His wake will be on Monday September 7, 2015 at the Metropolitan Funeral Home in Berkley. Speaking of his persona life, he had married Rovanda Anthony. Whitaker, who was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006, won world titles in four weight classes. In my Top 2 fave fighters. 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. . All rights reserved. RIP, Ex-NFL star Michael Vick, who's also from Virginia, tweeted about Whitaker's passing -- saying, 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker was our hometown legend and the greatest of all time. Hurtado had Whitaker down on all the judges scorecards going into the 11th round: Hurtado scored flash knockdowns against Whitaker in rounds 1 and 6, and Whitaker had a point deducted in the 9th round for hitting Hurtado behind the head. Whitaker called the ruling, a beautiful moment, per ABC News. Its significantly diminished over the years and hes not able to maintain this $400,000 house for his mother and siblings to live in.. Pernell Whitaker - Wikipedia In 1990, he defended his Lightweight title against future champion Freddie Pendleton and Super Featherweight Champion Azumah Nelson of Ghana. Blaine's son-in-law Andy Johnson tells The Associated Press that Blaine died of natural causes Monday . Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. #PernellWhitaker pic.twitter.com/IZv3IQOo2f, It was an honor to share the ring with him. 8:56 AM PT -- TMZ Sports just spoke with boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. -- a long time friend of Pernell -- who tells us how much Whitaker meant to boxing and to him personally. I cant really say how Im feeling because Im feeling shocked. Feb. 27, 2014— -- Former welterweight boxing champ Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker's latest battle was a court fight to evict his mother from her house and he described his court victory as a "beautiful moment.". American boxing legend, Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker died at the age of 55 Sunday after being struck by a car in Virginia Beach. Whitaker and Chavez, who was 87-0 at the time, were considered two of the greatest boxers, pound for pound, of their day. Unclear if the driver of the car was arrested but he did stay on the scene to speak with police. Local boxing legend Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker dies in Virginia Beach In January, 1997, Whitaker put his title on the line against Cuban fighter Diosbelys Hurtado. pic.twitter.com/sa4qZIDIIG, Im truly lost for words to hear Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker is no longer with us. Main Events promoter Kathy Duva, whose company promoted Whitaker throughout his career and who remained close to Whitaker after his retirement, mourned his death. " C4TV" - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvSZMLlUrPISUCxiDsnFVPwPernell Whitaker (born January 2 . Pernell's lawyers said that he is not making the same kind of money as a trainer that he was as a boxer, and needed to sell off the home to satisfy the tax debt owed in order to prevent the property from being seized and put into foreclosure. But since we cant seem to keep Pete out of the boxing ring, I guess this is the best place.. 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. Main Events was promoting a card at the Virginia Beach Pavilion Convention Center. [25] In the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds the fighters exchanged combinations. How good will the promotion be? There's no doubt.". 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. On behalf of everyone at Golden Boy, we send our prayers and condolences to his family and friends. Mark Lelinwalla is a contributing writer and editor for DAZN News. Though he is not in this world anymore, he has a fan page account on different social media platforms. 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.". When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male victim who had been hit by a vehicle. Boxing legend Pernell Whitaker was killed Sunday night after he was hit by a car in Virginia Beach, TMZ Sports has learned. 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. ", "That's all I can say about him," he told the newspaper. His fall from grace and solvency involved numerous incidences of drug abuse and a history of arrests and run-ins with police. pic.twitter.com/gqf41jo6IO, This man was one of the greatest boxers ever to lace up gloves, loved watching him growing, defensive savant and as brave as they come. After Whitakers death, his son Domonique took to Facebook to announce his fathers passing. The couples marriage held in the boxing ring at the Virginia Beach Pavilion Convention Center on 2 January 1964. What happens when a boxer kills his opponent? Whitakers career was recognized by other great boxers and athletes on social media, including Oscar De La Hoya and Magic Johnson. [2] He had six siblings, two brothers, Raymond Whitaker, Jr, Raynell Whitaker; and four sisters; Zelda Brown, Sylvonia Whitaker, Lucinda Manley, and Monique Williams. Other than this, there is no other information on his parents, siblings, or documented on his education. ", Yes! In fact, as one person involved in the investigation put it "It appears to just be a horrible accident.". "From Olympic gold to world championships in four weight divisions, Pernell Whitaker was one of the greatest boxers to ever lace up a pair of gloves," Hall of Fame executive director Edward Brophy said. [4] In 1989, Whitaker was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. In just his eleventh and twelfth pro bouts, Whitaker defeated former world champion Alfredo Layne on December 20, 1986 and former WBA and lineal Super Featherweight and WBC Light Welterweight title holder Roger Mayweather on March 28, 1987. has died. 