pernell whitaker son death

"He would smile at you and demonstrate to you, while smiling, how remarkably easy this was for him.". I could watch hours and hours of him. The driver was not cited -- though we're told that person is cooperating with authorities. "I can't really say how I'm feeling because I'm feeling shocked. Further, he holds the longest unified lightweight championship reign in boxing history to date with six title defenses. He had black eyes and black hair color. . 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. 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. Examined. "Everyone at the Hall of Fame joins the boxing community in mourning his passing and offers our condolences to his family.". Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! Sixteen months later, Whitaker returned, but he was a shell of himself against Trinidad. 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 "Sweet Pea" Whitaker, an Olympic gold medalist, was regarded as one . In 1984, he won his amateur career with an Olympic gold medal. No matter what he was going through, Pete had a great heart. . He fought everyone from Oscar De La Hoya to Julio Cesar Chavez -- and even though he lost to Oscar and Julio was a draw many people believe he was ROBBED in both decisions because he clearly won the fights. 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. He currently holds the longest unified lightweight championship reign in boxing history at six title defenses. Novella Whitaker said she was heartbroken by the decision. Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. Where Tyson was a savage wrecking ball, Whitaker was smooth and an untouchable thief in the night. In 2002, The Ring ranked him tenth in their list of "The 100 Greatest Fighters of the Last 80 Years". His. Seconds Out. Former boxing champion Pernell Whitaker has died after he was hit by a car in . He was also regarded as one of the best defensive boxers of all time. Whitaker and Anthony, who are now divorced, had four children Domonique, the late Pernell Jr., Dantavious, and Devon. 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. Moreover, from the age of nine, he started his training in an amateur boxing career. With his defensive techniques and skilled counterpunch, he had fought from 1984 to 2001. A loss to Carlos Bojorquez in April 2001 was his final match. Condolences to his family. "Sweet Pea" was one of the most brilliant boxers in the past decades and he was always a great . A planned fight in 1998 against Ike Quartey, then the W.B.A. Somebody that Ive always loved to watch and wanted to meet so bad and now it will never happen. [25] In the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds the fighters exchanged combinations. Questions ahead of Paul vs. Diaz: Can Diaz box? Waking up to this news just has me GUTTED. He was a flawless fighter. But he now has two mortgages on the house and the alternative was if he didnt sell, it was going to go to foreclosure.. 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, Whitakers lawyer Bruce Gould told ABC News in 2014. This photo was taken 7/13/19. 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. Whitaker would fight nine times in the Scope arena during his career. He was 55. . ", I'm deeply saddened by the loss of this great champion, who gave a tremendous amount of joy to those who watched him. He was the pound for pound best for half a decade, and one of the 3 greatest pure boxers who ever lived. Divisional rankings: Where do Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia land after their megafight? #RipSweetPea https://t.co/TSzFcf5d5Y, Very sad to hear the news about Pernell Whitaker today. 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. (1:45). By subscribing, I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. He suffered his first pro defeat when the judges awarded a split decision to Ramirez. His is a Hall of Fame legacy, which we are forever grateful to call our own heritage. pic.twitter.com/pZZEceN7h2. 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. welterweight champion, was scuttled when Whitaker again tested positive for cocaine. Stars Arrive to Fashion's Biggest Night!!! Thank you for inspiring me and all the future champions to do the sport that we love. But unfortunately, he had a car accident in which he lost his life on the spot in Virginia Street on 14 July 2019. During his professional career, he had 40 wins, 17 knockouts, four losses and one draw, per CNN. 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. In December 2005 Whitaker became a boxing trainer in his home state of Virginia. https://t.co/OzPUCeBmgK. He was 55. His fall from grace and solvency involved numerous incidences of drug abuse and a history of arrests and run-ins with police. I'm still trying to process everything that's going on. His son Pernell Jr. died in 2015. super lightweight title in 1992 and Buddy McGirt for the World Boxing Council welterweight belt in early 1993. We ended up paying for the wedding and had the reception after the show at the fight hotel.". "An artist in the ring, 'Sweet Pea' appeared on our World Championship Boxing platform for a decade [1990-1999], giving fans many unforgettable moments. mourned his death. 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. Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. He could stand in front of you and you couldnt find him, Jim Lampley, the longtime HBO boxing announcer, said in a phone interview. 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. Thats all I can say about him, he told the Virginian Pilot newspaper. 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. 