Glad I got to sit next to him at the Ward v Kovalev fight in Las Vegas. 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. His survivors include his sons, Devon, Dominique and Dantavious, and his daughter, Tiara. Anyone can read what you share. Pernell Whitaker, an Olympic gold medallist 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. Pernell Whitaker, heralded as one of the greatest boxers to ever lace up a pair of gloves, died Sunday night after he was hit by a pickup truck while walking across a wide thoroughfare in Virginia . ", "That's all I can say about him," he told the newspaper. He has written for the likes of the New York Daily News, Men's Health, The Associated Press, Sports Illustrated, Complex, XXL and Vibe Magazine. Felix Trinidad throws a punch during a fight against Pernell Whitaker. He currently holds the longest unified lightweight championship reign in boxing history at six title defenses. He later trained young prospect Joel Julio. pic.twitter.com/pZZEceN7h2. Im going to get married in there, Whitaker said. "[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. I cant really say how Im feeling because Im feeling shocked. Boxing community reacts to tragic death of Pernell Whitaker, Pernell Whitaker diedafter being struck by a vehicle. 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. 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. 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. 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! When he returned to the ring in early 1999, he fractured his jaw in a decisive loss to Felix Trinidad for the I.B.F. We're told officials received a call around 10:04. Sweet Pea was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006 -- and is considered by many to be one of the greatest fighters of ALL TIME. The draw let Whitaker hold onto the title, and he won his next eight fights, including one that brought him the World Boxing Association super welterweight title. Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. He was 55. Since the glory days, Whitaker has been training young boxers, but work is slowly drying up, according to Gould. Where Tyson was a savage wrecking ball, Whitaker was smooth and an untouchable thief in the night.Im a scientist now, Im not a boxer.RIP Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker pic.twitter.com/JKj4yoFKiC, We have just received the sad news informing us that Pernell Whitaker has passed. 7:26 AM PT -- Pernell took a photo with Floyd Mayweather at an autograph show they were both appearing at in Virginia on the day before he died. He was only 55. In 1984, he won his amateur career with an Olympic gold medal. During his long and successful career I never missed one of his fights. Whitaker, trained by the longtime team of Lou Duva and George Benton and managed by Shelly Finkel, won his first world title at lightweight by outpointing Greg Haugen in 1989. Whitaker had been going head to head against the matriarch of his seven-child family since last fall when he began eviction proceedings after unsuccessfully trying to convince his mother to move, his lawyer, Bruce Gould told ABC News. 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. "An artist in the ring, 'Sweet Pea' appeared on our World Championship Boxing platform for a decade [1990-1999], giving fans many unforgettable moments. Let us scroll over to know more about his personal details. In my Top 2 fave fighters. Max Kellerman (@maxkellerman) July 15, 2019 Source: Business Insider. https://t.co/OzPUCeBmgK. One of the greatest boxers of my lifetime and my good friend Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker passed away last night. 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. In 2002, The Ring ranked Whitaker as the 10th Greatest Fighter of the Last 80 Years. SMH RIP SWEET PEA you will for ever be one of the greatest to ever lace em up. "He would smile at you and demonstrate to you, while smiling, how remarkably easy this was for him.". Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker, an Olympic gold medalist, was regarded as one . #ripsweetpea pic.twitter.com/un90hPmIO6. Whitaker's youngest son, Devon Whitaker, told The Virginian-Pilot newspaper that his dad was a "cool guy." . The victim succumbed to his injuries on the scene," Virginia Beach Police Department spokesman L.M. 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. The autopsy on Pernell Whitaker has been completed -- with officials saying the boxer died from "multiple blunt force injuries" in a car accident that has been labelled an "accident." TMZ. Other than this, there is no other information on his parents, siblings, or documented on his education. Whitaker had been scheduled to fight on a nationally televised card with four other former Olympians Mark Breland, Tyrell Biggs, Meldrick Taylor and Evander Holyfield on that day in the mid-1980s, but the boxing legend had other plans. "Hes not happy that it was necessary to go to court," Gould said. He was 55. . Ring Magazine named him the Fight of the Year in 1989. He was the pound for pound best for half a decade, and one of the 3 greatest pure boxers who ever lived. Whitaker won titles in the lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight divisions. A post shared by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather) on Jul 15, 2019 at 6:44am PDT. He then beat Rafael Pineda for the I.B.F. By subscribing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. The court ruled that Whitaker's 73-year-old mother, Novella Whitaker, had to vacate the house by March 31. 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! 