Seton Hall
The devastating passing and legacy of a Hall of Fame boxer
Date: July 17, 2019By: Michael Daly
On Sunday night, boxing legend Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker passed away after he was fatally struck by a vehicle in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Whitaker was 55-years-old at the time of his death and his tragic passing has impacted millions of fight fans who followed his 17 year career.
“Sweet Pea’s” legacy will last forever because he is one of the five greatest pure boxers in the history of the sport. From the tail end of the 1980s to the early part of the 1990s, Whitaker was widely regarded as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in boxing. Some of the champions that were contemporaries or opponents during his reign include Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., Felix Trinidad, Hector Camacho, and Oscar De La Hoya.
Over his 17 years in the squared circle, he amassed a 40-4-1 overall record. “Sweet Pea” only suffered one knockout loss in his career, and it came during the final fight of his career against Carlos Bojorquez on Apr. 27, 2001. Whitaker’s other three losses were close decisions that easily could have gone in his favor.
Whitaker won gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics and fought his first professional fight three months later, in Nov. 1984. In just over three years as a professional, Whitaker challenged Jose Luis Ramirez for the World Boxing Council lightweight belt. He lost a razor thin split decision to Ramirez, who had a 100-6 career record at the time of the bout.
He eventually captured his first world title against then IBF lightweight champion, Greg Hauer on Feb. 18, 1989. Whitaker exacted his revenge on Ramirez in their second fight on Aug. 20, 1989 in his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia. In the unification bout, “Sweet Pea,” became the IBF and WBC lightweight champion.
His lightweight belts were defended six times, before he moved up one weight class to the super lightweight division and became the division’s IBF champion on July. 18, 1992. Less than one year later, Whitaker made another jump to the welterweight division where he became the WBC welterweight champion by defeating James “Buddy” McGirt in Madison Square Garden.
On Sept. 10, 1993, Whitaker faced the greatest challenge of his career to that point. His opponent on that night was Cesar Chavez Sr., who had an 87-0 record and the fight was happening on Mexican Independence weekend at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. This was Chavez’s first title fight in the welterweight division and Whitaker had to defend his title in a stadium that was filled with Chavez's supporters.
The outcome of the fight was a majority draw, in which one judge scored the fight in favor of Whitaker, while the other two judges ruled the fight as a draw. Many boxing pundits and fans believe this decision was one of the biggest robberies in boxing history, as they think Whitaker clearly won the match.
Whitaker called for a rematch, but he was never able to step in the ring against Chavez again. A similar outcome took place when he fought De La Hoya on Apr. 12, 1997, when he lost his WBC welterweight title via unanimous decision to De La Hoya. Whitaker felt that he was wronged by the decision and he unable to land a rematch against De La Hoya.
Just over 18 years after his last fight, Whitaker remains one of the greatest defensive fighters of all time. His fight style inspired champions like Floyd Mayweather Jr., Andre Ward, and Terence Crawford. In his prime, Whitaker's defense made him nearly untouchable, and his skills were second to none.
He perfected the art of staying on the outside of the pocket and countering his opponent at the perfect time. In recent years, Mayweather Jr. has been labeled as the greatest defensive fighter of the last 30 years, but Whitaker deserves to be mentioned in that category.
In 2006, Whitaker was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame on his first ballot. By many, Whitaker is considered a top-10 pound-for-pound fighter all time. He won titles in four different weight classes and has the most unified title defenses in the lightweight division with six.
After his career, he trained world class fighters Zab Judah, and Calvin Brock for several years. Notable athletes and boxers including Michael Vick, Magic Johnson, Evander Holyfield, and Roy Jones Jr. sent their condolences to Whitaker’s family and they remembered how gifted he was in the ring.
“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. I’m praying for his family during this difficult time. Rest in Peace my friend,” said Johnson on Twitter about his longtime friend.
Despite his known struggles outside of the ring, Whitaker’s greatness and legacy should never be taken for granted. He was one of the first boxers to perfect the art of hitting without getting hit in return by his opponents. Boxing may never see a champion that can roll with punches thrown in his direction as slick as Whitaker did.
Michael Daly is the Web Editor for WSOU Sports, and can be reached at michael.daly@student.shu.edu.
