He beat Chávez and de la Hoya for sure . Imagine if he was given those wins, He would be way more respected in the boxing world . He’s definitely in my top 5 all time
He's right he the best defensive fighter I ever saw...The definition of the sweet science hit and don't get hit...Anybody saying Floyd is better better check tape and do some homework
I love how Pernell always bounces as soon as the interview is over. He never stands around for the outro lol. One of the greatest fighters of all time, pound for pound! The way he fought against Haugen and in the rematch with Jose Luis Ramirez was, in my opinion, was god-like.
100%. "No cherry pickin' the fights for the money. Give the fans what they want." Loved watching Pernell Whitaker all through the nineties. At his peak he was dyn-o-mite.
@@ChrisAcheson Fair enough. He FLATLY refused to fight Rosario. They tried to make that fight for a couple of years and whitaker would have none of it. Rosario could box, was fast and had a powerful straight right. All things whitaker had problems with. He refused to meet Trinidad or Quartey and ONLY fought Trinidad AFTER he lost his belts. Why? Because he knew what would happen. He was NEVER going to beat Felix. He COULD have fought Chavez at lightweight or jr. welter. He avoided and ONLY agreed to fight Chavez when he was fading and at an unnatural weight. He refused to fight Norris when Norris was considered about the p4p best. Instead, he fought the crude Vasquez and still ended up on his backside. Those are just off the top of my head. Not saying whitaker wasn't a respected fighter. But his claim as an " all time great" is weak.
@@constantine7382 To be fair: There is no record of Rosario nor Whitaker turning down a fight with each other. Against Felix Trinidad, Felix won but was 9 years younger than ol' Pernell at 37. And Whitaker not fighting Quartey would have been interesting. Between Ike "Bazooka" Quartey and Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker, Pernell Whitaker had the better boxing record in terms of achievements and overall success. Again, there is no record of either Terry Norris or Pernell Whitaker turning down a fight together. A potential matchup between Terry Norris and Pernell Whitaker could have been an intriguing clash of styles, with Norris's power and aggression facing off against Whitaker's defensive wizardry. While it's difficult to definitively prove a negative claim, the evidence above suggests that Pernell Whitaker did not engage in cherry-picking during his boxing career. His record, the quality of opponents he faced, and his reputation among boxing experts all support the notion that he was a formidable and accomplished boxer who consistently took on challenging opponents.
Mr GOAT your opinion’s a joke. Mayweather’s style is like fighting a lion from a distance, Whitaker’s style is like fighting a lion while teasing it with one hand inside its mouth. Enormous difference in risk.
@@eroe16 I would like to thank u for the wise word pretaining to my Unlce... Many won't admit it yet My Unlce is/was the Blue Print for Roy, Floyd & Juda many others... There will never be another like him EVER!!! ✊✌️
“The fans want to see the best fight the best and I think they deserve to have that” Whats been so complicated for boxing was always so simple to Pernell. RIP to a LEGEND
This is what you youngsters need to understand. Mayweather may be able to boast of having no knockdowns (even though Zab and Castillo both legitimately floored him) and he was very efficient with his defense, but he was a much more safety-oriented fighter than Whitaker. Pernell was not scared to get hit. He would hang in close and dare you to try and hit him. That's also why Whitaker was able to regularly land 350+ punches on fighters in fights, because he was always in range. Mayweather is lucky to land half those shots because he spends most of the fight trying to avoid being in hitting range. Whitaker risked more, and risked more against better opposition (prime Chavez, Nelson, Vasquez, DelaHoya, Trinidad and McGirt are probably all better fighters than anyone Floyd fought at the time he fought them), and still came out without getting tagged much. Whitaker's willingness to risk more and thrive whilst doing so, is what makes him a greater defensive fighter and a greater fighter period.
Wow, before he walked off I thought Pernell Whitaker was sitting down; seriously, (lol).😂 But I agree, this guy was a technical genius in his day, and certainly a better defensive fighter than Mayweather Jr. Sweat Pea, the best ever, *(TBE)!*
The best fight that we've seen in many years is Thurman Porter imo. That fight had it all it was a real throwback fight, like you were watching something out of the 80s those two were magic in there.
