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szdaily -> Sports -> 
US boxing legend Pernell Whitaker killed in car crash
    2019-07-17  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

AMERICAN Olympic boxing champion Pernell Whitaker has died at the age of 55 in a car crash in the U.S. state of Virginia, local police reported Monday.

The police said that the late boxer was hit by a car Sunday and added that it was not a hit-and-run accident. Police are still investigating further details of the case.

The 55-year-old was an outstanding defensive fighter with a unique and effective style. He is known as “Sweet Pea,” because he was extremely good at hitting and avoiding getting hit back. He rarely gave his opponents an opportunity to land a clean shot.

Whitaker once said it was the most beautiful feeling in the world to hit the other guy and not get hit. His longtime promoter Kathy Duva said that while many of Whitaker’s former opponents were boxing greats, Whitaker was on every single list of the top 10 fighters of all time.

Whitaker won an Olympic gold medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, and a gold at the 1983 Pan American Games.

He earned his first lightweight title belt in 1987 by defeating Roger Mayweather, the uncle of current boxing star Floyd Jr.

He was a champion in four different WBC weight classes, including, lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight and light middleweight.

Whitaker was named Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America in 1989.

Whitaker made his retirement announcement from a hospital after a 2001 fight that left him with a broken clavicle. He later spent time in prison for cocaine use, according to The Virginian-Pilot, before becoming a trainer. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006.

In 2002, boxing publication Ring Magazine ranked Whitaker as the 10th greatest boxer of the last 80 years.

(SD-Xinhua)

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