • Angel Beltre (Dominican Republic) W 3 (3-2)
  • Angel Herrera (Cuba) W 3 (5-0)
• Lightweight Gold Medalist for the United States at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, California. Results:
  • 1st round bye
  • Adolfo Mendez (Nicaragua) W 3 (5-0)
  • Geoffrey Nyeko (Uganda) W 3 (5-0)
  • Reiner Gies (West Germany) W 3 (5-0)
  • Chun Chil-Sung (South Korea) W (5-0)
  • Luis Ortiz (Puerto Rico) KO 2

International Boxing Hall of Fame Record

International Boxing Hall of Fame Record

• Has a record of 3-2-1 against International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees:
  • Won against Azumah Nelson and James (Buddy) McGirt (2x).
  • Lost against Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad.
  • Drew with Julio Cesar Chavez.

Professional Record

Sports Illustrated: October 10, 1994

Championship Record

• Has a record of 19-3-1 (4 KO's) in world title fights.
• Has a record of 14-3-1 (3 KO's) against former, current or future world titlists.
  • Won against Alfredo Layne, Roger Mayweather, Greg Haugen, Jose Luis Ramirez, Freddie Pendleton, Azumah Nelson, Juan Nazario, Jorge Paez, Rafael Pineda, James (Buddy) McGirt (2x), Julio Cesar Vasquez, Jake Rodriguez, Diosbelys Hurtado.
  • Lost against Jose Luis Ramirez, Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad.
  • Drew with Julio Cesar Chavez.

Variant Records

• Has a record of 13-1-1 (3 KO's) in lineal title fights.
• Has a record of 5-2-1 against former or current lineal titlists:
  • Won against Alfredo Layne, Roger Mayweather, Azumah Nelson, James (Buddy) McGirt (2x).
  • Lost against Oscar De La Hoya, Felix Trinidad.
  • Drew with Julio Cesar Chavez.
• Has a record of 1-0-0 in fights outside his native United States.
• Defeated 5 undefeated opponents with ten or more bouts: Farrain Comeaux, Louie Lomeli, Policarpo Diaz, Wilfredo Rivera, Diosbelys Hurtado.

Minor & Regional Titles

• NABF Lightweight Title vs. Roger Mayweather on March 28, 1987
• USBA Lightweight Title vs. Miguel Santana on July 25, 1987

Awards & Recognition

• Named The Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year and the Boxing Writers Association of America Fighter of the Year for 1989.
• Named the 3rd greatest lightweight of all-time in the September 2001 issue of The Ring Magazine.
• Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007 and the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2008.

Trivia

• Whitaker is often called Pete by his family and friends. When he was an amateur, they would chant "Sweet Pete" during his bouts. A local newspaper reporter misheard the chant and wrote that the crowd was chanting "Sweet Pea." After it appeared in the newspaper, the "Sweet Pea" nickname stuck.
• Whitaker trained Zab Judah for his fights with Kaizer Mabuza and Amir Khan.
• Going into his last 4 bouts his record was 40-1-1 (17 KO's). Both blemishes were highly controversial. He would go 0-3-0-1 in his last 4 bouts partly due to age and partly due his addiction to cocaine.

Death

• Whitaker died on July 14, 2019 after being stuck by a vehicle in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The accident occurred at approximately 10 p.m. at the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and Baker Road. Emergency personnel attempted to resuscitate Whitaker by performing CPR, but were unsuccessful. The driver of vehicle did remain on the scene to speak to police.

Preceded by: Greg Haugen	IBF Lightweight Champion 1989 Feb 18 – 1992 Vacated	Succeeded by: Freddie Pendleton
Preceded by: Julio Cesar Chavez Vacated	WBC Lightweight Champion 1989 Aug 20 – 1992 Vacated	Succeeded by: Miguel Angel Gonzalez
Preceded by: Juan Nazario	WBA Lightweight Champion 1990 Aug 11 – 1992 Vacated	Succeeded by: Joey Gamache
Preceded by: Rafael Pineda	IBF Light Welterweight Champion 1992 Jul 18 – 1993 Vacated	Succeeded by: Charles Murray
Preceded by: James (Buddy) McGirt	WBC Welterweight Champion 1993 Mar 6 – 1997 Apr 12	Succeeded by: Oscar De La Hoya
Preceded by: Julio Cesar Vasquez	WBA Light Middleweight Champion 1995 Mar 4 – 1995 Vacated	Succeeded by: Carl Daniels