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. As a trainer, he trained Joel Julio and also the trainer for heavyweight Calvin Brock. 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. RIP Champ. Loved him. I could hear Dan telling him, Ill get you an easy fight, for a breather, and Pete would say, I dont want no easy fights, she said. He was a flawless fighter. According to ABC News, the home was a two-story brick house near the Botanical Garden in Norfolk. In my Top 2 fave fighters. (1:45). ", 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. Pernell Whitaker was born in Norfolk, Virginia on January 2, 1964, the son of Raymond Whitaker Sr. and his wife, Novella. Chavez, the reigning junior welterweight titlist at the time, moved up in weight to challenge Whitaker for his welterweight world title before some 65,000 at the Alamodome in San Antonio in a showdown for pound-for-pound supremacy. He passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2019. In 2002, The Ring ranked him in the list of 10th Greatest Fighter of the Last 80 Years. His son Pernell Jr. died in 2015. A Virginia judge ruled that Pernell Whitaker's mother must vacate a home she's been living in since 1984. Hes not happy that it was necessary to go to court, his lawyer Bruce Gould told ABC News. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? This photo was taken 7/13/19. [18], For his part, De La Hoya wasn't too pleased with his own performance against Whitaker and had hinted at a possible rematch to prove that he could do better against him. #Boxing has lost one of its best and Ive lost a friend. Longtime friend, Olympic teammate and former heavyweight world champion Evander Holyfield tweeted: I am saddened to learn of my good friend and Olympic teammate Pernell Whitaker's untimely passing last night. Pernell Whitakers Family: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. Heres what you need to know about Whitakers family: Getty Pernell Whitaker throws a punch at Wilfredo Rivera in a 1996 match. pic.twitter.com/56T1ueHiLh, So Sad. Pernell Whitaker was an American professional boxer who had his fights from 1984 to 2001. Pernell Whitaker is legally having his mother evicted from a home she's been living in since 1984. They brought him to events and scheduled him for personal appearances and autograph signings. Its significantly diminished over the years and hes not able to maintain this $400,000 house for his mother and siblings to live in.. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Somebody that Ive always loved to watch and wanted to meet so bad and now it will never happen. Then he later worked as a boxing trainer in his hometown Virginia after his retirement. After his retirement in 2001, Whitaker returned to the sport as a trainer. On behalf of everyone at Golden Boy, we send our prayers and condolences to his family and friends. The accident occurred at approximately 10 p.m . How good will the promotion be? A housing authority beating. During his welterweight reign, Whitaker made a one-fight jump to junior middleweight and outpointed Julio Cesar Vasquez in 1995 to win a title in his fourth division. [10], Whitaker was gaining momentum and boxing experts and fans felt that he needed to win against the pound for pound best boxer in the world: Julio Csar Chvez. 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.". His humble beginnings started in Youngs Park Housing Community where he was inspired to start his boxing career. On Wednesday, a Norfolk General District Court judge ruled in Whitakers favor, ordering Novella Whitaker and two other children and their families also living in the home to leave the house by March 31. Mauricio Sulaiman. I am saddened to learn of my good friend and Olympic teammate Pernell Whitaker's untimely passing last night. 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. Since then, Whitaker went through financial struggles as his career transitioned from professional fighter to boxing trainer. "Pernell Whitaker was beautiful -- both as a fighter and as a human being," HBO, his longtime television home, broadcasting 19 of his fights, said in a statement. He crowned his amateur career with an Olympic gold medal in 1984, beating Luis Ortiz to obtain it. He was born on 2 January 1964, in Norfolk, Virginia. mourned his death. I put an old-fashioned project beating on him. He was 55. Whitaker won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics and became a champion in four weight classes as a professional. 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. He drew some news media attention in 2014 when he got into a dispute with his mother, leading him to evict her from the house he had bought her in Norfolk because she was not paying for its upkeep. He added: I mentally and physically beat him. Loved him. 