In fact, as one person involved in the investigation put it ... "It appears to just be a horrible accident.". Boxing legend Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker died Sunday at 55 after he was struck by a car in Virginia Beach, WTKR reports. After breaking out as an amateur fighter at Booker T. Washington high school in Virginia, Whitaker quickly gained international acclaim as a teenager. Whitaker is survived by his 5 children. 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.". Sixteen months later, … (@frankbrunoboxer) July 15, 2019, “The best lightweight I ever saw passed away today,” wrote ESPN’s Max Kellerman. Pernell Whitaker Sr. (January 2, 1964 – July 14, 2019) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2001, and subsequently worked as a boxing trainer. Hall of Fame Professional Boxer, Olympic Gold Medalist. 10 greatest boxer of the last 80 years. He was 55. Still for now sweet pea Whitaker wins another fight his mother has to be out of the house by march 30 parts. Mandatory Credit: Holly Stein/ALLSPORT. The driver was not cited -- though we're told that person is cooperating with authorities. Do Not Own the Rights to the Video; no Copyright Infringement Intended Man hit, killed by car in Virginia BeachVirginia Beach Police are investigating after a man was hit by a car in the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and Baker Road. Whitaker kept winning his fights, but in 1988, Whitaker lost a close decision to Jose Luis Ramirez. He was 55. Whitaker did land numerous low blows during the contest, but you lose count of the amount of hip punches that Chavez had conveniently forgotten about during his post-fight summary. He was 55. According to the report, back taxes were owed on the house and Whitaker, no longer making pro boxing money, was forced to sell the home to satisfy the tax debt, according to his lawyers. 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. Whitaker rose in weight, winning four different WBC weight classes, including Lightweight, Light welterweight, Welterweight and Light middleweight. He had 214 amateur fights, winning 201, 91 of them by knockouts, though he says that he has had up to 500 amateur fights. 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. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Download the TMZ App on the Apple App Store, Download the TMZ App on the Google Play Store. Whitaker, a Virginia native, was killed Sunday night while crossing an intersection in Virginia Beach, according to WTVR. Former boxing champion Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker has died after he was hit by a car in Virginia. Whitaker was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006. He was only 55. Showing 1-12 of 12 messages. He worked the likes of Dorin Spivey, Joel Julio, and heavyweight fighter Calvin Brock. But he was a cool guy.”. My thoughts are with his family & close ones. Following his retirement in 2001 after his loss to Carlos Bojorquez, Pernell Whitaker stepped into becoming a boxing trainer in Virginia. 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 55 years old. Boxing legend Pernell Whitaker dead at 55. 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. 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 currently holds the lon… I’m still trying to process everything that’s going on. Whitaker was considered among the sport’s elite both during his ascent through the ranks and after his retirement in 2001. — Max Kellerman (@maxkellerman) July 15, 2019 ", 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. 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. Whitaker married Rovanda Anthony in 1985 but the couple later divorced, The Mirror reported. Who did Pernell Whitaker lose to? Whitaker spent much of his post-retirement helping to inspire local boxers in Virginia, WTKR reported, and helped promote bouts. 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. Whitaker would go on to lose his next mega fight against De La Hoya, despite bloodying his opponent and seemingly out-boxing him over 12 rounds in their welterweight title fight. Pernell Whitaker was born on Jan. 2, 1964, in Norfolk, Va., one of seven children of Raymond and Novella Whitaker. He leaves behind his children Dominique, Dantavious, Devon, and Tiara. Whitaker lost 3 of his last 4 fights and within them his win over Andrey Pestryaev, 20-1, on October 17, 1997 was reversed to a ND when he was found to test positive for cocaine. Get TMZ breaking news sent right to your browser! Ring Magazine named him the tenth-best boxer of the last 80 years shortly after his retirement in 2002. Former Boxer: Evicting Mom Is a-and #039;Beautiful Moment and #039;A Virginia judge ruled that Pernell Whitaker's mother must vacate a home she's bee2014-02-27T20:15:00.000Z. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006. Judah is a former junior welterweight and welterweight champion. 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. Speaking outside a courthouse after a ruling to evict his mother, Whitaker told WVEC that it was a “beautiful moment.”