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SPORTS Tuesday 16 July 2019
Boxing champ Pernell Whitaker dies; hit by car in Virginia

By TIM DAHLBERG Whitaker was one of the
AP Boxing Writer greats in the art of boxing.
Pernell Whitaker, an Olym- "When I first saw "Pernell
pic gold medalist and four Sweet Pea Whitaker" in
division champion who was Training Camp; it was like
regarded as one of the watching a Cat with box-
greatest defensive fighters ing gloves," Foreman said.
ever, has died after being "Best balance I'd ever seen
hit by a car in Virginia. He in a Boxer."
was 55. Duva, whose Main Events
Police in Virginia Beach company promoted all his
said the former fighter was fights, remembered Whita-
hit by a car Sunday night. ker as being as sweet as his
The driver of the car re- nickname. She said he was
mained on the scene, and generous to a fault with a
police said they were inves- large group of family mem-
tigating the circumstances bers, buying a house for
of the death. many of them to live in be-
Sweet Pea was Whitaker's fore losing it after he retired
nickname, and it fit per- from boxing.
fectly. He was a master of Whitaker made millions in
getting hit and not getting the ring — $6 million for the
hit back, a southpaw who De La Hoya fight alone —
slipped in and out of the but Duva said he had little
pocket and rarely gave an left in the end.
opponent an opportunity "He wasn't a spender. He
to land a clean shot. was very modest," she said.
Whitaker won a gold med- "But he was supporting an
al at the 1984 Olympics in awful lot of people for a
Los Angeles — one of nine long time."
U.S. champions that year — In this March 6, 1993, file photo, Pernell Whitaker celebrates after winning his third world champi- A native of Norfolk, Whita-
and made his pro debut on onship with a unanimous decision over James "Buddy" McGirt in a 12-round bout at New York's ker battled alcohol prob-
national television. He ad- Madison Square Garden. lems throughout his adult
vanced quickly, and was Associated Press life, Duva said. He also
fighting for a major title by served time in prison after
his 17th fight, a loss to Jose first ballot selection into the Whitaker landing 311 "Of course (I won) but violating his probation in
Luis Ramirez that he would International Boxing Hall of punches to 220 for Chavez, that really doesn't matter," 2003 on a conviction for
avenge the next year. Fame. while throwing 153 more Whitaker said. "As long as cocaine possession.
But Whitaker was also His style was unique and it punches. the world saw it, then the But in recent years Whitaker
known as the victim of was effective, a hit-and- But when the decision people can say who won had been happy going to
one of the worst decisions don't-be-hit strategy that came down, it was a draw the fight. I should have got- boxing events and meet-
in boxing, a draw that al- was later adopted by a ris- that was roundly criticized ten 10 out of 12 rounds. ing fans and signing auto-
lowed Julio Cesar Chavez ing young fighter named throughout boxing. It was a shutout. For 12 graphs. He was supposed
to remain unbeaten in their Floyd Mayweather Jr. "He would stand in the rounds, he took punish- to be a part of the Manny
welterweight showdown Whitaker and Mayweather pocket and make every- ment, he took a beating. Pacquiao-Keith Thurman
before a crowd of more never met in the ring, but body miss and frustrate He can have the title but fight night Saturday in Las
than 60,000 at the Alamo- Whitaker did win a decision the hell out of them," Duva we know who the best Vegas, where he was go-
dome in San Antonio in over Mayweather's uncle, said. "He said it was the fighter is." ing to be honored as a box-
1993. Roger, in 1987. most beautiful feeling in the Whitaker's last big fight ing legend.
Four years later, Whitaker Still, it was two controversial world, to hit the other guy came near the end of his "For years he wouldn't do
was on the losing end of decisions — one a draw, and not get hit." career, when Felix Trinidad those things," Duva said.
another difficult decision the other a loss — that may Whitaker would go on to scored a unanimous deci- "He found out that it was
against Oscar De La Hoya have defined his career lose his next mega fight sion in their welterweight ti- great, everybody was tell-
in Las Vegas, a fight many more than anything. against De La Hoya, de- tle fight at Madison Square ing him how much they
ringsiders thought he had The first came against spite bloodying his oppo- Garden. He would fight loved him and what a
won. Chavez, the Mexican great nent and seemingly out- only once more before re- great fighter he was."
"When you see the list of who was unbeaten in 87 boxing him over 12 rounds tiring, and later worked as Duva said Whitaker was di-
greatest boxing robberies fights when he and Whita- in their welterweight title a trainer for fighters in the vorced and had four chil-
in history they were both ker met in a highly antici- fight. A poll of ringside writ- Virginia Beach area. dren. His family issued a
No. 1 and No. 2 on the list," pated fight in San Antonio. ers showed the majority Former heavyweight statement saying the death
said Kathy Duva, his long- Whitaker came out in his thought Whitaker won, and champion George Fore- was "one of the darkest
time promoter. "And every trademark style, confus- he thought so, too. man wrote on Twitter that moments in our lives."q
list of top 10 fighters of all ing Chavez and frustrating
time he was on, too." the Mexican champion.
Whitaker was a champion Chavez stalked Whitaker
in four weight classes, win- throughout the fight, but
ning his first one with a 1989 Whitaker wasn't there to
decision over Greg Haugen be found for the most part,
at lightweight, in a profes- and when he traded with
sional career that spanned Chavez he seemed to get
17 years. He finished with a the better of the Mexican. /arubatoday/
record of 40-4-1 and was a Ringside statistics showed