is Pernel Whitaker Overrated?

Out of curiosity. Who do you think Whitaker could beat: Napoles, Leonard, Rodriguez, Robinson, Hearns?

 

To be clear... I wouldn't make him favorite to beat any one of those fighters. However, that isn't to say he couldn't win some decisions in those fights. Especially if there were multiple fights against the same foe. It's my belief that when a fighter makes other world class fighters and champions look almost amateurish.... It speaks volumes about how great he was and how I wouldn't put it past him to beat other greats, even when they are bigger. For example, I believe it's in the realm of possibilities that he could score a decision against Napoles, Leonard or Rodriguez. Again, I wouldn't make him a favorite, but can you really say those guys would soundly beat somebody that was never soundly beaten until he was WELL past his prime by another prime Welterweight. Even then, he made a good account of himself and lasted the distance against an all time great welterweight with great power at the weight. So why would I then believe Napoles, Leonard, Rodriguez and **** even the other two get pea out of there? I don't think I should.. Now if they don't get him out of there with a KO.. I'm then suppose to believe the dominate him and convincingly outbox pea to a wide decision? I just can't see it and wouldn't believe that to be possible. IMO nobody outboxes pea to a clear wide decision.

 

There were two broad versions of Whitaker at Welter, and there were definitely versions there that would get beaten widely by all those fighters.Whitaker's lifestyle eroded his abilities and athleticism pretty quickly by the time he was campaigning there.

I make a distinction between the very early Welter Pea, who would be a tough fight for most Welters and the coked up one that struggled with the likes of Gary Jacobs and Wilredo Rivera.

 

Just due to styles, I'd give Pea the best chance against Napoles. What's Pea going to do with Leonard? He's not walking him down, he's not outpunching him. Worst case scenario I think for Leonard is that it turns into a Benitez-like chess match. Pea isn't outjabbing Leonard at 147.
I don't think Pea is overrated, but if you think he could beat a prime Leonard at 147, then yea, I think that's overrating him a tad.
Rodriguez is a little underrated IMO. I don't think he dominates Pea, but that's a difficult matchup for Pea I think.

To be clear, I can't see Pea keeping it real close against a prime Leonard having clear disadvantage in size, strength, power (I'll call handspeed a wash).