Who was Pernell Whitaker?

Pernell Whitaker (1964–2019) was a world champion American professional boxer in multiple weight classes—lightweight (135 pounds), junior welterweight (140 pounds), welterweight (147 pounds), and junior middleweight (154 pounds)—during the 1980s and 1990s. As a left-handed boxer, he excelled on defense. Whitaker had a successful amateur career, winning gold medals at the 1983 Pan American Sports Games and the 1984 Olympic Games. In 2007, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Whitaker's professional record was 40 wins (17 by knockouts), 4 losses, 1 draw, and 1 no contest.

Which sport did Pernell Whitaker compete in?

Pernell Whitaker was an American professional boxer . He was a world champion in multiple weight classes, including lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight, and junior middleweight, during the 1980s and 1990s. As a left-handed boxer, Whitaker was known for his defensive skills. In his amateur career, he won gold medals at the 1983 Pan American Sports Games and the 1984 Olympic Games, both as a lightweight. Whitaker's professional record stands at 40 wins (17 by knockouts), 4 losses, 1 draw, and 1 no contest. In 2007, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

What made Whitaker's boxing style special?

Pernell Whitaker, a world champion in multiple weight classes, was known for his defensive boxing style. As a left-handed fighter, he excelled at avoiding punches and frustrating opponents. Whitaker had a celebrated amateur career, winning gold medals at the Pan American Games and Olympics .

What major championships did he win in his career?

Pernell Whitaker, a world champion in four weight classes, had a remarkable career [www.britannica.com/biography/Pernell-Whitaker/Introduction#ref1]. Major achievements: * Lightweight Champion: He secured the IBF title in 1989, the WBC title in 1989, and the WBA title in 1990. * Junior Welterweight Champion: Whitaker claimed the IBF title in 1992. * Welterweight Champion: He won the WBC title in 1993. * Junior Middleweight Champion: Whitaker added the WBA title in 1995.

Pernell Whitaker

Introduction References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Quick Facts

Born:: January 2, 1964, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.

Died:: July 14, 2019, Virginia Beach, Virginia (aged 55)

Awards And Honors:: Pan American Sports Games; Olympic Games; Golden Gloves (1982)

See all related content

Pernell Whitaker

American boxer

Written by

Neil Francis Milbert

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

History

Top Questions

Who was Pernell Whitaker?
Pernell Whitaker (1964–2019) was a world champion American professional boxer in multiple weight classes—lightweight (135 pounds), junior welterweight (140 pounds), welterweight (147 pounds), and junior middleweight (154 pounds)—during the 1980s and 1990s. As a left-handed boxer, he excelled on defense. Whitaker had a successful amateur career, winning gold medals at the 1983 Pan American Sports Games and the 1984 Olympic Games. In 2007, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Whitaker's professional record was 40 wins (17 by knockouts), 4 losses, 1 draw, and 1 no contest.
1 Britannica Source
1. Pernell Whitaker
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Which sport did Pernell Whitaker compete in?
Pernell Whitaker was an American professional boxer. He was a world champion in multiple weight classes, including lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight, and junior middleweight, during the 1980s and 1990s. As a left-handed boxer, Whitaker was known for his defensive skills. In his amateur career, he won gold medals at the 1983 Pan American Sports Games and the 1984 Olympic Games, both as a lightweight. Whitaker's professional record stands at 40 wins (17 by knockouts), 4 losses, 1 draw, and 1 no contest. In 2007, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
1 Britannica Source
1. Pernell Whitaker
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What weight classes did Pernell Whitaker fight in?
Pernell Whitaker, an American professional boxer, held world titles across four weight classes. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he was world champion in the lightweight (135 pounds), junior welterweight (140 pounds), welterweight (147 pounds), and junior middleweight (154 pounds) divisions. In 2007, Whitaker was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
1 Britannica Source
1. Pernell Whitaker
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What made Whitaker's boxing style special?
Pernell Whitaker, a world champion in multiple weight classes, was known for his defensive boxing style. As a left-handed fighter, he excelled at avoiding punches and frustrating opponents. Whitaker had a celebrated amateur career, winning gold medals at the Pan American Games and Olympics.
1 Britannica Source
1. Pernell Whitaker
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What major championships did he win in his career?
Pernell Whitaker, a world champion in four weight classes, had a remarkable career [www.britannica.com/biography/Pernell-Whitaker/Introduction#ref1].

Major achievements:
* Lightweight Champion: He secured the IBF title in 1989, the WBC title in 1989, and the WBA title in 1990.
* Junior Welterweight Champion: Whitaker claimed the IBF title in 1992.
* Welterweight Champion: He won the WBC title in 1993.
* Junior Middleweight Champion: Whitaker added the WBA title in 1995.
1 Britannica Source
1. Pernell Whitaker
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Pernell Whitaker (born January 2, 1964, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.—died July 14, 2019, Virginia Beach, Virginia) was an 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.

(Read Gene Tunney’s 1929 Britannica essay on boxing.)

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.

By clicking “Sign Up”, you consent to the Britannica Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Silhouette of hand holding sport torch behind the rings of an Olympic flag, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; February 3, 2015.

Britannica Quiz

The Olympics Quiz

Whitaker won his first professional fight, on November 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 February 18, 1989, and he added the WBC title by winning a 12-round decision in a rematch with Ramírez on August 20, 1989. Following several successful title defenses, Whitaker knocked out Juan Nazario of Puerto Rico in the first round on August 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 October 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 February 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

Pernell Whitaker

Thank you for signing up!