......for gracing our sport with your brilliant skills. The Sad TRUTH About Pernell Whitaker's Death...
His teacher George Benton trained a lot of guys in the Duva stable Holyfield, Taylor, Golota.. and he had the plan written up for McCallums victory over Curry he had a lot of pupils but I think only Whitaker understood him I don’t think he was the trainer for pitbulls like Meldrick but he was golden for Whitaker, Pernell was a gem of a fighter who picked up that rare defensive sense (eyes?) Benton had.
Hated him at the time. Really appreciate him now. A truly great fighter, as good as defensive boxer as I've seen, and underrated offensively.
He's southpaw,he can fight inside,he can smoothly outbox his opponents with his moves. What a damn stylist,whoever that driver is that drove the car thru Pernell...
Truly singular, as @Young Terror stated. I think he’s the all-time nightmare matchup at 135 for basically any lightweight who ever lived.
Great post. Used to make me mad that Duva would get most of the credit when it was Benton who was a great trainer was often overlooked.
He was such a gifted talent. A fighter like no other. Made boxing look like an artistic masterpiece. Can't believe it's already going to be 6 years since he left.
Holding an over the hill, over ideal weight Chavez to a draw was a great accomplishment and should not be underestimated.
That is why I laugh when the youngsters compare Mayweather to Whitaker. Mayweather,who is very talented, was nothing like Whitaker who had unbelievable moves that I have never seen replicated. And he would do it to fighters in thier primes like it was nothing. And the overlooked fact with Whitaker is he was a very underrated body puncher. He beat the hell out of Chavez and that fight was only a draw to Chavez fans - he totally dominated Chavez. And you will never convince me De La Hoya beat him because Whittaker even DROPPED De La Hoya. And the 1rst Ramirez fight was an outright robbery- you couldn't give me THREE rounds you thought Ramirez won clearly. There will NEVER be another Sweet Pea and I was privileged to watch him in his prime.
Lets be honest. That fight wasn't even close to a draw and Whitaker dominated that fight and easily. There was never a point where anyone thought Chavez was in the lead in that fight and Chavez never even hurt Whitaker. Its an injustice to do say that fight was a draw or even close.
I had it very close. Whitaker won his rounds more emphatically but never 10-8, so the math at the end put it very close. Great performance by Whitaker to struggle to a draw.