Top 3 Pernell Whitaker performance at WW and LW?

135:

W12 Jose Luis Ramirez (2nd meeting)
W12 Greg Haugen
W12 Azumah Nelson

147

D12 JC Chavez
W12 Buddy McGirt (2nd meeting)
L12 Oscar De la Hoya

 

135: Haugen, Ramirez II, Nelson
147: McGirt II, Chavez, Cardona

HM: Rafael Pineda and Harold Brazier at 140

 

135: Haugen, Ramirez II, Nazario (if only because it was so different to many Pea fights in its length, and the body punching was beautiful).

147: Both of the McGirt fights, and again as an arguably left field choice I'd throw Rodriguez in there, too. Not a great opponent, but Pea hadn't had a stoppage in a while and it was nice to see him stepping up the aggression again, which he didn't do often enough at Welterweight in my opinion. Again, an absolute clinic in precision body punching.

 

135:
1. Greg Haugen
2. Jose Ramirez 2
3. Azumah Nelson
HM: Poli Diaz

147:
1. Buddy McGirt 2
2. Buddy McGirt 1
3. Julio Cesar Chavez
HM: Gary Jacobs

 

Another favorite is the Roger Mayweather fight. Best example of a slugfest you’ll see in a Whitaker bout. Even the ref gets it on the action (and shows a good chin).

Don’t fast forward through the pre-fight build up. These guys really did not like each other. This is a young, aggressive Sweet Pea dishing out an asswhooping. Uncle Rog gets his fair share of licks in, too, though.

 

At 147:
#03. Santos Cardona
#02. Julio Cesar Chavez
#01. Buddy McGirt II

At 135:
#03. Juan Nazario
#02. Azumah Nelson
#01. Jose Luis Ramirez II

 

1) Greg Haugen - I think he attained absolute peak brilliance in this fight
2) Ramirez II
3) Nelson

I'll abstain from 147 as I really never thought much of him at the higher weight.

 

The Haugen fight showcased arguably the best ring generalship in history.

 

I didn't know he took on a Latin music icon.

 

I just watched the Lomeli fight, and in terms of a spectacle, that has to be up there. Brilliant counters, defence, finish, left uppercut, jab and ring generalship. He just walked through him. Sure, he should have done, but he looked absolutely fantastic in there.

 

Was it you who said they hadn't seen Whitaker vs Hurtado? That's a good fight, one of Whitaker's most entertaining IMO.

 

At 135: Nazario, Nelson and Haugen. Honorable Mention: Ramirez 2.

At 147: Chavez, McGirt, 154 Vasquez.

Honestly though, I think of Pernell as being one of the great lightweights I've seen in my time. His reign at welterweight, to me, was just an added bonus. He was masterful against Chavez. But other than that, he didn't seem comfortable to me at 147. He didn't seem to be nearly the same fighter against Jacobs, Hurtado, Rivera. Old man Sweet Pea did put up a hell of an effort against De La Hoya though. Almost beat him.

 

Never the full fight,. Might do so now that I’m more objective and less fan boy as far as Whitaker goes.

 

I watched it today, but didn't score. The only time I scored it I'm pretty sure I had it by only one point to Hurtado. Brutal finish from Whitaker, and a good fight. Hurtado was almost hand made to be a bad style for an aging Whitaker.