WHO IS PERNELL "SWEET PEA" WHITAKER

[Chups]

Duran would beat Pernel at lightweight........I can't find anymore fighters than that.

[grayfist]

I'm just a relatively new boxing fan.Probably I really got interested in watching boxing mid 80's.The first boxing match I really remember in its entirety was the Ray Leonard, Marvelous Hagler fight.I was just a kid at that time, just 7 yrs old. But the fight really stuck with me.Ever since then boxing is in me.Nonetheless, I grew up in a small town in the Philippines where back then, we get a little information about boxing.We seldom see international fights probably once a month, on our free local channel.If we get lucky, twice.On top of it, every international boxing match was peppered with commercial breaks which collectively took longer in broadcast time than the actual fight itself.The situation was really frustrating for us boxing fans.This went on until the advent of the God's gift to us-CABLE NETWORK and INTERNET.

As such, I began to re-traced back my passion for boxing and now Im very much satisfied with all the news, information and fights I get to see. Nonetheless, I missed a lot of beautiful fights and good fighters, that dominated the sport. One of them was Pernell " sweet pea" Whitaker.

I know for a fact that he is a future HOF.His defense was the best.He used to be the top P4P fighter. He was beaten by Vernon Forrest(am I correct?). His status as the the best fighter in the world was ineherited by Roy Jones Jr.(or was it Shane Mosley?).A lot of you guys have good words for Sweet Pea which intrigues me a lot 'bout him. Which brings me to my original question.Who is Pernell Whitaker for you? What kind of a fighter is he? Is he a puncher or boxer? Comparing his style with our current crop of boxers,which style do you associate him the most? how will he fare in a fantasy fight with them assuming he is stiill in his prime?

I'm obviously not his fan,(athough i could have been), just a regular boxing enthusiast. Please help me out on this.Your replies will be greatly appreciated. If you have video clips about his fights please post them out.Good Karma to all

You got into the sport at a time that is comparable to most of the fight game's history. In that generation and its vicinity (before and after), you got not only Leonard, Hagler and Pernell, but also:

Tommy Hearns, The Cruiserweight Holyfield,
Wilfredo Gomez, The younger Roberto Duran , Alexis Arguello,
Michael Spinx, Wilfred Benitez,
Salvador Sanchez (although he died 5 years before the Leonard-Hagler fight), Azumah Nelson,
Eusebio Pedroza, Danny "Little Red" Lopez, Rey Mancini,
Mustapha Hamsho, Khaosai Galaxy,
Julio Cesar Chavez, Young Mike Tyson,
Larry Holmes, Carlos Zarate
etc. etc.

Some of those mentioned (randomly, I must add) above were past their prime by 1987 when Leonard met Hagler, but, your father as an avid fan must have shared some of the excitement of having seen or read about many of them in action.

Yes, the 80's was a good time to become a fan of boxing.

Welcome to BoxingScene!

[GasPed]

Duran would beat Pernel at lightweight........I can't find anymore fighters than that.

Sweet Pea style-wise was like a hybrid of PBF and RJJ. Duran would've given him a run at lightweight. The only other lightweight (super light) I think would have a chance is PBF. But Sweet Pea was just as quick as PBF (in fact, quicker, I think) and better defensively (if you can believe it). He might not have had the power of PBF, but it was underrated. PBF probably has more tools in his bag, but would that be enough? Hard to say, but Sweet Pea was definitely one of the top two athletes I've seen in the ring (RJJ being the other).

[burglar]

You got into the sport at a time that is comparable to most of the fight game's history. In that generation and its vicinity (before and after), you got not only Leonard, Hagler and Pernell, but also:

Tommy Hearns, The Cruiserweight Holyfield,
Wilfredo Gomez, The younger Roberto Duran , Alexis Arguello,
Michael Spinx, Wilfred Benitez,
Salvador Sanchez (although he died 5 years before the Leonard-Hagler fight), Azumah Nelson,
Eusebio Pedroza, Danny "Little Red" Lopez, Rey Mancini,
Mustapha Hamsho, Khaosai Galaxy,
Julio Cesar Chavez, Young Mike Tyson,
Larry Holmes, Carlos Zarate
etc. etc.

Some of those mentioned (randomly, I must add) above were past their prime by 1987 when Leonard met Hagler, but, your father as an avid fan must have shared some of the excitement of having seen or read about many of them in action.

Yes, the 80's was a good time to become a fan of boxing.

Welcome to BoxingScene!

Tnx GRAYFIST....I really appreciate it you guys taking your time off in answering my question... Im really satisfied with all your opinion knowing that it comes from you guys who are truly boxing afficionados who, setting aside their differences in nationality, prejudices, whims and caprices, define a fighter by what he truly is and what he accomplished in and maybe out of the ring.By the way, I would like to commend all those who replied in this thread for posting their opinions without any one-liner or words who undermine other user's opinion , its so enjoying to read replies who are educational and which promote the welfare and public awareness of the sport.KUDOS to ALL

[joeytrimble]

personally i just dont think duran could get to whitikar

[grayfist]

personally i just dont think duran could get to whitikar

The "No Mas" meeting with Leonard may serve as an indication.

[ferocity]

The "No Mas" meeting with Leonard may serve as an indication.

i smell bull****

[grayfist]

i smell bull****

And, it's not an olfactory sense I particularly value.