Pernell Whitaker - Master of the Sweet Science (Career Documentary)

Olympic gold medalist Undisputed world champion, enough to say a fast heading south making comparisons in different eras padell Whitaker equaled there, equaled there with any generation a fast break eater a defensive magician like any artist Whitaker has his own dazzling footwork style lightning fast hands, let's go for the full picture he paints on the canvas boxing has almost always been a pugilistic

master

piece boom perfect timing Pernell Whitaker was born, raised and still does his boxing at home since he was a child Whitaker fought hundreds of times as an amateur it is a boxing

career

that began in eight years and it is a

career

that flourished in an amateur campaign that saw him step into the ring more than 200 times.

I have 500 amateur fights. I don't know where those 200 came from. Don't fool me. I won two world championships and a Pan American. games championship and ultimately an Olympic gold medal the USA's Red Corner Whitaker there could be no doubt about it it was that fast who was that special gold medalist at the Olympics had it all the key element Of Whitaker's success has been the support of his hometown Norfolk Virginia it seemed as if Panther City welcomed him home from Washington the gold medal race made him a hero and raised high expectations for him as a professional sport presents the professional debut of the US olympic boxers the olympic gold medal pounders will seek his first professional victory tonight after an amateur career that resulted in more than 200 victories the first of the gold medalists to become champion world cup they think it's that skilled Southborough who can counterattack who can lead is a good defensive fighter good lateral movements back he's breaking away, they're getting a little direct here in the first half on a golden night, four members of the Olympic team from USA Boxing made their professional debut with 20 seconds left now, in the second round, Whitaker did exactly what he was expected to do.

He really amazed himself and gave a clear motor to referee Joe Santarpia in the second round. He is left-handed and put on a great show in that first outing. He also won the amateur triple crown and it's really worth talking about because that's the 82nd Pan. I'm playing the world championship and Olympic gold at 132. His opponent, Dan Avery, is also a brilliant southpaw and we're going with round number one or Pernell Whitaker in the golden trunks against Danny. He scored a TKO on Danny Avery, but it happened during a commercial break, this is round four and another left hand from Whitaker, stopped after the fourth round.

Victory by technical knockout four. Pernell Whitaker Whitaker seemed to have no problem adjusting to the pros, so we're ready for Fernel Whitaker, who won. gold in the lightweight division, no Olympic lightweight gold medalist has won a professional title and we are ready for action with him, the referee here in Corpus Christi made a mistake before making a good right hand for the body and a good left hand again. and Whitaker continues to press one scheduled for six and staggering and in the world. Pernell Whitaker will come out of this with a record of four wins and no losses as he dominates, fighting hard seven times in his first ten months as a pro, but The man of the moment here in Norfolk is local hero Pernell Whitaker, the lightweight champion at the Los Angeles Olympic Games, a very interesting young man, a man who has begun his professional career undefeated.

Sweet Pea when he saw Pernell, the referee, enter the ring. It's Al Rothenberg, don't score, he was great, he was great, he could have been the author of The Sweet Science in some way, that one came out of nowhere. Lego falls. I enjoyed doing what he did, you know, he had fun with it and Whitaker. the only boxer to win gold by knockout at only 21 years old, seven month old fighter, so Whitaker is getting his pro experience very quickly while Hatfield keeps his distance, evident here early in the first round, yeah just 21 years. Pernell Wilson, old man from Norfolk, Virginia, many call John Montes the first real test for the emerging Whitaker.

Pernell Whitaker, 22, is preparing for only his eighth professional fight, but in recent years it has not been unusual for fighters with such limited experience to be considered. As budding championship contenders, today's scheduled 10-round battle with 24-year-old John Montez of Los Angeles looms as Pernell Whitaker's toughest fight yet. 10 rounds into Whitaker's professional career when the bell rings, Whitaker is already in the middle of the Ring, the old man. the timekeepers would say he stays right in front of you you couldn't hit him in the back with a handful of miss shots. Whitaker's show his incredible defense match was fighting like the rookie and the rookie was fighting like the veteran in fact Whitaker appears at this point supporting and recognition Coronel secured the unanimous decision over Montez undefeated at this point in his career but ready today To take a step up in class and face the most dangerous opponent Roger Mayweather has ever met, the stage is set for this 12-round North.

