Former world champion Pernell Whitaker passes away

Whitaker was a world champion in four divisions — WBC lightweight, IBF light welterweight, WBC welterweight and WBA light middleweight. He also won an Olympic gold medal in 1984.

Published : Jul 15, 2019 21:06 IST

Former boxing champion Pernell Whitaker passed away after being hit by a car in Virginia. He was 55.
Former boxing champion Pernell Whitaker passed away after being hit by a car in Virginia. He was 55.
lightbox-info

Former boxing champion Pernell Whitaker passed away after being hit by a car in Virginia. He was 55.

Former U.S. world champion Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker has died after being hit by a vehicle in Virginia Beach, Virginia, according to police. He was 55.

Whitaker was a world champion in four divisions — WBC lightweight, IBF light welterweight, WBC welterweight and WBA light middleweight. He retired in 2001 after compiling a 40-4-1 record including 17 knockouts and later worked as a trainer.

A member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, Whitaker was named boxer of the year by Ring magazine in 1989. He also won an Olympic gold medal in 1984.

Whitaker was pronounced dead at a Virginia Beach intersection on Sunday night after police were called to the scene of an accident, a police report said.

The driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and the accident is still under investigation, police added.

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