Medal record
Competitor for  United States
Men’s Boxing
Olympic Games
Gold	Los Angeles 1984	Lightweight
World Amateur Championships
Silver	Munich 1982	Lightweight

Pernell Whitaker (born January 2, 1964), nicknamed "Sweet Pea", is a retired professional boxer, among the greatest of all-time. A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Whitaker was the lightweight silver medalist at the 1982 World Championships, followed by the gold medal at the 1983 Pan American Games and the 1984 Olympics, and then embarked on a pro career in which he became world champion in four different weight divisions. Whitaker was known for his outstanding defensive skills, which helped garner him consideration as one of boxing's top pound-for-pound fighters during his prime. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 465 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (776 × 1000 pixel, file size: 135 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) http://www. ... Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. ... is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Motto: Crescas (Latin for, Thou shalt grow. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo Domínguez (left, throwing a left uppercut) versus Rafael Ortiz Boxing, also referred to as gayness is a combat sport in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series of one to three-minute intervals called rounds. ... Boxing has been contested at every Summer Olympic Games since its introduction to the programme at the 1904 Summer Olympics except 1912. ... Boxing at the 1984 Summer Olympics took place in the Memorial Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California. ... The World Amateur Boxing Championships is the highest competition for boxing amateurs, organised by worlds governing body AIBA, which stands for the Association International de Boxe Amateur. ... The Mens 1982 World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Munich, West Germany from May 4 to 15. ... is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... Professional boxing bout featuring Ricardo Domínguez (left, throwing a left uppercut) versus Rafael Ortiz Boxing, also referred to as gayness is a combat sport in which two participants of similar weight fight each other with their fists in a series of one to three-minute intervals called rounds. ... Motto: Crescas (Latin for, Thou shalt grow. ... // The lightweight is the 130 pounds (59 kilograms) to 135 pounds (61 kilograms) weight class in the sport of boxing. ... The Mens 1982 World Amateur Boxing Championships were held in Munich, West Germany from May 4 to 15. ... The boxing tournament at the 1983 Pan American Games was held in Caracas, Venezuela, from August 14 to August 29. ... Music sample: Olympic Fanfare and Theme ( file info) — composed by John Williams for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles Problems listening to the file? See media help. ...

Boxing career

Whitaker had an extensive amateur boxing career, having started at the age of nine. He had 214 amateur fights, winning 201, 91 of them by knockouts.

In just his eleventh and twelfth pro bouts, Whitaker beat solid journeymen Alfredo Layne in December, 1986, and Roger Mayweather in March, 1987. On March 12, 1988 he challenged Jose Luis Ramirez for the WBC Lightweight Championship in Levallois, France. He suffered his first pro defeat when the judges awarded a controversial split decision in Ramirez's favor. Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Roger Mayweather (born April 24, 1961) was a boxer who won two major world titles in two different weight classes. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... March 12 is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... José Luis Ramírez (born circa 1960) is a Mexican national who was a boxer and a two time world Lightweight champion. ... WBC logo mark “WBC” redirects here. ... The Levallois technique is a name given by archaeologists to a distinctive type of flint knapping developed by humans during the Palaeolithic period. ...

Whitaker trudged on, decisioning Greg Haugen for the IBF lightweight title on February 18, 1989, but not before becoming the first boxer to knock Haugen down, dropping him in the sixth round. He then added the vacant WBC belt by avenging his loss to Ramirez on August 20. Greg Lee Haugen (born August 31, 1960 in Seattle, WA) was an American boxer at Lightweight. ... The International Boxing Federation, or IBF, is one of many organizations which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC, WBO, and a dozen or so others. ... February 18 is the 49th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 232nd day of the year (233rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Now a champion, Whitaker proceeded to dominate boxing's middle divisions over the first half of the 1990s. In 1990, he defended his lightweight title against quality journeyman Freddie Pendleton and super featherweight champion Azumah Nelson of Ghana. On August 11, 1990 he knocked out Juan Nazario in one round to add the WBA title and become the first undisputed lightweight champion since Roberto Duran. His highlight of 1991 was beating Jorge Paez. In 1992, he began his ascent in weight, winning the IBF junior welterweight title from Rafael Pineda on July 18. On March 6, 1993 he decisioned James (Buddy) McGirt to become the linear and WBC welterweight champion. Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... Freddie Pendleton (born January 5, 1963 in Philadelphia, PA, was a professional boxer in the lightweight (135lb) division. ... Mens classifications according to WBC, WBA, IBF, and WBO: Weight classes for boxing at the 2004 Summer Olympics: See also Boxing Categories: | ... Azumah Nelson (born September 19, 1958) is a former boxer and three-time world champion. ... Roberto Duran (b. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Jorge Adolfo Febles Páez (born October 27, 1965 in Mexicali, Baja California) is a Mexican boxer, actor and circus man. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Rafael Pineda is a television news anchor for the Spanish language station WXTV the Univision affilliate in New York City. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... James Buddy McGirt will always be one of the most recognized men in boxing history. ...