American Boxing Federation lightweight fight Sweet Pea knocked down Mayweather in the first round. Rogers showed heart, but the fight was one-sided against Drummond and again it was an assault against Whitaker. Cornell won almost every round and got double. It has been a tremendous learning experience for Pernell, now he was the NABF champion. Whitaker wins his first title of any kind and moves to 12 and zero in another supposed breakthrough fight. Whitaker faced Santana de Miguel. Pernell Whitaker, who can initially set the pace, who takes charge of this fight and then who is able to maintain his concentration once again the counterpunch The dynamic is wide or too much for his opponent to be able to cope with a great jazz is not honest that he can create the rhythm since he made it his own rhythm his own music you know it was him his channel and another step closer to a professional world title in his 14th fight, it's incredible, it's difficult to fight and it was our game Santana , the WBC lightweight title on the line between

sweet

23-year-old Virginia native Colonel P Whitaker and this man, the well-traveled veteran, Joseph.

Luis Ramirez would finally Whitaker get a shot at the WBC lightweight title doubles that jab again,

sweet

pea put all his skills on full display showdown exactly good job with Pernell Whitaker's jab 16th fight of his professional career and the title WBC lightweight on the line, the ability to use his legs as Whitaker slips away again, Cornell's elusive footwork kept Ramirez chasing all night in that first round. I mean, Whitaker was hanging around the whole time and Ramirez couldn't get close to him, yeah, he used the ring as a panel. he could do, he could stand right in front of you or he could wear the ring.

Whitaker easily secured the victory by unanimous decision, so he should finish the story and congratulations, Colonel Whitaker, oh Lost in Translation. I don't think it's amazing. Split decision, that's terrible, that's a terrible decision. I thought he had done everything he was supposed to do, uh, that's just terrible. I said, oh, he had his first loss relatively early. 16th fight. I lost his boy Joe José Luis Ramírez and you said yes, what is José Luis's record and then I look at 100 wins and six losses and it was for a WBC lightweight that he was robbed he was robbed in that fight he boxes around this decision almost everyone who fights Ramirez Whitaker Elton Whittaker was the winner Whitaker wouldn't have to wait long before getting another chance this time against Greg Hogan, the champion and the number one contender here in the IBF, you understand.

One of the things Greg Hogan might have expected from Pernell Whitaker was to fight backwards, but look at how aggressive Whitaker has been, the stolen decision, a superior Whitaker, the importance of aggression Yes, for Pernell Whitaker, okay, he hit to Hogan round after round, so it's hard to understand his strategy, thank you, oh, and they're a solid flow from Whitaker and that's a knockdown, a tremendous inside counterpunch with the left hand jumped out so that Whitaker didn't tie it at four perfectly achieved, the first time he's been down as a pro or amateur, every move Whitaker tries he counters, he can't seem to defend against Whitaker's jab and this strategy of going against the ropes and fair and Whitaker reacting to the crowd giving them what they can do Whittaker achieved a unanimous decision victory Whitaker celebrating hair in the ring the winner by unanimous visitors and the new YBF lightweight championship he was now the IBF world lightweight champion there is something special about guy who could stand right in front of you and be calm enough to see everything coming and have a radar and you couldn't touch him, that was because he knew he was special in his first title defense, he cheated, he clapped, Louis Lomelo is clear about what a left hand to the chin and Al Rothenberg will let him fight Mike surprised thanks at last Whitaker would have the opportunity to avenge his only loss a loss that most consider a stolen decision the controversy would soon begin while Whittaker listened and did tricks my impression was that he called himself stolen but he didn't do anything to win he just fought to get a decision just before a championship he didn't do anything like he can doubt fight as far as I fought praying as hard as I trained for that fight I have a third strike for me that way, this time the fight would take place on Whitaker's territory Whitaker enters the ring here in Norfolk Virginia four that remind you of Julius Caesar entering Rome that a boxer entering the ring Alex, she can't dance in circles around him.

