Whitaker, Pernell

Whitaker, Pernell

▪ American boxer
born Jan. 2, 1964, Norfolk, Va., U.S.
 
 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.

      Whitaker was a left-handed boxer who excelled at the defensive aspect of the sport. He had a stellar amateur boxing career as a lightweight: he won the U.S. Golden Gloves and a silver medal in the World Boxing Championships in 1982, the gold medal at the Pan American Sports Games in 1983, and the gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1984.

      Whitaker won his first professional fight, on Nov. 15, 1984, as well as his next 10 fights before getting a title shot. On March 28, 1987, Whitaker won a 12-round decision (a fight whose outcome is determined by judges' scoring) over American Roger Mayweather to take the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) lightweight title. Although he lost a 12-round decision to José Luis Ramírez of Mexico for the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight title on March 12, 1988, Whitaker came back to win the International Boxing Federation (IBF) lightweight title from American Greg Haugen on Feb. 18, 1989, and he added the WBC title by winning a 12-round decision in a rematch with Ramírez on Aug. 20, 1989. Following several successful title defenses, Whitaker knocked out Juan Nazario of Puerto Rico in the first round on Aug. 11, 1990, to win the World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight title. The following year, he defended his lightweight titles three times, each time winning on a 12-round decision.

      Whitaker moved up in weight class to challenge the IBF junior welterweight (also known as super lightweight) champion, Rafael Pineda of Colombia, against whom he won a 12-round decision on July 18, 1992.

      Whitaker moved up in weight class again, winning the WBC welterweight title with a 12-round decision over American James (“Buddy”) McGirt on March 6, 1993. On March 4, 1995, Whitaker once again moved up in weight class, winning the WBA junior middleweight (also known as super welterweight) title with a 12-round decision over Julio Cesar Vasquez of Argentina. Whitaker soon abandoned this title in favour of defending his welterweight title, which he finally lost on April 12, 1997, in a 12-round decision to American Oscar de La Hoya. Whitaker next won a 10-round decision over Andrei Pestriaev of Russia on Oct. 17, 1997, but, after Whitaker tested positive for cocaine immediately following the fight, the result was changed to a no contest. Whitaker had one more fight, on Feb. 20, 1999, in which he challenged Puerto Rican Felix Trinidad for his IBF welterweight title, but lost in a 12-round decision. Whitaker finished his professional career 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.

Neil Francis Milbert
 

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Pernell Whitaker — Fiche d’identité Nom complet Pernell Whitaker Surnom Sweet Pea Nationalité …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Pernell Whitaker — Daten Geburtsname Pernell Whitaker Gewichtsklasse Weltergewicht Nationalität US Amerikanisch Geburtstag …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pernell Whitaker — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Pernell Whitaker, boxeador norteamericano, nació el 2 de enero de 1964, conocido con el seudónimo de Sweet Pea . En la actualidad (2009) se encuentra retirado de su carrera como profesional y es reconocido como uno… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Whitaker — may refer to:Peopleurname* Alexander Whitaker (1585–1616), American religious leader * Benjamin Whitaker, British Labour Party politician * Brian Whitaker, British journalist * Carl Whitaker (family therapist), American therapist * Chico Whitaker …   Wikipedia

  • Whitaker — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: David Whitaker (Komponist) (* 1931), britischer Komponist und Songwriter Denis Whitaker (1915–2001), kanadischer General und Autor Ellen Whitaker (* 1986), britische Springreiterin Evelyn Whitaker… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Pernell Whitaker — Infobox Boxer name=Pernell Whitaker nationality = American realname = Pernell Whitaker nickname = Sweet Pea weight = Welterweight birth date = birth date and age|1964|1|2 birth place = Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. home = Norfolk, Virginia style =… …   Wikipedia

  • Ronyell Whitaker — Infobox NFLactive currentteam=Detroit Lions currentnumber=41 currentposition=Cornerback birthdate=birth date and age|1979|3|19 birthplace=Norfolk, Virginia heightft=5 heightin=9 weight=196 debutyear=2003 debutteam=Tampa Bay Buccaneers… …   Wikipedia

  • Julio Cesar Chavez — Julio César Chávez Daten Geburtsname Julio César Chávez Kampfname(n) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Angel Herrera — 1982 in Halle:Ángel Herrera (links) unterliegt Siegfried Mehnert nach Punkten Ángel Herrera Vera (* 2. August 1957 in Guantánamo) ist ein ehemaliger kubanischer Boxer. 1976 nahm er im Alter von 18 Jahren an den …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Oscar de la Hoya — Óscar de la Hoya Daten Geburtsname Óscar de la Hoya Kampfname(n) …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”