Goodbye “Sweet Pea”
18 July 201918-07-2019 07:07
Olympic gold medal-winning boxer Pernell Whitaker, 55 year old, has died on Sunday (July 14) after being hit by a vehicle in Virginia Beach, police have said.
The American champion was one of the great protagonists of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, after winning the silver medal at the 1982 Monaco World Championships and the gold medal at the 1983 Panamerican Games. Whitaker – nick named “Sweet Pea” – got great results also as a professional boxer until 2001 becoming World Champion and facing champions like Julio Cesar Chavez, Felix Trinidad and Oscar De La Hoya
He retired in 2001 and in 2005 went onto work as a trainer in his home state of Virginia and his best known boxer was the heavyweight Calvin Brock. who fought for the IBF and IBO titles against Wladimir Klitschko.
I had the great privilege of admiring him in the ring and now also on behalf of EUBC I offer to his family and fans my deepest condolences.
Franco Falcinelli
EUBC President
EUBC President