At first it's a question of can he hold on, oh, what Ramirez can't handle is the hand speed angle and the fact that Cornell moves his head well, moves his upper body well even when he's standing there so near. Ramirez just can't land Whitaker. was a true practitioner of the sweet

science

, he could have been the author of The Sweet Science in some way when they coined that phrase that Monica is supposed to be about being smart, he was smart, I mean if any of these judges have entered these rounds even her for Ramirez they should lose their license immediately and walk home I agree that the fight was completely one-sided that's all for now Whitaker one two he avenged his only loss and captured another title his defensive genius only grew even as he retreated Dulce Pea was always on the attack.

Whitaker became known for his striking dodges of incoming punches, as if he knew he must achieve a knockout to win and it seems that from this point of view, barring Colonel Whitaker retaining his title, this fight capped a tremendous 12 months that saw Whitaker named fighter of the year 1989. Whitaker puts his title on the line against Azuma Nelson, the WBC super featherweight champion, the fans and fight judges, whom I respect, think Whitaker is an excellent fighter, sing his praises , wonderful, wonderful and, once again, wonderful. but I'm not that convincing, I whisper his praise to him, but if he can dominate Azuma Nelson, who in his prime was probably the greatest fighter you've ever seen, then I'll be happy to join Benson's chorus whenever Nelson resolutely approaches to try to chase the attack Whitaker bites him with two or three checks, there is very little Nelson can do against that type of hand, speed and instinct, and Phil, the WBC IBS lightweight world champion, rejects Whitaker who was aiming to unify the lightweight title for the first time in For over a decade, most of the guys I've been playing with lately have moved away from me, allowing me to be aggressive.

He finished the fight in the first round, he won't make it and the undisputed lightweight world champion was now first. The unified lightweight champion sent Roberto Durán to last man, the oldest distinction, the legendary Roberto Durán in 1978. Durán held the WBA and WBC titles at the time. Whitaker was in the prime of him and the competition was hopelessly lost by trying to compete and Diaz playing like a little possum was probably the right thing to do. One side of his ribs is broken so far Whitaker was criticized for making his fights look too easy.

He is considered one of the best in boxing and in the last two years Pernell Whitaker has convincingly beaten everyone he has faced. Whitaker's problem is that he makes his fights seem a little much. easy, he throws too many shutouts, the fight is tough and clean every time, any questions here, any questions. Let's do it. Come on, yes, let's do it from Mills Lane and there are Bell's fiery combinations landed at will. Uppercut landed for Whitaker being great. Funny punches will be ineffective Whitaker during this time Pernell was widely recognized as the best boxer on the planet and is now staying at light welterweight for good reason. we casta look at Pernell Whittaker, the reason he and Pineda are on the same bill.

Well, you guessed it. Mentioned it if Whittaker wins tonight, he'll be screaming at the pinators racking up six defenses on his unified title, the longest streak in lightweight history, of course, undisputed lightweight champion Pernell Whitaker stepping into the ring, a lot weight as he did so Whitaker ascended into the light. The left hand of the welterweight division put Smith on the canvas with eight up on nine, it's over, so the first-round knockout here by Cornell Whitaker Pernell showed no signs of slowing down from the added weight. You still think tonight's debates are Pinel Sweet Pea Whitaker, well, I have to.

Eat that because I said it after the quick tune-up, he was ready to challenge Rafael Pineda for the junior welterweight world championship title even though some believed Whitaker would be outclassed against Pineda, it was another clinic, whatever. Whatever Whitaker emptied the champions' tank at that moment. fell with a body shot Anthony Jones was not the FIV junior welterweight world champion Undisputed lightweight champion at 135 pounds now weighs 13 pounds more than that in his next fight was tested like never before has a welterweight championship of the WBC aheadagainst buddy mcgirt in March and does this test flight, he passed the test with flying colors, the fastest, fastest fights and US history, one punch and that was it, and Chavez's record at that time it was 87-0, pretty good.

I'd say pretty good then. A super fight against Julio César Chávez is always all the rage in boxing and it is as old as the sport itself who is the best pound for pound and I think these are the two names that are always mentioned and that is what made it an opportunity so attractive. to decide once and for all who was the pound-for-pound king. The styles they have should add up to something very interesting and you can hear the crowd here at the Alamo Dome, about 70,000 people, and change, it was an action fight, crafty right hand, both fighters.