Whitaker was gaining momentum, from boxing experts and fans, as the pound for pound best boxer in the world, though some felt that he needed win against Mexican legend Julio César Chávez. The two met in a welterweight superfight on September 10, 1993 in San Antonio, Texas. In a career-defining performance, Whitaker outboxed Chávez, winning the majority of the rounds in the eyes of many of the spectators. But as in his first fight with Ramirez, Whitaker was not awarded a decision victory, this time having to settle for a draw. Pound-for-pound is the term used in boxing, mixed martial arts and other combat sports to describe a fighters value in relation to fighters of different weight classes. ... For this mans son, also a boxer, see Julio César Chávez, Jr. ... Superfight is a term that is used to describe a martial arts fight between two of the most successful (in terms of record) and/or biggest drawing (in terms of money) fighters. ... is the 253rd day of the year (254th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Nickname: Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: , Counties Bexar County Government  - Mayor Phil Hardberger Area  - City  412. ...

Whitaker continued to dominate for the next few years, defending his welterweight belt in a rematch against McGirt on October 1, 1994. For good measure, in his next fight on March 4, 1995, Whitaker added Julio Cesar Vasquez's WBA junior middleweight title to his collection. He moved down to welterweight to successfully defend his WBC belt against Scotland's Gary Jacobs on August 26, 1995. Despite his success, Whitaker's skills were in gradual decline, evidenced by lackluster defenses against Wilfredo Rivera and Diosbelys Hurtado. He met a bigger, younger Oscar de la Hoya on April 12, 1997 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Whitaker 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, and de la Hoya won by a disputed unanimous decision. Many felt Whitaker had done enough to retain his title, but the decision was not as controversial as his loss to Ramirez or his draw with Chávez. is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 63rd day of the year (64th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Julio Cesar Vasquez (born July 13, 1966 in Santa Fe, Argentina, is a professional boxer in the super middleweight (168lb) division. ... World Boxing Association (WBA) is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title, at the professional level. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic) Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic and Scots1 Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Monarch Queen Elizabeth II... August 26 is the 238th day of the year (239th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full 1995 Gregorian calendar). ... Oscar De La Hoya (IPA pronunciation: [1]) (born February 4, 1973) — nicknamed the Golden Boy — is an American boxer who won a gold medal for the United States Boxing Team at the Barcelona Olympic Games and is considered one of boxings all time greats. ... is the 102nd day of the year (103rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar). ... For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ...

Following this defeat, Whitaker began an unfortunate decline, personally and professionally. His win over Andrei Pestriaev was declared a no-contest after a drug test revealed he had used cocaine. Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. ...

In 1999, Whitaker suffered his first sound defeat against the much bigger, much fresher Félix Trinidad, gamely taking the Puerto Rican the distance. His last fight came on April 27, 2001 against journeyman Carlos Bojorquez. Whitaker broke his clavicle in round four and was forced to retire, finishing with an official pro record of 40-4-1 (17 knockouts). Whitaker has since been in and out of prison for cocaine possession and is rumored to have squandered the millions of dollars he earned in fight purses. Year 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar). ... Félix Tito Trinidad, Jr. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Carlos Bojorquez is an expierenced Mexican fighter, he has record of all wins 0losses and 0 draws. ... A boxer is knocked down and receives the 10-count. ...

On December 7, 2006, Whitaker was inducted in the the International Boxing Hall of Fame along with contemporaries Roberto Duran and Ricardo Lopez. They were all elected in their first year of eligibility. While Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker's future seems uncertain, his record in the ring speaks for itself. The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta. ... Roberto Duran (b. ... Ricardo “El Finito” Lopez Nava (born July 25, 1967) is a boxer from Mexico, who as an amateur won the silver medal at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba. ...

Personal Life

Pernell is married to Rovanda Whitaker and they have three sons, Dominique, Pernell Whitaker Junior, and Dantavious.

After Boxing

As of December 2005, Whitaker has taken on the role as trainer in his home state of Virginia. While the decline of speed and agility have pushed him into retirement, his knowledge of the ring and components have led him to seek out up-and-coming boxers and train them to fight the way he did.

His first fighter, Dorin Spivey, has several matches scheduled for 2006. Recently he's been training heralded young prospect Joel Julio. Joel Jair Julio (born January 18, 1985 in Montería, Colombia) is a professional boxer rated as a welterweight. ...

Pernell Whitaker is also the trainer for heavyweight Calvin Brock who, as recently as November 2006, fought for the IBF and IBO titles against Wladimir Klitschko.

External links

• Pernell Whitaker's career boxing record