This boxer left the sport, having behind him a brilliant career and a great many titles in different weight categories. To the great regret of sports fans, the former champion has serious problems with drugs, alcohol and, of course, in this case, with the legislation of his country. Also troubles were added in the family. But with all this, Pernell Whitaker forever inscribed his name in the history of world boxing. We’ll talk about him in more detail.
general information
The legendary black athlete was born on January 2, 1978 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA. During his professional career, the fighter spent 45 fights, of which he lost only three. Pernell Whitaker boxed in the left-handed stance.
Career
During his athletic life, the American was able to beat almost all the elite fighters in the divisions from 135 to 154 pounds. But with all this, the path of the champion did not begin as successfully as his colleagues in the Holyfield and Taylor national team. Frequent injuries to the leg and left arm did not allow him to quickly advance in international professional ratings.
After several fights, Pernell Whitaker was able to develop his exclusive style of conducting the fight, which was distinguished by a certain degree of shocking and foppishness. For this, the public was very fond of him, and the judges did not respect him too much.
At the end of 1986, the boxer managed to win all the proven 11 fights. And in the last fight he won in an openly mocking style, completely outboxing in all rounds of Alfred Lane. At the same time, during the battle, Pernell was able to deliver a brilliant blow with a 360-degree turn.
First title
In his 12th match, Whitaker entered the ring to fight the legendary Roger Mayweather. The current champion at that time in the first three minutes was able to knock down the challenger. However, further along the battle, Pernell was able to seize the initiative and convincingly win all the other rounds, thanks to which he became the owner of the champion belt of North America.
In one of the episodes of the confrontation, Pernell Whitaker, the photo of which is shown below, even managed to pull off his cowards from his opponent, thereby once again confirming his extraordinary and even defiant style of behavior in the ring.
Further, our hero spent three more successful matches for himself, after which the bitterness of defeat awaited him.
Bad voyage
Whitaker arrived in the French capital in order to challenge the WBA title with its owner Jose Luis Ramirez, who had more than 100 fights in the pro ring.
The American began his game, from the very beginning regularly fooling the Mexican with blows flying from different angles. Also, the applicant managed to score points with his lightning fast counterattacks. But in the middle of the battle, Pernell Whitaker received a left hand fracture, which made it impossible to strike frequently. The boxer increasingly began to be forced to enter the clinch, although he still hit the opponent more. Nevertheless, after completing all the allotted rounds, the two judges preferred the Mexican, who thus retained his title intact.
Continuation of the struggle
Returning to his homeland, the fighter continued his lightweight performances. His goal was IBF champion Greg Hogen. The fight turned out to be bright, spectacular and full of interesting events, including the knockdown of the champion in round 6. It is worth noting that this was the most significant fight in the career of our hero, in which he became the champion.
The main events
Having the championship belt in the piggy bank, Pernell continued the victorious march, having defeated Ramirez, Galvan, Nelson. And after defeating Nazario, Whitaker won all the lightweight titles.
Next was the conquest of the belt in a new category, which until then had once been owned by his friend Taylor. And a little later, the American took the WBA belt from the strongest welterweight of the time, Buddy McGirt.
September 10, 1993, Pernell fought with Chavez and was able to achieve a draw in their confrontation. After that, after a few triumphal fights, Whitaker moves to the first middleweight, where he wins the sixth belt in his career, and then falls back to the lighter division.
Sunset
1996 is the date that marked the end of American hegemony. Pernell Whitaker, whose track record earned respect from his rivals, began to openly surrender his gained position. He is very controversial in defeating Rivera Wilfredo, having a hard time defeating Cuban Hurtado. And after that, the battle, expected by the audience with impatience, took place - “Pernell Whitaker - Oscar De La Hoya”. In this fight, the American lost his title to a younger applicant, and during the battle our hero looked rather faded. And in 1999, he was literally declassified by Felix Trinidad.
In 2001, a former champion was convicted of having drugs during a trial involving an accident involving him. And after some time, the athlete was completely imprisoned for a period of 27 months for using cocaine.