Throwing punches in bunches Chavez doesn't flinch when hit, but Chavez infiltrated and let it run. The majority felt that Whitaker was ahead when the final bell rang again and that's it, Whitaker was robbed of the decision it's a majority decision to take out the The fans were going to be my judges for this fight tonight and I think the fans would take its toll on them, they would finish 90 to 10 among themselves. Well I think Pernell Whitaker had a tremendous performance against Julio César Chávez and in my mind he won the fight not many agreed with Chávez or the judges José Luis Ramírez and Julio see Shabbat which of them was more disappointing because they would both disappoint he is challenger tonight as they fight for Vásquez's junior middleweight championship and once again we can't emphasize enough the opportunity to become the fourth fighter in the history of the sport, joining Kearns Leonard and Durán to win four titles in four different weight classes, only Durán had previously won a lightweight title and a junior middleweight title at 19 pounds. jump, take a look at Julio César Vázquez's record 52 wins the only loss was a disqualification when Vásquez's trainer charged to the middle of the Ring to dispute the referee's decision that Phillips had not hit Vásquez after Bell Cornell tried make history by moving up with a middleweight title from the beginning they caught him trying to be cute Whitaker falls with the left hand and then tackles Vásquez Antonio Orlando I think I'm rightly going to say that so there is no doubt about it Julio César Vesque has four remaining In the third round it seemed that Whitaker had bitten off more than he could chew in his new weight class.

He makes it very, very difficult for Whitaker by going hard. He went over for Whitaker. He's had two of them here on the platform. The fight was an ugly Tony. Orlando received a one-point deduction, but Vasquez for holding on behind the head while Vasquez continually punched and held Vasquez could only resort to low blows as his initial lead evaporated. Another point deduction by Tony Orlando Whittaker won by unanimous decision and was now the junior middleweight champion. His historic reign had to stop and Gary Jacobs stood up for a time. He did a routine job of world-class competition.

Gary Jacobs lasted until the final moments of the 12th round. Pernell would then win consecutive fights against Wilfredo Rivera, finally in the first round. starts, it's Romero with a solid left cross right on the button, not a hard shot. Rivera went all the way both times and now makes it a 10-7 round, possibly at age 33 with 40 wins and no real losses. Whitaker was a six-time champion, oh. a super fight with rising star Oscar De La Hoya developed into a battle for the top rung on the legendary pound-for-pound ladder 23 professional fights 23 wins 20 World Championships Kos at 135 and 140. now trying for another at 147 Whitaker He was a phenomenon one of the best defensive boxers of all time Grinnell Whitaker demonstrating with his body language that he believes these moments belong to him the professional record 40 victories the only loss against José Luis Ramírez an obviously false decision and reigning pound for pound King the welfare advocate Wade world champion hernell sweet peace shoot maybe it's you Oscar was the media favorite heading into the fight I thought he could have won that fight and he was a shadow of himself yeah he was on Prime he wasn't at his best from the shadow, he had surpassed himself and still thought he could have won that fight.

I mean, that's how close that fight was, Jason. I have a lot of respect for Oscar De La Hoya, these rounds are going to be close today, but a lot. of them the fight went down to the wire and let's go to Michael Buffer for the decision ladies and gentlemen let's go to the scorecards for the winner by unanimous decision and the news that the decision loss would tragically mark the end of Sweet Pea's reign at 55 years old Erna Whitaker was beaten and killed by a copy, police have confirmed that the person who died after being hit by a car last night was boxer Legend Colonel Sweepy Whitaker and last night a 1004 Whitaker was hit by a car in the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and Baker Road and today hundreds of people came to Norfolk Scope to celebrate the life of boxing legend Cornell Sweet Pea Whitaker Whitaker died last Sunday after being hit by a car in Virginia Beach Whitaker, nicknamed Sweet Pea, He was world champion in four different weight classes, he was a 1989 fighter of the year in Boxing Magazine and in the 1990s he was named pound for pound the best boxer in the world but now Whitaker belongs on a list of the great lightweights of all times hitting Dynamite Whitaker was a true practitioner of the sweet

science

good morning sweet pea no one gives it like a chill no one does it like that