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. [32] He was 55. He earned money at autograph shows as well. Known as "Sweet Pea," Whitaker, a southpaw from Norfolk, Virginia, was revered as perhaps the best defensive fighter in history, and his slick moves confounded opponent after opponent. He passed away on Sunday, July 14, 2019. Pernell Whitaker was born on Jan. 2, 1964, in Norfolk, Va., one of seven children of Raymond and Novella Whitaker. Pernell Whitaker, a longtime pound-for-pound king and one of the greatest boxers in history, was killed Sunday night when he was hit by a car in Virginia Beach, Virginia. To me, he was one of the top five greatest boxers ever! He was 55. It was the first of Whitakers 15 consecutive victories through 1988, a pace that was slowed temporarily by an injury that kept him from fighting on a card at the Pavilion Convention Center in Virginia Beach in December 1985. On December 7, 2006, Whitaker was inducted in the International Boxing Hall of Fame along with contemporaries Roberto Durn and Ricardo Lpez. A planned fight in 1998 against Ike Quartey, then the W.B.A. Markian Hawryluk and Kevin Van Valkenburg, Whitaker was arguably the greatest lightweight ever (1:45), Hall of Fame boxer Whitaker hit by car, dies, Garcia, trainer Goossen part ways, sources say. . But he now has two mortgages on the house and the alternative was if he didnt sell, it was going to go to foreclosure.. has died. He met Oscar De La Hoya on April 12, 1997, in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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. #RipSweetPea https://t.co/TSzFcf5d5Y, Very sad to hear the news about Pernell Whitaker today. Before his professional career, Whitaker won a gold medal in the lightweight division at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. However, he chose to move back to welterweight.[14][15]. 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.". The former four-division world champion had made a good earning out of his career in his lifetime. Pernell Whitaker, a former boxing champion and Olympic medalist, has died after he was hit by a car in Virginia Beach. R I P champ, one of the best fighters to ever do it. welterweight belt. However, at the time of his demise, his net worth has an estimation of around $5 million. [2] He had six siblings, two brothers, Raymond Whitaker, Jr, Raynell Whitaker; and four sisters; Zelda Brown, Sylvonia Whitaker, Lucinda Manley, and Monique Williams. He retired in 2001 after three defeats in his final four fights with but he was in his prime in the 80s and 90s. In 1990, he defended his Lightweight title against future champion Freddie Pendleton and Super Featherweight Champion Azumah Nelson of Ghana. ", Yes! What happens when a boxer kills his opponent? When cops arrived, they located the man who had been hit by a vehicle who was in really bad shape -- and our sources tell us that man was Pernell Whitaker. Whitaker also had a daughter from a prior relationship, Tiara. Rest in Peace my friend. Pernell graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1982 and later received an honorary Bachelors degree from Norfolk State University. He lost to two-time Olympic Gold medalist ngel Herrera Vera at the final of the World Championships 1982 but beat him four other times, notably in the final of the Pan American Games 1983 in Caracas. Following this fight, Whitaker officially announced his retirement. "Sweet Pea" was one of the most brilliant boxers in the past decades and he was always a great . [25] The fight began with both boxers displaying aggressive styles, which included excessive pushing. 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. Whitaker also trained former IBF world champion Paul Spadafora between 2009 and 2010 for 3 fights in which Spadafora won all three. RIP Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker pic.twitter.com/JKj4yoFKiC, We have just received the sad news informing us that Pernell Whitaker has passed. In fact, as one person involved in the investigation put it "It appears to just be a horrible accident.". Whitaker, 50, bought the two-story brick home near the Botanical Garden in Norfolk, Va., for his mother in 1984 when he was still flush from his many wins in the ring. 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. Ryan Garcia took a chance and lost, but boxing is better for it, Gervonta Davis says he's the face of boxing and he's right, Women's boxing divisional rankings: Ryan shakes up welterweight division after impressive win. By David K. Li. 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. Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! During his retirement, Whitaker dabbled as a trainer and remained close to Duva and her staff at Main Events. Speaking of his persona life, he had married Rovanda Anthony. Police in Virginia Beach said Whitaker was killed as he crossed the road at an intersection on Sunday night. Examined. [25] In the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds the fighters exchanged combinations. "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. American boxing legend, Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker died at the age of 55 Sunday after being struck by a car in Virginia Beach. 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. He was. He was only 55. pic.twitter.com/Zsgqa66FKF, When Pernell Whitaker was world champion from lightweight to light middleweight, he was something special. However, their marriage didnt go well and divorced after years. His fall from grace and solvency involved numerous incidences of drug abuse and a history of arrests and run-ins with police. He retired after being stopped, his shoulder injured, in the fourth round of a fight against Carlos Bojorquez in 2001. To me, he was one of the top five greatest boxers ever! Outside of the Virginia courtroom where the eviction proceedings took place, he called the ruling in his favor "a beautiful moment. The house was always listed under Whitakers name and as there was no written lease or deed of gift, the sons oral promise to his mother is not enforceable under Virginia law, Gould said. In addition, he won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics and 1983 Pan American Games. Where Tyson was a savage wrecking ball, Whitaker was smooth and an untouchable thief in the night. Due to his financial problems, Whitaker had to file eviction orders against his mother, then 73-year-old, Novella Whitaker. He was 55. 