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. Thank you for inspiring me and all the future champions to do the sport that we love. Virginia Beach - Pernell Whitaker Jr was born on October 5, 1984 and passed on Tuesday September 1, 2015. The 5'6" Virginia native had remarkable quickness and nearly unmatched ring awareness. Since the glory days, Whitaker has been training young boxers, but work is slowly drying up, according to Gould. Pernell married Rovanda Anthony on December 21, 1985 in the boxing ring at the Virginia Beach Pavilion Convention Center. A post shared by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather) on Jul 15, 2019 at 6:44am PDT, I'm deeply saddened by the loss of this great champion, who gave a tremendous amount of joy to those who watched him. Brett Caprioni Bio, Family, Career, Wife, Net Worth, Measurements. Whitaker lost his first chance at a championship in 1988, but he rebounded the next year to win the International Boxing Federation world lightweight title from Greg Haugen. 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 . Dan said, I can get you a couple of million dollars, but Pete would say, I dont want no easy fights. , Pernell Whitaker, Champion in Four Boxing Classes, Dies at 55, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/15/sports/pernell-whitaker-champion-in-four-boxing-classes-dies-at-55.html. Caption: Pernell Whitaker, late American professional boxer. Pernell Whitaker | Biography, Record, & Facts | Britannica [25] In the last round, Whitaker, with a badly swollen right eye, displayed a purely defensive stance, avoiding his opponent throughout the round while Trinidad continued on the offensive until the fight concluded. He was 55-years-old. Im praying for his family during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/56T1ueHiLh, So Sad. Upon hearing thetragic news that Pernell Whitaker diedafter being struck by a vehicle while crossing the streetin Virginia Beachon Sunday, members of the boxing community paid tribute to thelegend known as "Sweet Pea. Whitaker also trained former IBF world champion Paul Spadafora between 2009 and 2010 for 3 fights in which Spadafora won all three. A housing authority beating. "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. A grandson of Mrs. Whitaker, former NFL player Ronyell Whitaker, has also come forward to offer his assistance to his grandmother and make sure she is cared for. Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker, One of the All-Time Greats, Olympic boxing champions men's lightweight, Pan American Champions in Boxing Men's Lightweight, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pernell_Whitaker&oldid=1149470046, International Boxing Federation champions, Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States, Olympic gold medalists for the United States in boxing, International Boxing Hall of Fame inductees, Winners of the United States Championship for amateur boxers, AIBA World Boxing Championships medalists, World light-welterweight boxing champions, World light-middleweight boxing champions, Short description is different from Wikidata, Pages with login required references or sources, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 12 April 2023, at 13:03. 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. "When officers arrived on scene, they located an adult male victim who had been hit by a vehicle. Pernell Whitaker, widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive boxers of all time, has died after being hit by a car. He earned money at autograph shows as well. Pernell Whitaker - This is Boxing - YouTube He sponsored many events at Norfolk State University and spent countless hours training youth at boxing camps and gyms. Whitaker was a legendary boxer who multiple titles in. Pernell Whitaker, Champion in Four Boxing Classes, Dies at 55 His fall from grace and solvency involved numerous incidences of drug abuse and a history of arrests and run-ins with police. According to reports, he was a pedestrian and while crossing the street in Virginia Beach, he was struck and killed by a vehicle and the driver remained on there. They were all elected in their first year of eligibility. In my Top 2 fave fighters. Somebody that Ive always loved to watch and wanted to meet so bad and now it will never happen. Pernell Whitaker, boxing champ and ex-trainer of McKees Rocks' Paul Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker's Death Accidental; Suffered Blunt Force Whitaker and Anthony, who are now divorced, had four children Domonique, the late Pernell Jr., Dantavious, and Devon. pic.twitter.com/pZZEceN7h2. His is a Hall of Fame legacy, which we are forever grateful to call our own heritage. Pernell Whitaker, right, fighting Julio Cesar Vasquez in Atlantic City in April 1995. Once a celebrated millionaire boxer and 1985 Olympic gold medalist, Whitaker is now struggling to pay his bills and needed to sell the house which he gave to his mother nearly 30 years ago, according to his lawyer. Boxing legend Pernell Whitaker has died at the age of 55 after being hit by a car in Virginia. [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. Im going to get married in there, Whitaker said. Somebody that Ive always loved to watch and wanted to meet so bad and now it will never happen. In 1984, he won his amateur career with an Olympic gold medal. He was born as the son to parents Raymond Whitaker Sr. and his wife, Novella Whitaker. His son Pernell Jr. died in 2015. In 