‘SWEET PEA’ PERFECTION
Some vintage Pernell Whitaker performances. Go to page 38 to hear from the man himself...
1. GREG HAUGEN (W UD 12) Claiming his first world belt, Whitaker dazzled from start to finish and produced a masterful performance to win the IBF lightweight title from a bamboozled Haugen in 1989.
2. JOSE LUIS RAMIREZ II (W UD 12) Rankled by a controversial defeat to Ramirez the year before, Whitaker took his frustrations out on the Mexican in 1989, schooling him for 12 rounds and leaving no doubt.
3. JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ (D MD 12) This was the victory that wasn’t. Whitaker, boxing beautifully and outpunching Chavez for most of the rounds they shared, had to settle for a draw in 1993.
4. JAMES ‘BUDDY’ MCGIRT I (W UD 12) Mcgirt was a slick and skilful stylist, but not slick or skilful enough for Whitaker, who won the WBC welterweight title from ‘Buddy’ in 1993.
5. AZUMAH NELSON (W UD 12) Nelson, a WBC super-featherweight champion moving up, had only previously lost to Salvador Sanchez, but had no answer to Whitaker when they met for the lightweight titles in 1990.
6. LOUIE LOMELI (W RSF 3) In 1989, an aggressive Whitaker stood with Lomeli – made him miss, made him pay – and landed pretty much every shot in the book en route to a third round stoppage.
7. JUAN NAZARIO (W KO 1) Pernell added the WBA lightweight title to his IBF and WBC belts with a stunning first round knockout of Nazario, finishing matters with a sweet left cross to the chin.
8. JULIO CESAR VASQUEZ (W UD 12) Vasquez had lost only once in 54 fights when he faced Whitaker in 1995, and that loss was by disqualification. Whitaker, though, had no problem outpointing the Argentinean over 12 rounds to claim a belt at 154lbs.
9. RAFAEL PINEDA (W UD 12) Having dominated at lightweight, Whitaker moved up to super-lightweight in 1992 and thrashed Pineda over 12 rounds to take the IBF world title.
10. JORGE PAEZ (W UD 12) The entertaining Paez was a former IBF and WBO featherweight champion but had little to offer Whitaker when the pair met at lightweight in 1991.