Kid Gavilan v Pernell Whitaker

I think Gavilan would win on activity. Gavilan was capable of fighting middleweights, so he might attempt to go straight at Whitaker. Pernell is very slick, and could be hard to find for anyone, and he would put that southpaw jab to good use trying to offset Gavilan.But Gavilan would edge it due to overall activity in a distance fight, he would force Whitaker to defend and react more not allowing Whitaker to distate pace. Gavilan can close distance very fast. If Gavilan stays back and doesn't press hard he could lose. He needs to overload Whitaker's defense, and he would.

 

burt, i respect your knowledge of the sport but i think you're incredibly underestimating whitaker. he was a brilliant boxer and would be a tough matchup for any lightweight-welterweight who has ever stepped in the ring. nothing would be easy about this fight for either boxer. i'd slightly favor whitaker but i'm not real confident in my pick. gavilan would be the bigger, stronger fighter.

 

Thanks for finishing that for me, i really left myself open there

 

Dont mention it . Always here to help.:good

 

I, don't underestimate Pernell Whitaker at all. It is that what I have seen of Kid Gavilan and other Welterweights of the 1940s, leads me to believe that THE KEED would have absolutely nothing to fear from Pernell in hurting him ,as he did with the vicious combo punching Ray Robinson, and overwhelm Whitaker, with his voluminous assortment of every punch in the book, [and some not in the book ] ,for the full 15 rounds. Pernell could dodge some of them salvos, but too many HAVE to get through.
Check out the Gavilan / Johnny Bratton war, and see what fighters they were. I also think that a Henry Armstrong or an Ike Williams, or my favorite volume puncher, the young Beau Jack, @ 135 ibs, would have licked Pernell, who had nothing to hold them off, for the 15 rds...

 

I completely understand where Burt is coming from and have tremendous respect for Gavilan but I am not sure ... Pernell was like Floyd Mayweather in that they had an extra gear where they were simply next to impossible to hit while constantly throwing their own stinging punches .. it's an intangible that is astonishing ... Gavilan had an iron chin and Pea was no puncher so the Kid is extra dangerous ... my question is if he had the stamina and the volume punching to make Pernell play defense all night .. I just don't think so .. The Kid was terrific but he was not Ray Robinson or Ray Leonard and that is the level of fighter at 147 that I feel could do the job on Sweet Pea ...

 

Gavilan by clear UD. Pea could box, but he'd never hurt him.

 

He, You ask if Kid Gavilan with 143 fights and many fifteen round bouts would have the stamina to put pressure on a light punching Whitaker,
who had FORTY SIX fights in his pro career. I saw Gavilan at his peak a few times, and he was relentless. Never letting up in his attack.
The question I believe should be, could WHITAKER, have the stamina to
dodge all of Kid Gavilan's barrages, and still outscore Gavilan, while on
the defensive for 15 rounds.? I can't see how !
It is probable that Gavilan was no Ray Leonard ?-Nor Ray Robinson, for
that matter, but Pernell was no Ray Robinson, Ray Leonard, Ike Williams,
[who Gavilan licked twice ], for certain....Keep punchin...

 

What did Willie Joyce have to hold Ike Williams back (3 times) ?

 

Gavilan would beat Whitaker, but it would be close imo. Kind of like a higher level Whitaker-DLH chess match, with the exception that Gavilan would land a bit more to sway close rounds his way.

 

Good question ! Willie Joyce, who i saw in MSG, was a great stylist who decisioned Ike Williams 2 out of 3 bouts. Each close. Beau Jack licked
Willie Joyce, while Ike Williams ,beat Beau Jack 3 times. These 3 fighters along with Bob Montgomery were great fighters @ lightweights,all fighting
each other time and again..Hear that Mayweather ?
None of the 4 great lightweights above licked the BIGGER Kid Gavilan,
which has nothing to do with our post of Welter Gavilan vs Whitaker ....
And Willie Pep @ 126 lbs licked Willie Joyce [135lbs], while Willie Pep would have never challenged lightweight Ike Williams @ 135lbs.
So your question, though interesting proves nothing...Besides Willie Joyce was a helluva pure boxer in a tough, tough era !

 

Name them.

 

Maybe because you didn't even answer it.

 

OK, Ike Williamns, Ray Robinson,Johnny Bratton,Tommy Bell, Billy Graham,
Carmine Basillio, and the 160 pounders like Eduardo Lausse, Laurent Dauthille, [a helluva a 160pounder] ..Gavilan licked the much bigger Lausse, who would have overwhelmed the smaller Whitaker,as well as Dauthille the 160 pound Frenchman who gave a prime Jake LaMotta hell for 15 rounds, and beat Jake once before. Now tell me what opponent of Whitaker would you take ,that would lick a prime Gavilan @ 147 lbs ?

 

Have you ever seen films of Willie Joyce in action ? No I think not. Well I did...A great pure boxer with a darting left jab, who fought the cream of the crop in the 1940s. I would have liked to see Pernell Whitaker fight an
extra 60 or so fights MORE before he retired,and still be as effective as a Willie Joyce was with over ONE HUNDRED bouts...