. Getty Whitaker would go on to lose his next mega fight against De La Hoya, despite bloodying his opponent and seemingly out-boxing him over 12 rounds in … — Max Kellerman (@maxkellerman) July 15, 2019, 10 SEP 1993: BOXER PERNELL WHITAKER DELIVERS AN UPPERCUT DURING HIS BOUT AGAINST JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. “[Whitaker] succumbed to his injuries on the scene. “We knew going into it that he was going to be hitting me in the legs. RIP Pernell Whitaker. Pernell Whitaker, world champion boxer who won Olympic gold, dies at 55 Boxer Pernell Whitaker, right, leans away from a punch by Oscar De La Hoya … Man hit, killed by car in Virginia Beach Virginia … But unfortunately, he had a car accident in which he lost his life on the spot in Virginia Street on 14 July 2019. Powered by. Whitaker won the fight. Whitaker kept fighting and winning titles, and soon, he got to face one of the best boxers of the day, and perhaps, one of the best boxers, ever, Julio Cesar Chavez. Mr. Whitaker won a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles — one of nine US champions that year — and made his pro debut on national … Whitaker won the silver medal at the 1982 boxing World Championships in Munich before winning the gold at the 1983 Pan American Games in Caracas, according to WKTR. READ NEXT: Boxing Legend Meldrick Taylor Arrested After Armed Standoff With Police, Pernell Whitaker Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, Copyright © 2021 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. RIP Sweet Pea. His son Pernell Jr. died in 2015 at age 31 after a battle with cancer. Tributes poured in after news of Whitaker’s death. Unclear if the driver of the car was arrested but he did stay on the scene to speak with police. He went on to win Olympic gold as a lightweight fighter at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. Six years after winning Olympic gold, Whitaker won his first world title in the lightweight division. Following the loss to De La Hoya, Whitaker outpointed Andrey Pestriev but tested positive for cocaine, and the result was changed to a no decision. Whitaker won gold medals at the 1983 Pan American Games and the 1984 Olympics, per Sports Reference. Whitaker finished his career in 2001 with a 40-4-1 record, having won the WBC Lightweight, Light welterweight, Welterweight, and Light middleweight titles. Pernell Whitaker Died After Being Struck by a Car. “He’ll be a son forever until death do us part, but he is putting a rip through the family,” his sister, Zelda Brown, said at the time. His pro career began in 1984 and spanned all the way through 2001, with an amazing 40-4-1 record including 17 knockouts. RAFIQUE SYMONETTE: 12/6/94 12:28 PM: I just wanted to know when did Pernell Whitaker lost to because I can't his loss. “May he rest in peace. We're told the case will be kicked over to prosecutors to evaluate but it's unlikely the driver will be hit with criminal charges. He was the pound for pound best for half a decade, and one of the 3 greatest pure boxers who ever lived. Pernell Whitaker was an American professional boxer who had his fights from 1984 to 2001. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Whitaker went 40-4-1 over his career, with 17 wins coming by knockout, according to Sports Reference. He crowned his amateur career with an Olympic Gold Medal in 1984. 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 … Whitaker, an Olympic gold medal winner who went on to win the world championship in four different weight classes, died from his injuries at the scene, according to the outlet. “So sorry to hear of the passing of a defensive genius and one of the all time greats, Pernell Whittaker,” wrote former world champion Frank Bruno. 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. Whitaker did, however, give Trinidad the nod when comparing him to De La Hoya, whom he lost to in a close decision two years ago. May he rest in peace. Emergency medical personnel at the scene tried to resuscitate Whitaker -- even performing CPR on him -- but unfortunately, Whitaker succumbed to his injuries and died. De La Hoya initially was in favor this, stating that he would give Whitaker a rematch "any time, any place." I think he is probably the best pound for pound fighter right, RIP Pernell Whitaker.”. On April 12, 1997, Oscar De La Hoya won the WBC welterweight title when he defeated Pernell Whitaker by a 12-round unanimous decision at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas. Whitaker is survived by his five children, according to TMZ Sports. When the United States Olympic Boxing Team sauntered away with a staggering nine gold medals in 1984, Pernell Whitaker was actually lost in the shuffle. In 2002, Ring Magazine named him the No. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene with police.”, “The investigation is still ongoing,” police spokesperson Linda Kuehn told USA Today. He lost to two-time Olympic Gold medalist Ángel Herrera Vera at the final of the World Championships 1982 but beat him four times, notably in the final of the Pan American Games 1983 in Caracas. He also won 201 of his 214 recorded amateur bouts, winning 91 by knockout. In 2014, Whitaker evicted his 73-year-old mother from a house he bought for her shortly after turning pro, ABC News reported. ", © 2021 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. Former Boxer: Evicting Mom Is a-and #039;Beautiful Moment and #039; A Virginia judge ruled that Pernell Whitaker's mother must vacate a home she's bee, Boxing Legend Meldrick Taylor Arrested After Armed Standoff With Police. Whitaker’s most high-profile bouts came against Oscar De La Hoya and Julio Cesar Chavez. The best lightweight I ever saw passed away today. 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. Virginia Beach Police are investigating after a man was hit by a car in the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and Baker Road. 