Pernell Sweet Pea Whitaker, Defensive Wizard of Welterweights
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
As reporter, I finally ran into Pernell ‘Sweet Pea’ Whitaker while covering as boxing card in Atlantic City at The Tropicana. Pernell being older now, he is a shadow of the great fighter who once was. Pernell reached 40-1-1, with a recent victory over every opponent he fought except for a world title defense draw with 87-0 Julio Cesar Chavez! Drug use would later bring Pernell down, but before it did, Sweet Pea was on a roll, steamrolling over many opponents who were supposedly better boxers. How did he do it?
LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5tXsaTX4RA Pernell Whitaker Career Highlights
Whitaker was the defensive wizard of the ring, ducking under punches and slipping punches, even going down on his feet to the floor and back with great speed and agility. Whitaker’s spectacular ability to slip punches enabled him to tire his opponents out, then create magical counter punching opportunities from unique angles. As a southpaw, Whitaker’s style made life even more confusing and difficult for his opponents.
Looking at some of the stock compilation footage out there such as the clip above (there are many compilation films which highlight Whitaker’s career), it still appears incredible so many opponents simply could not hit him. His instincts inside the ring were phenomenal, and his punches from unique angles were unreadable. When Sweet Pea was together upstairs, his fighting style was one of the most confusing ever seen. Simply put, he tired his opponents out by forcing them to throw punches all night in an attempt to land something, but land virtually nothing instead.
A native of Norfolk, Virginia, Whitaker, now 51 years old, retired after breaking his clavicle in a bout with Carlos Bojorquez at Caesar’s Tahoe, in Stateline, Nevada, in April 2001, ending his 17 year ring pro career. Today Whitaker works as a successful trainer of young, up and coming boxers, and has trained a number of world champions as well.
COMMENTS
English