Whitaker Apologists Respond...

...........Your reading is selective. I also said I acknowledged he was great.

 

nuff said.:good
To say otherwise is just outrageous.

 

I'm going to transcribe a long article from The Fist Magazine - not just to apologize for Sweet Pea in the Julio Cesar Vasquez fight, but to show that The Fist was a decent magazine and wasn't some backwater Aussie farce.

Stay tuned.... :good

 

:good

 

Ok, here's the article. It's a little rambly and focuses more on the context of the fight than the fight itself, but it should be a good read for most interested in what was the state of the game at the time. I'll put it up in segments. :good

 

PERNELL WHITAKER ENTERS BOXING’S ELITE CLUB WITH DURAN, HEARNS AND LEONARD


By Robert Mladinich

With the possible exception of Roy Jones Jr, there is little doubt that Pernell (Sweet Pea) Whitaker is the finest fighter in the world. On March 4 in Atlantic City, Whitaker won his sixth professional title in four weight divisions when he decisively beat WBA junior middleweight champion Julio Cesar Vasquez of Argentina. While the lanterned jawed Vasquez was unfairly dismissed as a limited opponent by many in the American press, he entered the fight with a very impressive 52-1 record, which included 35 knockouts. He had also defended his title 10 times.

Prior to the fight, Whitaker, now 35-1-1 (15 KO’s) was unimpressed. Five days before the bout Whitaker had trained at New York’s Broadcast Gym, which is owned by television journalist Geraldo Rivera, a maniacal boxing fan and pretty fair fighter. He and Whitaker had engaged in three spirited rounds of sparring that morning. Regarding Rivera, Whitaker explained, “he had a dream come true today, sparring with a world champion. He’s not a professional fighter, but he’s pretty damn good. But this is a 24 hour game just like his television (career). You got to have a love of the game, and live that life 24 hours a day to be the best.”

He was less complimentary in his comments about Vasquez. “I made the (Julio Cesar) Chavez fight easy”, he explained, alluding to the September 1993 battle with the Mexican legend which was ruled a draw, even though Whitaker beat him easily, and handily. “How can this be more difficult?” In fact, Whitaker made it clear that he was only taking this fight “for fun” because it would be a challenge to win a new title before dropping back down and defending his WBC welterweight title that he still owns.

Well, Whitaker was wrong on both accounts. Although he beat the iron willed Vasquez, and added another notch to his belt, the fight was anything but fun. At the post fight press conference, Whitaker lauded the punching power of Vasquez, and junior middleweights in particular. He was bent over the dais as he talked, grimacing in pain from the many brutal body shots that probably fractured his right rib. “No more fighting these big guys,” he said emphatically. “I felt everything he threw at me. No matter where it landed I felt it.”

In fact, in the fourth round Whitaker was decked by a left to the jaw. “I didn’t take the full effect of the blow,” he claimed, then added with great candour, “or they would probably still be counting over me.” The knockdown was probably caused more by him being off balance because he took Vasquez down with him in a tangled heap. But it certainly put Whitaker on notice that he better not get careless. After the fight Whitaker even handed the title back to Vasquez, and informed him, “we don’t want that one. I’m going back to the welterweights.”

On the undercard of the show were possible welterweight challengers, Gary Jacobs of England, and Ike Quartey of Ghana. Quartey is the reigning WBA titlist. Jacobs’ record is a seemingly impressive 40-5(22) although few feel he has much of chance against Whitaker. Because of mandatory challengers like Jacobs, Whitaker says he is on a constant quest for fun fights. His trainer, former NABF junior welterweight champion Ronnie Shields said. “Look, he (Jacobs) is the mandatory challenger, that’s not our fault. Pernell is so good, he needs good challenges to stay interested.”

Quartey, though, is another story. He will offer the sternest of challengers. He is a punching machine with a 28-0(23 KO’s) record. He has tremendous power in each hand and a buzzsaw style. He annihilated South Korean Jung-Oh Park, scoring a fourth round knockout. Whitaker’s most attractive match-up lies with IBF champion Felix Trinidad. Also fellow junior middleweight champ, Vincent Pettway, and junior welterweight champions Frankie Randall and Kostya Tszyu would pose significant challengers. Unfortunately, with the exception of Tszyu, all are promoted by Don King, who is the arch rival of Whitaker’s promoter, Dan Duva of Main Events.

