Can someone who watched him extensively give me some info on him. All I really know is he is a defensive wizard. Is he an all time great? I sound like a casual but I was not old enough to really see what he's about.
Yes he’s an atg. Good enough on his day to be in with a good shout at beating anyone ever at his weight. Someone will be a long to fill you in better on him, but yes very gifted. Should’ve got the nod against Chavez
Top 25 ATG. I think the biggest misconception about him is how everyone viewed him as a purely defensive boxer when really he was a well rounded technical fighter with a high workrate who used his great defense simultaneously. Not a hard puncher but he was a great body puncher and in-fighter as well. Didn't just wait and countered he actually pressed the action and has also mixed it up plenty of times, even outfighting Chavez on the inside.
Exactly. He wasn't one of those run away or throw 15 punches per round defensive fighters. Much like another defensive wiz in James Toney, he threw a lot, and stayed in the pocket for long stretches.
Yes, he was an absolute ATG. Where it not for coke he could have been the goat. He had the best reflexes of anyone who's ever laced em up and he complimented that with a mean streak that came out when necessary. He did a lot of things wrong in the ring but he was such an thletic genius he could get away with them all. Until Tito no one beat him cleanly and you know what, he took that beating like a man. I mean yeah he never faced Quartey but out of the other title holders he faced 2 out of 3 so I'm cool with that. His real weight was LW and he was almost unbeatable there. I mean yeah JLR took a W but if you ever wanna watch paint dry watch that fight and see who should have got the decision. Sweet Pea was the goods. As slick as ****d up melted butter and just watch his come from behind KO against Hurtado to see what happens when he has to turn up the pace. Rivera pushed him all the way first time but the rematch was quite clear imo. Sweet Pea is amazing.
He got a gift draw against the great Julio Cesar Chavez by running and nut punching. He’s wildly overrated.
That draw is generally considered one of the worst decisions ever. However, the general consensus was Whitaker should have gotten the W and was robbed.