Six years after winning Olympic gold, Whitaker won his first world title in the lightweight division. He had 214 amateur fights, winning 201, 91 of them by knockouts, though he says that he has had up to 500 amateur fights. A year later, he’d avenge this loss and beat Ramirez in the rematch. “When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male victim who had been hit by a vehicle,” a Virginia Beach Police spokesperson told the outlet. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world by Ring Magazine from 1993 to 1997. He was a four-weight world champion, having won titles at lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, and light middleweight; the undisputed lightweight title; and the lineal lightweight and welterweight titles. Pernell Whitaker was born on Jan. 2, 1964, in Norfolk, Va., one of seven children of Raymond and Novella Whitaker. Do Not Own the Rights to the Video; no Copyright Infringement Intended Following the loss to De La Hoya, Whitaker outpointed Andrey Pestriev but tested positive for cocaine, and the result was changed to a no decision. After this report was made, police confirmed the victim was boxing legend Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker. He was only 55. (@frankbrunoboxer) July 15, 2019, “The best lightweight I ever saw passed away today,” wrote ESPN’s Max Kellerman. 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. Boxing legend Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker died Sunday at 55 after he was struck by a car in Virginia Beach, WTKR reports. Whitaker did land numerous low blows during the contest, but you lose count of the amount of hip punches that Chavez had conveniently forgotten about during his post-fight summary. The driver was not cited -- though we're told that person is cooperating with authorities. Whitaker finished his career with a record of 40 wins, four losses and that one draw. 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. Whitaker (who's from Virginia) was a BEAST in the ring ... winning world titles at 4 different weights -- lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight. First came an amateur prodigy out of New York named Mark Breland who stole the vast majority of the press from everyone else on the team, but then there were also bigger guys like Evander Holyfield and Henry Tillman who scored more … But he was a cool guy.”. He was 55. Judah is a former junior welterweight and welterweight champion. Sweet Pea was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006 -- and is considered by many to be one of the greatest fighters of ALL TIME. Cops are investigating. Ring Magazine named him the Fight of the Year in 1989. Whitaker kept fighting and winning titles, and soon, he got to face one of the best boxers of the day, and perhaps, one of the best boxers, ever, Julio Cesar Chavez. Mr. Whitaker won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles — one of nine US champions that year — and made his pro debut on national … When the United States Olympic Boxing Team sauntered away with a staggering nine gold medals in 1984, Pernell Whitaker was actually lost in the shuffle. His son Pernell Jr. died in 2015 at age 31 after a battle with cancer. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene with police.”, “The investigation is still ongoing,” police spokesperson Linda Kuehn told USA Today. Even before their match, Whitaker stated that, win or lose, he wanted a rematch with De La Hoya, and after his loss, he would repeat that sentiment. Whitaker was considered among the sport’s elite both during his ascent through the ranks and after his retirement in 2001. When cops arrived, they located the man who had been hit by a vehicle who was in really bad shape -- and our sources tell us that man was Pernell Whitaker. Whitaker finished his career in 2001 with a 40-4-1 record, having won the WBC Lightweight, Light welterweight, Welterweight, and Light middleweight titles. In 2002, Ring Magazine named him the No. “However, it does not appear that drugs/alcohol or speed were factors in the crash.”, Whitaker’s son Devon told The Virginian-Pilot that he believes his father “was wearing dark clothes, the road was dark and the driver didn’t see him.”, He told the outlet that his father was a “cool guy.”, “That all I can say about him,” he told the newspaper. The Ring ranked him the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world from 1993 to 1997. Whitaker was convicted of cocaine possession in 2002 after he violated the terms of a previous sentence by overdosing on cocaine, according to The Washington Post. I think he is probably the best pound for pound fighter right, After breaking out as an amateur fighter at Booker T. Washington high school in Virginia, Whitaker quickly gained international acclaim as a teenager. “I can’t really say how I’m feeling because I’m feeling shocked. Mandatory Credit: Holly Stein/ALLSPORT. Whitaker is survived by his five children, according to TMZ Sports. Unclear if the driver of the car was arrested but he did stay on the scene to speak with police. Emergency medical personnel at the scene tried to resuscitate Whitaker -- even performing CPR on him -- but unfortunately, Whitaker succumbed to his injuries and died. Cage Fighting Is 'Most Terrifying Thing In The World', Violent Clashes in Chicago, NYC, Minneapolis, ©2021 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. Ring Magazine named him the tenth-best boxer of the last 80 years shortly after his retirement in 2002. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Download the TMZ App on the Apple App Store, Download the TMZ App on the Google Play Store. RIP Pernell Whitaker.”. On my NY public access TV show “Max on Boxing” (1989-1998), I talked Pernell Whitaker more than any other fighter; it was basically the Pernell Whitaker show. Whitaker lost to De La Hoya and fought Chavez to a draw, though many people belive he was “robbed” in both bouts because “he clearly won the fights,” TMZ Sports reported. 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 a car in Virginia. “[Whitaker] succumbed to his injuries on the scene. De La Hoya initially was in favor this, stating that he would give Whitaker a rematch "any time, any place." Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! 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