 

Duva’s father Lou co-managers Whitaker with Shelley Finkel, and explains regrettably, that none of those fights will happen. “Look, it takes two great fighters to make a great fight,” he says. “Chavez was a great fighter and Pete (Whitaker’s nickname) beat him easily. I’m sure that if it was up to Julio he would love to fight Pete again but Don King is holding him up. It might be different though when Mike Tyson gets out of jail.” Duva is alluding to the fact that since Tyson’s incarceration three years ago, Chavez has been King’s pay-per-view darling, and King would be foolish to risk getting him knocked off. It I difficult to imagine Chavez fairing any better in a rematch. Duva’s inference is that if Tyson re-signs with King, Chavez becomes expendable because King would have the most promotable fighter in boxing under his wing.

“We offered Chavez 8 million for a rematch,” exhorts Duva. “Pernell would have gotten 7 million.” That’s how bad Pernell wanted the fight. They wouldn’t take it. That fight should have been rematched right away. It would have been a blockbuster.” He adds the media in Mexico are 100% behind putting Whitaker-Chavez back on, but King isn’t.“

Duva explained that during negotiations with King for an Evander Holyfield-Mike Tysonbout, King was difficult to deal with. “Tyson told King he wanted Holyfield, and we had an agreement up to ten minutes before the deadline,” he says. “Then King called and said no deal. If a fighter wants a fight, you get the fight. If Pernell said to me I want to fight anybody, that’s the fight I am going to get, no matter who it is.”

It is apparent that few, if any, of Whitaker’s future opponents will be against King controlled fighters, even though the potential mega-fights seem limitless. Trinidad is on the verge of superstardom, and could conceivably beat Whitaker. Randall handed Chavez his first official defeat, then won another title from Juan Coggi, and is quickly becoming a major force in the industry, capable of giving Whitaker a tremendous test. He will soon move into the welterweight division.

“I would fight any of them,” admits Whitaker. “But I’m the champion. I shouldn’t have to beg guys to fight (me). They all know where I live. I’m not hard to find.”

To date Whitaker’s boxing life has been very good to him, the Chavez debacle notwithstanding. His brilliant career was built on a solid foundation, a managerial relationship with Duva that is second to none. He was signed fresh out of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games where he captivated a world audience on route to winning a gold medal. He was also the only gold medallist to win his final via knockout. He retired from the amateur ranks with a 201-14 record, with 91 KO’s.

“They take care of me and I take care of them,” he says of his enviable and relaxed partnership. “They make things very easy for me. If we have a disagreement, we sit and talk with no animosity. That stability has always helped me.”

One obvious change in the Vasquez fight was the absence of long time trainer George Benton in his corner. Benton had trained him since his pro debut, but left after a dispute with Lou Duva. “He screwed me over money” Benton chargers, but refuses to elaborate. He did say that his percentage of purses was to be cut, so he left to work for Don King, and is currently high in the Mexican mountains preparing Oliver McCall for Larry Holmes.

Duva says the loss of Benton “doesn’t make a difference in the team effort,” and insists Benton made about 5 million dollars as Whitaker’s trainer.

Whitaker’s amateur career began quite by accident in his native Virginia Beach, Virginia. At eight years old a local recreation director, the late Clyde Taylor, placed him and a neighbourhood nemesis of the same age in the ring to settle their differences. From that day on Whitaker became an insatiable student of the game. Almost immediately he had one accolade after another heaped upon him. Besides the Olympic gold, he had won the 1982 PanAmerican Games, and the 1983 World Championships. As a pro he won his first world title in February 1989 when he totally befuddled Greg Haugen before thousands of his hometown fans who braved over a foot of snow to watch the one sided beating.

