Pernell Whitaker

Pernell Whitaker
Born	(1964-01-02)January 2, 1964 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Died	July 14, 2019(2019-07-14) (aged 55) Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.
Other names	Sweet Pea
Statistics
Weight(s)	Lightweight Light welterweight Welterweight Light middleweight
Height	5 ft 6 in (168 cm)[1]
Reach	69 in (175 cm)[1]
Stance	Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights	46
Wins	40
Wins by KO	17
Losses	4
Draws	1
No contests	1
Medal record Men's amateur boxing Representing  United States Olympic Games 1984 Los Angeles Lightweight Pan American Games 1983 Caracas Lightweight World Championships 1982 Munich Lightweight

Pernell Whitaker Sr.^[2] (January 2, 1964 – July 14, 2019)^[3] was an American professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2001, and subsequently worked as a boxing trainer. 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.^[4] In 1989, Whitaker was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He currently holds the longest unified lightweight championship reign in boxing history at six title defenses. Whitaker is generally regarded as one of the greatest defensive boxers of all-time.^[5]

As an amateur, Whitaker won a silver medal in the lightweight division at the 1982 World Championships, followed by gold at the 1983 Pan American Games and 1984 Olympics. After his retirement in 2001, Whitaker returned to the sport as a trainer. In 2002, The Ring ranked him tenth in their list of "The 100 Greatest Fighters of the Last 80 Years". In 2006, Whitaker was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, in his first year of eligibility.