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. An autopsy stated that the cause of Whitaker's death was "multiple blunt force trauma.". Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. At the end of the fight, the judges' scores were 111-115, 110-116, 110-116. Former boxing champion Pernell Whitaker has died after he was hit by a car in Virginia. 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. Im truly lost for words to hear Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker is no longer with us. He had inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. The driver was not cited -- though we're told that person is cooperating with authorities. He would smile at you and demonstrate to you, while smiling, how remarkably easy this was for him.. Im still trying to process everything thats going on. We send our condolences to his family, as well as his extended family at Main Events and throughout the boxing community.". Pernell Whitaker Jr Passes Away Today From Rare Cancer Boxing and Basketball 12.9K subscribers Subscribe 12K views 7 years ago Make Sure you hit the Thanks Button Down Below This Channel to. 9:54. In 2001, he retired and then began another phase of his career as a professional coach from 2005. #RipSweetPea https://t.co/TSzFcf5d5Y, Very sad to hear the news about Pernell Whitaker today.RIP Champ. With his defensive techniques and skilled counterpunch, he had fought from 1984 to 2001. 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. Whitaker and Chavez, who was 87-0 at the time, were considered two of the greatest boxers, pound for pound, of their day. He was one of the greatest boxers of all time. Whitaker successfully defended his WBC belt against Scotland's Gary Jacobs on August 26, 1995. We share so many great memories. Pernell Whitaker, who forged a reputation as arguably the greatest defensive boxer who ever lived, died late Sunday in Virginia Beach . 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 . A split-decision loss for a lightweight world title to Jose Luis Ramirez in 1988 and the loss of his welterweight belt to Oscar De La Hoya in 1997 were highly controversial. Getty Emergency medical personnel at the scene tried to resuscitate Whitaker -- even performing CPR on him -- but unfortunately, Whitaker succumbed to his injuries and died. His. "I'm deeply saddened by the loss of this great champion, who gave a tremendous amount of joy to those who watched him," De La Hoya, now chairman of Golden Boy promotions, said in a statement. His pro career began in 1984 and spanned all the way through 2001, with an amazing 40-4-1 record including 17 knockouts. Click Agree to accept our use of cookies or you can choose to opt out of our use of cookies by following the instructions in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Notice. 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. In his memory, there is an Instagram account @pernellwhitakerr with more than 2k followers. Im praying for his family during this difficult time. R.I.P. Caption: Pernell Whitaker, late American professional boxer. "I loved Pernell Whitaker, and he loved me -- there was no doubt . " C4TV" - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvSZMLlUrPISUCxiDsnFVPwPernell Whitaker (born January 2 . His death led to an outpouring of condolences from other the era's other superstars. Sweet Pea has two siblings: a brother, Raymond, Jr., and a sister, Monique. Pernell Whitaker, widely considered to be one of the greatest defensive boxers of all time, has died after being hit by a car. In 2002, The Ring ranked him tenth in their list of "The 100 Greatest Fighters of the Last 80 Years". pic.twitter.com/56T1ueHiLh, So Sad. 11:09. Floyd paid tribute to Pernell on social media saying, "R I P champ, one of the best fighters to ever do it.". [16][17] The win set up a showdown with undefeated 1992 Olympic gold medalist Oscar De La Hoya. He suffered his first pro defeat when the judges awarded a split decision to Ramirez. Pernell Whitaker. While one judge did score the fight in favor of Whitaker (115-113), the other 2 judges saw an even bout (115-115), resulting in a majority draw. In his next fight on March 4, 1995, Whitaker added Julio Csar Vsquez's WBA super welterweight title to his collection. [25] Later in the fight, both boxers fell to the canvas in what were ruled as "accidental slips. Whitaker is survived by three of his four children with Anthony -- Pernell Jr. died a few years ago -- and a daughter from a previous relationship. The house started to gather back taxes and since Whitaker could no longer afford it, he had to take action. I could watch hours and hours of him. Whitaker originally won the fight, but the win was nullified & changed to a No Decision after he failed a post-fight drug test. Stars Arrive to Fashion's Biggest Night!!! Death. [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. He was born as the son to parents Raymond Whitaker Sr. and his wife, Novella Whitaker. On behalf of everyone at Golden Boy, we send our prayers and condolences to his family and friends. One of the greatest boxers of my lifetime and my good friend Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker passed away last night. Thats all I can say about him, he told the Virginian Pilot newspaper. I always wanted a church wedding, Anthony said, but since we cant seem to keep Pete out of the boxing ring, I guess this is the best place.. pic.twitter.com/sa4qZIDIIG, Im truly lost for words to hear Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker is no longer with us.