He was 55. During his long and successful career I never missed one of his fights. "[31], At about 10 p.m. on July 14, 2019, Whitaker was crossing the street in Virginia Beach, at the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and Baker Road, when he was struck and killed by the driver of a vehicle. mourned his death. Let us scroll over to know more about his personal details. Im still trying to process everything thats going on. On July 14, 2019, Whitaker was crossing the street in Virginia Beach, at the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and Baker Road, when he was struck and killed by a vehicle. Outside the Virginia court, he said the ruling in his favor a beautiful moment. Here's what you need to know about his family. He was the pound for pound best for half a decade, and one of the 3 greatest pure boxers who ever lived. "An artist in the ring, 'Sweet Pea' appeared on our World Championship Boxing platform for a decade [1990-1999], giving fans many unforgettable moments. He passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2019. "I'm going to surviveI'm a survivor..I'm going with my daughtershe is taking me in," said Novella Whitaker told WVEC. After his retirement in 2001, Whitaker returned to the sport as a trainer. He was a successful trainer after his retirement although he became involved in an ugly dispute with his mother over money in recent years. He then added the vacant WBC & The Ring belts by avenging his loss to Ramirez on August 20. Also, he made national headlines in 2014 when he evicted his mother out of the house he bought in 1984 for her after winning a gold medal. Whitaker outpunched De La Hoya and scored the only knockdown, but the judges awarded De La Hoya a unanimous decision. After Whitakers death, his son Domonique took to Facebook to announce his fathers passing. "He was far from a perfect person and a pain in the ass at times, but I still loved him. Cops are investigating. In recent years, with the millions he had earned largely gone, Whitaker trained fighters, including Zab Judah, who won the I.B.F. He said to ABC News affiliate WVEC-TV that it was a beautiful moment.. "The driver of the vehicle remained on scene with police.". A ghetto beating.. Whitaker, known as Sweet Pea or Pete, was an elusive fighter who deftly avoided being hit, or hurt, by his opponents. Pernell Whitaker, (born January 2, 1964, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.died July 14, 2019, Virginia Beach, Virginia), American professional boxer, world lightweight (135 pounds), junior welterweight (140 pounds), welterweight (147 pounds), and junior middleweight (154 pounds) champion in the 1980s and '90s. I could watch hours and hours of him. Other than this, there is no other information on his parents, siblings, or documented on his education. Pernell's passing is a great loss. Whitaker was also the trainer for heavyweight Calvin Brock who, as recently as November 2006, fought for the IBF and IBO titles against Wladimir Klitschko, wherein Brock was knocked out in the 7th round. The driver of the car remained at the scene, and the police said they were investigating the incident. He posted a 40-1-1 record across his first 42 fights before failing to win any of his final four bouts, a stretch that featured three losses and a no-contest. 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. Thats all I can say about him, he told the Virginian Pilot newspaper. By subscribing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. In terms of his defense and ring generalship, Pernell Whitaker was the best fighter that I ever fought. The Virginia Beach Police Department confirmed the death, saying he was crossing a street at night when he was hit. Examined. He was born on 2 January 1964, in Norfolk, Virginia. 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, Gould said. We share so many great memories. I am saddened to learn of my good friend and Olympic teammate Pernell Whitaker's untimely passing last night.We share so many great memories. I put an old-fashioned project beating on him. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. 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. pic.twitter.com/pZZEceN7h2. This is insanely sad. 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. I couldnt have performed better.. 10:49 AM PT -- The driver in the crash was NOT arrested -- and law enforcement officials tell us they do NOT believe drugs, alcohol or speed was a factor. By the way, we're told the area where Pernell was hit is NOT a popular nightlife area -- in other words, it's not like he was out partying. Pernell Whitaker Sr.[2] (January 2, 1964 July 14, 2019)[3] was an American professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2001, and subsequently worked as a boxing trainer. Whitaker and Chavez, who was 87-0 at the time, were considered two of the greatest boxers, pound for pound, of their day. He could stand in front of you and you couldnt find him, Jim Lampley, the longtime HBO boxing announcer, said in a phone interview. [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. He was born on 2 January 1964, in Norfolk, Virginia. RIP Sweet Pea. In December 2005 Whitaker became a boxing trainer in his home state of Virginia. He earned money at autograph shows as well. It's NOT a hit and run situation. 