Pernell Whitaker Biography

Pernell Whitaker Sr. was an American professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2001 and later served as a boxing trainer. He achieved four-weight world championship status across lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, and light middleweight divisions. In 1989, he received Fighter of the Year honors from The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. As an amateur, he earned a silver medal at the 1982 World Championships, followed by gold at the 1983 Pan American Games and 1984 Olympics. His amateur boxing journey began at age nine, laying a foundation for a long and distinguished career. In his eleventh and twelfth professional fights, he defeated former world champion Alfredo Layne on December 20, 1986, and Roger Mayweather on March 28, 1987. On February 18, 1989, he won a decision over Greg Haugen to claim the IBF Lightweight title, becoming the first to knock Haugen down in the sixth round.