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. His most memorable bouts came against the likes of Oscar De La Hoya, Greg Haugen, Jose Luis Ramirez, and Julio Casar Chavez. I’m praying for his family. 26 Aug 1995: Pernell Whitaker knock down Gary Jacobs during a fight in Atlantic City, New Jersey. It's NOT a hit and run situation. “However, it does not appear that drugs/alcohol or speed were factors in the crash.”, Whitaker’s son Devon told The Virginian-Pilot that he believes his father “was wearing dark clothes, the road was dark and the driver didn’t see him.”, He told the outlet that his father was a “cool guy.”, “That all I can say about him,” he told the newspaper. Whitaker finished his career with a record of 40 wins, four losses and that one draw. Whitaker was convicted of cocaine possession in 2002 after he violated the terms of a previous sentence by overdosing on cocaine, according to The Washington Post. A year later, he’d avenge this loss and beat Ramirez in the rematch. Cops are investigating. #sweetpea.”, So sorry to hear of the passing of a defensive genius and one of the all time greats, Pernell Whittaker. During his seventeen year professional career (1984 to 2001), he was a four-time world champion in the Lightweight, Light Welterweight, Welterweight and Light Middleweight classes. “I can’t really say how I’m feeling because I’m feeling shocked. Whitaker lost to De La Hoya and fought Chavez to a draw, though many people belive he was “robbed” in both bouts because “he clearly won the fights,” TMZ Sports reported. The pot and the kettle, one might say. “When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male victim who had been hit by a vehicle,” a Virginia Beach Police spokesperson told the outlet. Whitaker had an extensive amateur boxing career, having started at the age of nine. 10:49 AM PT -- The driver in the crash was NOT arrested -- and law enforcement officials tell us they do NOT believe drugs, alcohol or speed was a factor. First came an amateur prodigy out of New York named Mark Breland who stole the vast majority of the press from everyone else on the team, but then there were also bigger guys like Evander Holyfield and Henry Tillman who scored more … #sweetpea pic.twitter.com/SKHDkJRKTn, — Frank Bruno MBE ?? The Ring ranked him the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world from 1993 to 1997. 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. Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker, considered one of the greatest lightweight boxers of all time, died Sunday after he was hit by a vehicle in Virginia, police said. The publication named him Fighter of the Year in 1989. In 1989, Whitaker was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Boxing legend Pernell Whitaker was killed Sunday night after he was hit by a car in Virginia Beach, TMZ Sports has learned. Pernell Whitaker, an Olympic gold medal winner and four-time world champion, died at 55 after being struck by a car. My prayers are with his family and loved ones. My thoughts are with his family & close ones. Whitaker (40-4-1, 1 NC) did face De La Hoya in April and while he scored a knockdown, he lost a decision that was widely considered to be closer than the scorecards suggested. PERNELL WHITAKER (40-1-1, 17 KO, WBC Titleholder) versus OSCAR DE LA HOYA (23-0, 20 KO) April 12, 1997 | Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV After this report was made, police confirmed the victim was boxing legend Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker.2019-07-15T10:05:29.000Z. 8:56 AM PT -- TMZ Sports just spoke with boxing legend Roy Jones Jr. -- a long time friend of Pernell -- who tells us how much Whitaker meant to boxing ... and to him personally. “Yes, that includes Roberto Duran, Floyd Mayweather, Ike Williams, and anyone else you want to mention. Both men were guilty of that particular infringement. Ring Magazine named him the Fight of the Year in 1989. He was ranked the No. Cage Fighting Is 'Most Terrifying Thing In The World', Violent Clashes in Chicago, NYC, Minneapolis, ©2021 EHM PRODUCTIONS,INC. Mandatory Credit: Simon Bruty /Allsport. 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. The driver remained on the scene after the accident and police are investigating the incident. Whitaker became enamored by looking to find boxers on the rise to help them reach the next level in their career. He was 55. But many people we spoke with here outside court. In 2005, Whitaker became a boxing trainer, training the likes of Calvin Brock and Joel Julio, and Zab Judah, according to Eurosport. Floyd paid tribute to Pernell on social media saying, "R I P champ, one of the best fighters to ever do it.". 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.. Whitaker was a left-handed boxer who excelled at the defensive aspect of the sport. Even before their match, Whitaker stated that, win or lose, he wanted a rematch with De La Hoya, and after his loss, he would repeat that sentiment. Yes, that includes Roberto Duran, Floyd Mayweather, Ike Williams, and anyone else you want to mention. He was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring Magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America in 1989. However, these plans were shot down by De La Hoya's promoter Bob Arum, who said that a rematch wouldn't be "good business." After this report was made, police confirmed the victim was boxing legend Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker. 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