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. [27] But Whitaker's final falling out with his family came to an ugly end in a Virginia court on Wednesday. Blaine's son-in-law Andy Johnson tells The Associated Press that Blaine died of natural causes Monday . Wow I cant believe this!!! Who has the edge? Thank you for inspiring me and all the future champions to do the sport that we love. Further, he holds the longest unified lightweight championship reign in boxing history to date with six title defenses. I could watch hours and hours of him. His fall from grace and solvency involved numerous incidences of drug abuse and a history of arrests and run-ins with police. "Hes not happy that it was necessary to go to court," Gould said. Pernell also had a daughter, Tiara, from a prior relationship. Im praying for his family during this difficult time. 11:09. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. #GoneButNeverForgotten, Rest in eternal peace Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker - IMO the greatest defensive fighter of all time pic.twitter.com/55KnItMmSq, Oh no, no, no Sweet Pea was one of the greatest fighters to ever lace up gloves. Whitaker was survived by his five children. Whitaker, who made his professional debut on ABC with several of his Olympic teammates at Madison Square Garden in New York and eventually became a staple on HBO, moved up to junior welterweight in 1992 and outpointed Rafael Pineda to win a 140-pound world title. Whitaker now intends to sell the house to retain the $150,000 of equity in the home to recoup $18,000 in overdue taxes he paid on the building on behalf of his mother and two siblings living there, his lawyer said. This was a history making fight for Whitaker, as he became only the fourth fighter in history - joining Thomas Hearns, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Roberto Durn - to have won a legitimate world title in four different weight classes. However, he chose to move back to welterweight.[14][15]. He broke his clavicle in round four and was forced to retire; at the time of the stoppage Whitaker was trailing in all the judges' scorecards by 28-29. [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. Hes limited to what he can make training other boxers, Gould said. 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. pic.twitter.com/sa4qZIDIIG, Im truly lost for words to hear Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker is no longer with us. Whitaker won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics and became a champion in four weight classes as a professional. We ended up paying for the wedding and had the reception after the show at the fight hotel.". pic.twitter.com/56T1ueHiLh, So Sad. Im going to surviveIm a survivor..Im going with my daughtershe is taking me in, she said. Stars Arrive to Fashion's Biggest Night!!! #PernellWhitaker pic.twitter.com/IZv3IQOo2f He added: I mentally and physically beat him. https://t.co/pZZEceN7h2, I am saddened to learn of my good friend and Olympic teammate Pernell Whitaker's untimely passing last night. Main Events promoter Kathy Duva, whose company promoted Whitaker throughout his career and who remained close to Whitaker after his retirement, mourned his death. Bauder said in a statement. Last night it was like someone put a knife in me and twisted it, Whitaker told Sports Illustrated the next day, irate at the decision. "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. He had demons, but when he was in the ring, that was when he was in control and when he was happy and when he was the very best at what he did, and he wanted to show that to everybody.". pic.twitter.com/Zsgqa66FKF, When Pernell Whitaker was world champion from lightweight to light middleweight, he was something special. But unfortunately, he had a car accident in which he lost his life on the spot in Virginia Street on 14 July 2019. #Boxing has lost one of its best and Ive lost a friend. We are deeply saddened with this new; May the legend rest in eternal peace. Four-weight champion struck by car on Sunday night, Considered by many to be greatest defensive boxer of all time. 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. He also won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in L.A. From 1993 to 1997 he was considered the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Download the TMZ App on the Apple App Store, Download the TMZ App on the Google Play Store. My prayers are with his family and loved ones. Novella Whitaker said she was heartbroken by the decision. Main Events was promoting a card at the Virginia Beach Pavilion Convention Center. Local boxing legend Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker dies in Virginia Beach accident by: WAVY Web Staff, Andy Fox Posted: Jul 14, 2019 / 11:13 PM EDT Updated: Jul 15, 2019 / 11:28 PM EDT VIRGINIA. Whitaker originally won the fight, but the win was nullified & changed to a No Decision after he failed a post-fight drug test. Pernell graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1982 and later received an honorary Bachelors degree from Norfolk State University. He jumped at it, and Rovanda loved it also. Condolences to his family. In 1992, he began his ascent in weight, winning the IBF light welterweight title from Colombian puncher Rafael Pineda on July 18. SMH RIP SWEET PEA you will for ever be one of the greatest to ever lace em up. He was one of the greatest boxers of all time. He passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2019.