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. My prayers are with his family and loved ones. Waking up to this news just has me GUTTED. R I P champ, one of the best fighters to ever do it. ", 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. https://t.co/pZZEceN7h2, I am saddened to learn of my good friend and Olympic teammate Pernell Whitaker's untimely passing last night. He was a flawless fighter. They had four children together: Dominique, the late Pernell Jr., Dantavious, and Devon. In addition, he also fathered a daughter Tiara Whitaker from his past relationship. But he was a cool guy., Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. 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. [4] In 1989, Whitaker was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Speaking of his persona life, he had married Rovanda Anthony. He was a successful trainer after his retirement although he became involved in an ugly dispute with his mother over money in recent years. After the fights, we dropped the ropes, and they got married in the ring. Three months after the Olympics, he and several other members of the United States boxing team, among them Evander Holyfield and Mark Breland, made their professional debuts at Madison Square Garden in New York. Whitaker and Chavez, who was 87-0 at the time, were considered two of the greatest boxers, pound for pound, of their day. On March 6, 1993, he decisioned Buddy McGirt to become the Lineal and WBC Welterweight Champion. American boxing legend, Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker died at the age of 55 Sunday after being struck by a car in Virginia Beach. Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker went from success to struggling. 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 driver of the car remained at the scene, and the police said they were investigating the incident. Former boxing champion Pernell Whitaker has died after he was hit by a car in Virginia. #Boxing has lost one of its best and Ive lost a friend. Pernell Whitaker, a former boxing champion and Olympic medalist, has died after he was hit by a car in Virginia Beach. 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. world super lightweight title under Whitakers tutelage. Whitaker, who was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006, won world titles in four weight classes. 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. 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. Police in Virginia Beach on Monday say Whitaker was a pedestrian when struck by the car. Mauricio Sulaiman. A housing authority beating. He was born on 2 January 1964, in Norfolk, Virginia. 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. "[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. He was only 55. [2] He had six siblings, two brothers, Raymond Whitaker, Jr, Raynell Whitaker; and four sisters; Zelda Brown, Sylvonia Whitaker, Lucinda Manley, and Monique Williams. 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. [32] He was 55. Pernell Whitaker was born in Norfolk, Virginia on January 2, 1964, the son of Raymond Whitaker Sr. and his wife, Novella. He was 55. When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male victim who had been hit by a vehicle. There's no doubt.". Whitaker is survived by his 5 children. The Virginia Beach Police Department said the incident remains an active investigation, but Whitaker was apparently hit by a vehicle at around 10 p.m. Sunday when he was walking at an intersection. Im going to surviveIm a survivor..Im going with my daughtershe is taking me in, she said. But he still showed up at the arena to marry his fiance, Rovanda Anthony, in the ring after the evenings last fight. 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. No matter what he was going through, Pete had a great heart. 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, (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. Unclear if the driver of the car was arrested but he did stay on the scene to speak with police. 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. He was a flawless fighter. He was 55 years old.. His fall from grace and solvency involved numerous incidences of drug abuse and a history of arrests and run-ins with police. After Whitakers boxing career ended, his personal life took a hit as he had several run-ins with drug abuse and legal troubles, according to ABC News. RIP Sweet Pea. 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. 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. We share so many great memories. 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. "When officers arrived on scene, they located an adult male victim who had been hit by a vehicle. Gould also mentioned that Whitakers money has been drying up since he retired from professional fighting. [25] Later in the fight, both boxers fell to the canvas in what were ruled as "accidental slips. The judges gave the champion scores of 117111, 118109 and 118109.[25]. Teofimo Lopez wants to leave a Muhammad Ali-like legacy, Pain, hope, science collide as athletes turn to magic mushrooms, How a gym in California's Coachella Valley became an international destination for boxing. However, he chose to move back to welterweight.[14][15]. "I'm going to surviveI'm a survivor..I'm going with my daughtershe is taking me in," said Novella Whitaker told WVEC. His survivors include his sons, Devon, Dominique and Dantavious, and his daughter, Tiara. "He was this person who was only comfortable in the ring. Pernell Whitaker was an American professional boxer who had his fights from 1984 to 2001. His wake will be on Monday September 7, 2015 at the Metropolitan Funeral Home in Berkley. 2023 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. 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. RIP Sweet Pea. He retired after being stopped, his shoulder injured, in the fourth round of a fight against Carlos Bojorquez in 2001. We send our condolences to his family, as well as his extended family at Main Events and throughout the boxing community.". 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, Virginia.

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