Pernell eroded his reflexes with cocaine. In his prime he'd stand right in front of you and make you look stupid. Mayweather's shoulder roll doesn't compare.
This Sweet Pea had to see punches coming at him like it was slow motion a picture or in context 6 Frames per second. The flurries he avoided time and time again is the proof. However to be able to counter when off balance and KO some the great fighters he did, YOU HAVE TO SAY THIS MAN was the best POUND per POUND. Anyone that follows his lead was only an understudy
PEA WAS SLICK. MY FAVORITE FIGHTER OF ALL TIME. LOVE MAYWEATHER TOO BUT PEA MADE A GOOD POINT, THE BEST FIGHTS WERE IN HIS ERA. ALSO FOR THE RECORD FLOYD HIMSELF DID SAY THAT BEFORE EVERY TITLE FIGHT HE WATCHES VIDEO OF SWEET PEA. SALUTE BOTH LEGENDS
What the hell is a defensive fighter? You don't win REAL fights off of great defense. Example: Let's say I broke into your home intending to rob you of every high dollar item I can find. If you caught me red handed, would you go into a defensive posture, and try to block me from grabbing your TV and Xbox? Would you try and hide the jewelry from me, or would you just grab a shotgun and try to blow me away? Get my drift...
@@paulrobinson6730 Its not just my opinion, its facts. Name me one fight Toney looked better defensively than Pernell. Look at James is a throwback fighter with a solid chin and old school tricks but he`s no defensive wizard on the scale level of Whittaker. Floyd Jr, Nicolino Locche and Charley Burley was also way better defensively.
We actually got that fight... When My Uncle fought his Uncle in Our Home Town of Norfolk VA... Roger was extremely smart just not enough to match my Uncle... Yet what he learned from being beat by my Uncle he took it & passed it down to his nephew... Floyd is good yet the style & grace of my uncle's movement in that ring can not be matched by any one... "U can't hit something U can't see... I have seen my Uncle get so low that if I was in the ring w/him It would have been a kick boxing match... Lol!!! No One has ever done that &. Never will!!! My Uncle "The Best Pound 4 Pound!!! Hands Down!!!
People always argue about who is the greatest boxer of all time, I believe this man right here would defeat any boxer of any era in his prime. Pernell Whitaker is literally the most skilled boxer I've ever seen.
There will neeeeveeeer be another pernell sweet pea Whitaker. Boxers now in days cherry pick. Pernell made great boxers look like sparring partners. The total package. God made him Jordan in Barry sanders special
2 different forms of defense. Pernell took pages from lochte and pep. Being totally evasive. This however takes a lot of energy on the fighter. They're still prone to taking big shots, and being knocked down. Floyd obviously adopted the philly shell and shoulder roll. As well as taken pages from sweet pea and probably rjj/ali/leonard. His defense is less taxing, and good if he's at the pinnacle like floyd. Point is, more people can imitate sweet pea and be successful, opposed to floyds style, that he's adopted.
Understand Nothing comes before 1... My Uncle Style is that of his own, in which Roger couldn't beat coyied/studied & than trained his nephew with it... The Best Pound 4 Pound... Hands Down!!! My Uncle!!!
Pernel's losss to Chavez was more for his over defensive strategies. He was advised by his stable mate Meldrick Taylor who was battered n bruised n tkoed by Chave's relentless punching rains.
There are controversial or close fights We debate about wether the all time greatest boxers actually lost this fight or that fight and this is when our favourite boxers Ali, leonard, floyd, Lewis were fighting at their best... but when this freakishly great boxer was at his peak , you couldnt even debate wether or not he lost this ROUND or that ROUND..because at his best sweet pea whitaker never ever even lost a round when he was at his best!! lool!! I love that he is clearly talking about floyd when he talks about cherry picking fights. good on ya man. and he's totally correct.
He says the truth he is the best in boxing defence department. Although, a bit less in defence compared to Pernel, Terrence Bud Crawford has bigger punching power. Both are great talents.