[27]. Gould also mentioned that Whitakers money has been drying up since he retired from professional fighting. Whitaker, who won gold medals at the 1983 Pan American Games and the 1984 Olympics, turned pro in 1984 and went on to cement himself as an American boxing legend. But he now has two mortgages on the house and the alternative was if he didnt sell, it was going to go to foreclosure., But outside the courthouse on Wednesday, Whitaker appeared happy with court ruling to evict his mom. In his amateur career, he won a silver medal in the lightweight division at the 1982 World Championship. He was. 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. 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. He was a flawless fighter. Arrest warrant issued for Nate Diaz after brawl, Sources: Smith-Eubank rematch set for June 17, Remembering Whitaker: 'Sweet Pea' a master of the sweet science, 2013 BWAA Nat Fleischer Award winner for excellence in boxing journalism. But he now has two mortgages on the house and the alternative was if he didnt sell, it was going to go to foreclosure.. Hes limited to what he can make training other boxers, Gould said. Condolences to his family. In 2006, Whitaker was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, in his first year of eligibility. He was 55. Following this fight, Whitaker officially announced his retirement. . I always wanted a church wedding, Ms. Anthony said before the wedding. To me, he was one of the top five greatest boxers ever! 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. "[25] In the seventh round, Whitaker displayed more offense, trading power punches with Trinidad, but the champion retained control of the fight's tempo during the eight, ninth and tenth rounds. The rematches that Whitaker wanted against De La Hoya and Chavez never happened. [19][20][21], Whitaker's next bout was against Russian-born fighter Andrey Pestryayev in a world title elimination fight, where the winner would earn an automatic #1 contender spot for the WBA Welterweight crown, held at the time by Ike Quartey. Following the fight, he announced his retirement and recorded his professional career with 40-4-1 with 17 knockouts. Getty [16][17] The win set up a showdown with undefeated 1992 Olympic gold medalist Oscar De La Hoya. Boxing legend Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker dead at 55. Pernell Whitaker, widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive boxers of all time, has died after being hit by a car. He was 55. He was 55. 9:54. pic.twitter.com/pZZEceN7h2. Hurtado gave Whitaker all he could handle and then some. Loved him. The victory over McGirt set him up for a much-anticipated fight against Julio Cesar Chavez at the Alamodome in San Antonio. When Kathy Duva heard Hall of Fame boxer Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker was killed Sunday night after being hit by a car in Virginia Beach, Va., her first thought was, "I hate July." Whitaker's. A housing authority beating. Although Anthony said she always wanted to have a church wedding she told the Associated Press that the boxing ring was the best place. Pernell Whitaker. DAZN uses cookies to help us deliver our services and improve your user experience. During his retirement, Whitaker dabbled as a trainer and remained close to Duva and her staff at Main Events. The ceremony took place after five eigh-round matches ended. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. super lightweight title in 1992 and Buddy McGirt for the World Boxing Council welterweight belt in early 1993. Duva said. but no information regarding it. Loved him. Mauricio Sulaiman. Whitaker, who has died aged 55 after being hit by a car while crossing a road in his hometown of Virginia Beach, Virginia, was an Olympic gold medallist for the US at the Los Angeles games of. Whitaker trudged on, winning a decision over Greg Haugen for the IBF Lightweight title on February 18, 1989, becoming the first boxer to knock Haugen down by sending him to the mat in the sixth round. ", Magic Johnson added "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. RIP Sweet Pea. I'm still trying to process everything that's going on. Since the glory days, Whitaker has been training young boxers, but work is slowly drying up, according to Gould. Early on, Vasquez was the aggressor, and scored a flash knockdown on Whitaker in the 4th round; but Whitaker settled in & used his accuracy and defense to take over and outpoint Vasquez en route to a unanimous decision win. The fight was much closer than what the scorecards showed, and many observers felt that Whitaker won the fight. 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. In 2002, The Ring ranked Whitaker as the 10th Greatest Fighter of the Last 80 Years. I was robbed again, Whitaker said afterward. [24], On February 20, 1999, Whitaker suffered his first convincing defeat against the much bigger, much fresher Flix Trinidad, gamely taking the Puerto Rican the distance in an attempt to win Trinidad's IBF welterweight title. has died. "He always brightened my day, and he was very loyal to our family," said Duva, who recounted the story of Whitaker's unusual wedding to ex-wife Rovanda Anthony on Dec. 21, 1985, in Virginia Beach. " C4TV" - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvSZMLlUrPISUCxiDsnFVPwPernell Whitaker (born January 2 .
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