Six months later he wrestled the WBC title from Jose Luis Ramirez, avenging his only career loss. Ramirez won a decision over Whitaker in Paris in March 1988. The robbery was as blatant as the one against Chavez, but the outcry nowhere near as loud. Although the fight was for the WBC title Ramirez was a rather obscure champion, whose popularity paled in comparison to Chavez’s.

 

After beating Freddie Pendleton and Azumah Nelson, he unified the titles against Juan Nazario, and defended it three times before copping the IBF junior welterweight title from Rafael Pineda. Before long he embarked on greener pastures of the welterweight division. It was there his stature became unquestioned, perhaps unrivalled, until the ascent of Jones. He beat Buddy McGirt for the title, followed by a draw with Chavez. Solid wins against Santos Cardona and McGirt in a rematch followed, leading to his date with destiny against the very capable Vasquez.

At 28, Vasquez, a native of Santa Fe, Argentina, says he was born to be a fighter. His earliest memories are of him dreaming of becoming a champion. He said “I always knew I had what it takes to be the man, to be a world champion.” He only had 35 amateur bouts, but had won 33, and scored 28 blistering knockouts. He turned pro in 1986 because “I know I could have won dozens of amateur awards, but I felt my style was perfectly suited to be a professional.” That proved to be a very accurate perception.

In December 1992 his dream came true when he beat Hitoshi Kamiyama of Japan in Argentina by brutal first round knockout. At the time he and Kamiyama were rated one of two respectively, and were fighting for a vacant time.

As champion Vasquez fought at a breakneck pace. In 1993 he defended his title four times, followed by six defences the next year. His record grew along with his reputation, but he wanted to be considered one of boxing’s best. He believed a win over Whitaker would make it happen. “I see where people have referred to me as the other Julio Cesar,” he said. “On March 4 I’ll do what my namesake couldn’t do, I’ll be referred to as the only Julio Cesar.”

There were a few who shared his sentiments. After all, Whitaker wasn’t knocking people out at lower weights, and whether or not he could withstand Vasquez’s power was debateable. He had only scored to knockouts in 15 title defence, while Vasquez had scored 7 out of 10. Vasquez was the slower, but he was also five inches taller, two years younger, and naturally bigger and stronger. Both titlists were southpaws, nullifying any advantage there. But most importantly, it was assumed that Vasquez’s bull-like style and imposing power would make Whitaker’s normally fleeting style ineffective. Two people who certainly didn’t believe it was Whitaker or Dan Duva.

At the pre-fight press conference Duva talked about Main Events being on a losing streak lately, with heavyweight champions vander Holyfield, Michael Moorer and Lennox Lewis being beaten. “For 11 years Pernell has been our franchise,” he said. “During that time we have had ups and downs. We are currently experiencing a losing streak, which happens. In 11 years, every time we had one Pernell would be our stopper. He always got us back on the winning track.” Duva conceded that Vasquez was “five inches taller and 10 pounds heavier, and this was not an easy challenge”, but still maintained that Whitaker would once again be their stopper.

Whitaker told the assembled press, “I got my game face on. I would love to fight the other guy (Chavez), but ‘m not going to wait around forever. Vasquez might be difficult, but I’ll just go back to the old days, doing a whole lot of dipsy-dos (fancy ducking moves), I got a whole lot of new moves for 1995. I got to use a lot of angles and movement. If you see me back up, bend down, and give you a little wink, it’s probably my newest move.”

Shields considered this “just another fight, against a bigger guy. Pernell wants new challenges,” he explained. “He always looks best when challenged. Pernell is so good he makes good opponents look bad. He doesn’t knock people out because that’s not his style. But, let’s give credit where credit is due. Pernell is a boxer, not a puncher. He is the best at his craft. People should judge him by what he is, not trying to make him something he isn’t. he is the best boxer in the world.”

There were rumours that the Vasquez fight was in jeopardy until the last minute. Vasquez was unhappy with the judges, who hailed from Thailand, Canada and New Jersey. They were disputed at the rules meeting. What incensed him more was the New Jersey tax structure, which would take a significant portion of his $500,000 purse, which happened to be one million less than what Whitaker was earning.