2002, The Ring ranked him tenth in their list of "The 100 Greatest Fighters of the Last 80 Years". #Boxing has lost one of its best and Ive lost a friend. To help promote the event, Main Events went to Whitaker, who was popular in the region, with the idea of having him and Anthony wed in the ring in front of the crowd after the show. Whitaker originally won the fight, but the win was nullified & changed to a No Decision after he failed a post-fight drug test. He then added the vacant WBC & The Ring belts by avenging his loss to Ramirez on August 20. Whitaker was recognized by boxing publication Ring Magazine as Fighter of the Year in 1989 and was ranked as one of the top ten boxers in the past 80 years by the publication. welterweight champion, was scuttled when Whitaker again tested positive for cocaine. The Virginia Beach Police Department confirmed the death, saying he was crossing a street at night when he was hit. Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker killed after he's hit by a vehicle in However, at the time of his demise, his net worth has an estimation of around $5 million. In recent years, with the millions he had earned largely gone, Whitaker trained fighters, including Zab Judah, who won the I.B.F. During his retirement, Whitaker dabbled as a trainer and remained close to Duva and her staff at Main Events. Boxing Hall of Famer Pernell Whitaker dies in auto accident - Yahoo Sports Legendary boxer Pernell Whitaker suffered "multiple blunt-force injuries" leading to his death at the age of 55 after being struck by a car while walking Sunday night in Virginia Beach,. We share so many great memories. Hurtado gave Whitaker all he could handle and then some. On March 12, 1988, he challenged Jos Luis Ramrez for the WBC Lightweight title in Levallois, France. He was small in statue but yet so big in heart and skills inside the ring, there will never be another like him, he will truly be missed pic.twitter.com/IqmXkqpqkG, May you Rest In Peace.. Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker! In 2001, he retired and then began another phase of his career as a professional coach from 2005. Boxing champ Pernell Whitaker dies; hit by car in Virginia After retirement, he also survived a cocaine overdose in 2001. 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. On March 6, 1993, he decisioned Buddy McGirt to become the Lineal and WBC Welterweight Champion. But nothing was more controversial than the draw he was saddled with against Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. on March 12, 1993. He added: I mentally and physically beat him. An autopsy stated that the cause of Whitaker's death was "multiple blunt force trauma.". Pernell Whitaker. As an amateur, Whitaker won a silver medal at the 1982 World Boxing Championships, a gold at the Pan-American Games in 1983 and a gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, all in the 132-pound lightweight division. He was small in statue but yet so big in heart and skills inside the ring, there will never be another like him, he will truly be missed pic.twitter.com/IqmXkqpqkG. The two met in a welterweight superfight simply named "The Fight"[11] on September 10, 1993 in San Antonio, Texas. Caption: Pernell Whitaker, late American professional boxer. In terms of his defense and ring generalship, Pernell Whitaker was the best fighter that I ever fought. Mark Schwarz reflects on Pernell Whitaker's legacy and notes that the fighter's toughest opponent might have been himself. It has garnered over 800 reactions, nearly 300 shares and many comments of support. 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. [16][17] The win set up a showdown with undefeated 1992 Olympic gold medalist Oscar De La Hoya. In terms of his defense and ring generalship, Pernell Whitaker was the best fighter that I ever fought. R.I.P. Max Kellerman (@maxkellerman) July 15, 2019 He jumped at it, and Rovanda loved it also. The accident occurred at approximately 10 p.m . Max Kellerman talks about Pernell Whitaker's legacy in the boxing world after Whitaker's death Sunday night. Whitaker continued on to dominate for the next few years, defending his welterweight title against Santos Cardona on April 9, 1994 and in a rematch against McGirt on October 1, 1994. Ex-Millionaire Boxer 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker Says Evicting Mom Is Pernell Whitaker was born on Jan. 2, 1964, in Norfolk, Va., one of seven children of Raymond and Novella Whitaker. Im still trying to process everything thats going on. 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. Whitaker successfully defended his WBC belt against Scotland's Gary Jacobs on August 26, 1995. His pro career began in 1984 and spanned all the way through 2001, with an amazing 40-4-1 record including 17 knockouts. The fight was much closer than what the scorecards showed, and many observers felt that Whitaker won the fight. pic.twitter.com/Zsgqa66FKF, When Pernell Whitaker was world champion from lightweight to light middleweight, he was something special. 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. 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. "Sweet Pea" was one of the most brilliant boxers in the past decades and he was always a great . Loved him. As an amateur, Whitaker went 201-14 and not only took home gold at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics but also won gold at the 1983 Pan American Games and a silver medal at the 1982 World Championships when he was 18. The house started to gather back taxes and since Whitaker could no longer afford it, he had to take action.
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