Pernell Whitaker biography
Pernell Whitaker, (born January 2, 1964, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.—died July 14, 2019, Virginia Beach, Virginia), American skilled boxer, world light-weight (135 kilos), junior welterweight (140 kilos), welterweight (147 kilos), and junior middleweight (154 kilos) champion within the Nineteen Eighties and ’90s.
Whitaker was a left-handed boxer who excelled on the defensive facet of the game. He had a stellar beginner boxing profession as a light-weight: he gained the U.S. Golden Gloves and a silver medal within the World Boxing Championships in 1982, the gold medal on the Pan American Sports Games in 1983, and the gold medal on the Olympic Games in 1984.
Whitaker gained his first skilled struggle, on November 15, 1984, in addition to his subsequent 10 fights earlier than getting a title shot. On March 28, 1987, Whitaker gained a 12-round choice (a struggle whose consequence is set by judges’ scoring) over American Roger Mayweather to take the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) light-weight title. Although he misplaced a 12-round choice to José Luis Ramírez of Mexico for the World Boxing Council (WBC) light-weight title on March 12, 1988, Whitaker got here again to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-weight title from American Greg Haugen on February 18, 1989, and he added the WBC title by successful a 12-round choice in a rematch with Ramírez on August 20, 1989. Following a number of profitable title defenses, Whitaker knocked out Juan Nazario of Puerto Rico within the first spherical on August 11, 1990, to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) light-weight title. The following yr, he defended his light-weight titles thrice, every time successful on a 12-round choice.
Whitaker moved up in weight class once more, successful the WBC welterweight title with a 12-round choice over American James (“Buddy”) McGirt on March 6, 1993. On March 4, 1995, Whitaker as soon as once more moved up in weight class, successful the WBA junior middleweight (often known as tremendous welterweight) title with a 12-round choice over Julio Cesar Vasquez of Argentina. Whitaker quickly deserted this title in favour of defending his welterweight title, which he lastly misplaced on April 12, 1997, in a 12-round choice to American Oscar de La Hoya. Whitaker subsequent gained a 10-round choice over Andrei Pestriaev of Russia on October 17, 1997, however, after Whitaker examined constructive for cocaine instantly following the struggle, the outcome was modified to a no contest. Whitaker had another struggle, on February 20, 1999, through which he challenged Puerto Rican Felix Trinidad for his IBF welterweight title, however misplaced in a 12-round choice. Whitaker completed his skilled profession with 40 wins (17 by knockouts), 4 losses, 1 draw, and 1 no contest. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.