 

Yet, the solidly built Argentine was all business when the bell rang. While Whitaker was busier, Vasquez was landing shots to the body and head that reached home with a thud. Whitaker seemed vulnerable. His speed made things difficult for the champion, but you couldn’t help but think Vasquez might catch him.

After the knockdown in the fourth round both fighters engaged in a bit of foul play, hitting each other behind the head. This would continue throughout the bout although Vasquez would be the only won penalized for it. In round seven the action was stopped to fix the tape on Whitaker’s glove, and referee Tony Orlando strangely told Duva and Whitaker, “”next time (Vasquez fouls) I’ll take a point away. Don’t retaliate,” In the ninth and eleventh rounds Vasquez would have points deducted, although this writer did not think it was warranted. Vasquez is much taller than Whitaker and a much more physical fighter. It was apparent that the blows landing behind the head were not all thrown with malice or pre-meditation.

Regardless, Whitaker still performed masterly, although not brilliantly, won another title and bored all the fans who crave the bone jarring power of less tactically skilled fighters. The fans who appreciate great boxing displays though, went home thrilled with the outcome. Although most ringside reporters had it much closer, the official scoring was 118-110, 118-107 and 116-110. This writer had it 117-108 for Whitaker.

There had been lots of talk throughout the week of Whitaker challenging Jones at 158 pounds. Whitaker had informed HBO that he would sign for the fight if the weigh-in was held on the same day as the bout. After his date with Vasquez he proclaimed that any talk of a Jones fight was “preposterous”, “because I can’t fight a natural 168 pounder”. Shields concurred. “No way he’s fighting Jones”, he exclaimed.

Whitaker might not realize it now but he quite possibly changed the course of boxing’s future. Prior to the fight Ring Magazine editor Steve Farhood presented a new belt to Whitaker. It was called “the best pound for pound fighter belt”, a mythical adornment regularly given to those worthy of wearing it. Farhood stated “We will start a new tradition with this award, and today you will see Pernell get something will never get in the ring…. belted.”

By weeks end the WBA would strip George Foreman of his share of the heavyweight title, and HBO announced that they would no longer use organizational designations when promoting a fight on their network. HBO head Seth Abraham said that Foreman and Whitaker drew higher ratings than first run movies, and that they were considered champions of the public, official people’s champions who did not need any extra stamp of approval from the scores of sanctioning bodies.

HBO had run ads in 21 newspapers for the Whitaker-Vasquez fight, with no mention of the WBA. It was billed solely as being for the junior middleweight championship. The same format will followed in upcoming fights with Foreman and Jones. “We want to see what the response is going to be to our ads.” Abraham said. ”I wouldn’t be surprised if the public considers our fights as world championships. We’re just going to drop the alphabet-soup designations.”

Whitaker has proven that he, like Foreman, might just be bigger than boxing. With the victory over Vasquez he joined the elite Corp. of Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard in winning so many titles, even though pain was etched deeply into his face as he tried to comfort his wounded flank. At only 5’5” tall he still looked like a little giant as he excited the post fight press conference, comforted by the by the thought that he was dipsy-doing himself right back into the welterweight division, where he stands alone as boxing’s best, three weight divisions removed from his only competitor, Roy Jones.

“There’s going to be a basketball game with Roy Jones in April,” said Whitaker. “And that’s the closest I’m going to get to him.” He better hope his rib is healed by then.

 

That was from the April 1995 edition of 'The Fist Magazine' BTW :good

 

Pernell was petty good. He was just too dull for me to watch and didnt have the blidning hand speed of a young Camacho. But he was just as dirty (a characteristic he picked up from Hector)

I thought he schooled the great Chavez. Maybe Julio had trouble with the weight or maybe it was because he was fighting a southpaw or maybe it was the plan put together by Duva and Benton. Whatever it was, I thought pernell looked pretty good. Lat thing,,he couldnt have possibly had much left after 94-95.

 

He was more skillful than Hagler. So to term him "pretty" good is maybe rather mild.

 

Are you a fan of Floyd Mayweather?