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OT - my thoughts on Pernell Whitaker, RIP

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k9cane said:
for those who care...

www.espn.com

Remembering Whitaker: 'Sweet Pea' a master of the sweet science

Pernell Whitaker was one of the greatest boxers in history. Dan Rafael, Steve Kim and Mark Kriegel remember moments from Whitaker's career that made him stand out from the rest.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
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This one really hurt. I met pernell for the first time when zab was first coming up. Sparred for him a few times. Really good people. Very personable & always made time for people. Boxing wise I dont think alot of people realize just what a beast he was. He got robbed out of that de la goya fight and that changed the narrative on him unfortunately.
 
One of my favorite fighters of alltime.
My man "Sweet Pea" was smooth as they come. Rest in Peace champ.
 
dsddcane said:
This one really hurt. I met pernell for the first time when zab was first coming up. Sparred for him a few times. Really good people. Very personable & always made time for people. Boxing wise I dont think alot of people realize just what a beast he was. He got robbed out of that de la goya fight and that changed the narrative on him unfortunately.
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Prior to that the Chavez fight should of been a clear cut unanimous decision victory. James Toney and I were just talking about "Sweet Pea" last week.
 
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dsddcane said:
This one really hurt. I met pernell for the first time when zab was first coming up. Sparred for him a few times. Really good people. Very personable & always made time for people. Boxing wise I dont think alot of people realize just what a beast he was. He got robbed out of that de la goya fight and that changed the narrative on him unfortunately.
Click to expand...

Zab idolized Pernell...

Great Whitaker story I was told by trainer Ronnie Shields, who was in his corner for a full decade with George Benton an Lou Duva...

so in 1996 they're in camp, Pernell is there and guys like Fernando Vargas, Zab, Omar Sheika and Floyd Mayweather are all there, either preparing for the Olympics or the Olympic Trials at Bob Wareing's gym in Virginia Beach, and they were getting a little mouthy about how well they were doing in sparring with 'Pea'

So one day, Whitaker tells Shields,''Ronnie, line them little m'f**ckers up, one by one -- but I want Floyd last."

Ronnie says that he proceeds to just thrash and riddle these guys, 3 rounds at a time, rotating them in =- and then it got to Mayweather. He says he stood right in the pocket on him and was banging him to the body and then as the warning bell sounded for the last 30 seconds of the final round, Whitaker puts down his hands and says,''C'mon!!! Hit me." And Floyd threw like 50 punches and basically missed every single one as Whitaker slipped, dipped and dodged every single of them.

When the bell rang, Whitaker goes ''YEAH, WHAT?!?!" and Floyd just had this befuddled look, like he couldn't believe what just happened.

Now, chances are he was drunk/high as this happened because Pernell didn't care if he was in camp or not. But he was THAT good...
 
k9cane said:
Zab idolized Pernell...

Great Whitaker story I was told by trainer Ronnie Shields, who was in his corner for a full decade with George Benton an Lou Duva...

so in 1996 they're in camp, Pernell is there and guys like Fernando Vargas, Zab, Omar Sheika and Floyd Mayweather are all there, either preparing for the Olympics or the Olympic Trials at Bob Wareing's gym in Virginia Beach, and they were getting a little mouthy about how well they were doing in sparring with 'Pea'

So one day, Whitaker tells Shields,''Ronnie, line them little m'f**ckers up, one by one -- but I want Floyd last."

Ronnie says that he proceeds to just thrash and riddle these guys, 3 rounds at a time, rotating them in =- and then it got to Mayweather. He says he stood right in the pocket on him and was banging him to the body and then as the warning bell sounded for the last 30 seconds of the final round, Whitaker puts down his hands and says,''C'mon!!! Hit me." And Floyd threw like 50 punches and basically missed every single one as Whitaker slipped, dipped and dodged every single of them.

When the bell rang, Whitaker goes ''YEAH, WHAT?!?!" and Floyd just had this befuddled look, like he couldn't believe what just happened.

Now, chances are he was drunk/high as this happened because Pernell didn't care if he was in camp or not. But he was THAT good...
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I've actually heard a very similar story from zab. Two people zab looked up to in boxing. Sweet pea & mikey. Wont turn this into anything about mikey but I've always hated how misunderstood he is. But it's what he wanted. Some wild nights with mikey & zab. I go hard but those boys there... lol
 
dsddcane said:
I've actually heard a very similar story from zab. Two people zab looked up to in boxing. Sweet pea & mikey. Wont turn this into anything about mikey but I've always hated how misunderstood he is. But it's what he wanted. Some wild nights with mikey & zab. I go hard but those boys there... lol
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Ok I assume you mean Mike Tyson and not Mikey Garcia, lol,(gonna DM you about this)
 
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He was one of my favorites for a long time. Lost track of him and the sport over time, but i remember watching him on HBO a lot growing up. That's when boxing was pretty good. Not 70's & 80's good, but there were still a ton of names coming up and in their prime in the early 90's
 
k9cane said:
for those who care...

www.espn.com

Remembering Whitaker: 'Sweet Pea' a master of the sweet science

Pernell Whitaker was one of the greatest boxers in history. Dan Rafael, Steve Kim and Mark Kriegel remember moments from Whitaker's career that made him stand out from the rest.
www.espn.com www.espn.com
Click to expand...
What a great read. Thank you for sharing.

Tragic news. I grew up watching Sweet Pea. One of the best pound-for-pound fighters of all time and such a unique fighting style that was so entertaining to watch. He's a classic case of "what could have been" though, sadly, even though he achieved an awful lot. Even with all the out of the ring distractions he still had the career he did. Dude was THAT naturally gifted!
 
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