Pernell Whitaker Sr. (January 2, 1964 – July 14, 2019) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2001, and subsequently worked as a boxing trainer. He was a four-weight world champion, having won titles at lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, and light middleweight; the undisputed lightweight title; and the lineal lightweight and welterweight titles. In 1989, Whitaker was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He currently holds the longest unified lightweight championship reign in boxing history at six title defenses. Whitaker is generally regarded as one of the greatest defensive boxers of all time.
As an amateur, Whitaker won a silver medal in the lightweight division at the 1982 World Championships, followed by gold at the 1983 Pan American Games and 1984 Olympics. After his retirement in 2001, Whitaker returned to the sport as a trainer. In 2002, The Ring ranked him tenth in their list of "The 100 Greatest Fighters of the Last 80 Years". In 2006, Whitaker was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, in his first year of eligibility.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Pernell Whitaker
- Born: January 2, 1964 — Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
- Died: July 14, 2019 — Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. (aged 55)
- Nationality: American
- Height: 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
- Reach: 69 in (175 cm)
- Stance: Southpaw
- Pro debut: Nov 15, 1984 (Win by TKO vs Farrain Comeaux)
- Last bout: Apr 27, 2001 (Loss by TKO vs Carlos Bojorquez)
- Total rounds boxed: 379 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Lightweight, Light welterweight, Welterweight, Light middleweight
- KO percentage: 42.5% (17 KO wins in 40 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): IBF lightweight title February 18, 1989 – 1991 (won from Greg Haugen; added the WBC and The Ring lightweight titles on August 20, 1989 in the José Luis Ramírez rematch and the WBA title on August 11, 1990 against Juan Nazario, unifying the division; last lightweight defense October 5, 1991 against Jorge Páez, per the bout table); IBF junior welterweight title July 18, 1992 (won from Rafael Pineda, per the bout table); WBC welterweight title March 6, 1993 – April 12, 1997 (won from James McGirt; defenses included the Julio César Chávez draw and the McGirt rematch; lost to Oscar De La Hoya); WBA super welterweight title March 4, 1995 (won from Julio César Vásquez in a one-division move up, per the bout table, then returned to welterweight) — all dates per the bout table
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 46
- Wins: 40
- Wins by KO: 17
- Losses: 4
- Losses by KO: 1
- Draws: 1
- No contests: 1
- Born: January 2, 1964 — Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
- Nationality: American
- Height: 5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
- Reach: 69 in (175 cm)
- Stance: Southpaw
- Divisions: Lightweight, Light welterweight, Welterweight, Light middleweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nov 15, 1984 | Farrain Comeaux | Win | TKO | 2 (6), 2:50 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 2 | Jan 20, 1985 | Danny Avery | Win | TKO | 4 (6) | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 3 | Mar 13, 1985 | Mike Golden | Win | TKO | 4 (6), 2:54 | Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
| 4 | Apr 20, 1985 | Nick Parker | Win | UD | 6 | Memorial Coliseum, Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. |
| 5 | Jul 20, 1985 | John Senegal | Win | TKO | 2 (8), 1:29 | Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
| 6 | Aug 29, 1985 | Teddy Hatfield | Win | KO | 3 (8), 2:42 | Omni Coliseum, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| 7 | Nov 12, 1985 | Jesus De la Cruz | Win | TKO | 1 (8), 2:22 | Country Connection, Pasadena, Texas, U.S. |
| 8 | Mar 9, 1986 | John Montes | Win | UD | 10 | Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia, U.S. |
| 9 | Aug 16, 1986 | Rafael Williams | Win | UD | 10 | Sands, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 10 | Oct 9, 1986 | Rafael Gandarilla | Win | UD | 10 | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 11 | Dec 20, 1986 | Alfredo Layne | Win | UD | 10 | Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
| 12 | Mar 28, 1987 | Roger Mayweather | Win | UD | 12 | Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant NABF lightweight title |
| 13 | Jun 28, 1987 | Jim Flores | Win | TKO | 1 (10) | Las Americas Arena, Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| 14 | Jul 25, 1987 | Miguel Santana | Win | TKO | 6 (12), 1:02 | Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained NABF lightweight title; Won vacant USBA lightweight title |
| 15 | Dec 19, 1987 | Davey Montana | Win | TKO | 4 (10), 2:14 | Paris, France |
| 16 | Mar 12, 1988 | Jose Luis Ramírez | Loss | SD | 12 | Stade de Levallois, Levallois-Perret, France — ★ Title fight — For WBC lightweight title |
| 17 | Nov 2, 1988 | Antonio Carter | Win | TKO | 4 (10), 2:37 | Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
| 18 | Feb 18, 1989 | Greg Haugen | Win | UD | 12 | Coliseum, Hampton, Virginia, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won IBF lightweight title |
| 19 | Apr 30, 1989 | Louie Lomeli | Win | TKO | 3 (12), 2:37 | Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF lightweight title |
| 20 | Aug 20, 1989 | José Luis Ramírez | Win | UD | 12 | Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF lightweight title; Won vacant WBC and The Ring lightweight titles |
| 21 | Dec 11, 1989 | Martin Galvan | Win | TKO | 3 (?) | Les Pyramides, Le Port-Marly, France |
| 22 | Feb 3, 1990 | Freddie Pendleton | Win | UD | 12 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and IBF lightweight titles |
| 23 | May 19, 1990 | Azumah Nelson | Win | UD | 12 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and IBF lightweight titles |
| 24 | Aug 11, 1990 | Juan Nazario | Win | KO | 1 (12), 2:59 | Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC and IBF lightweight titles; Won WBA lightweight title |
| 25 | Nov 22, 1990 | Benjie Marquez | Win | UD | 10 | Palacio de Deportes de la Comunidad, Madrid, Spain |
| 26 | Feb 23, 1991 | Anthony Jones | Win | UD | 12 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA, WBC, and IBF lightweight titles |
| 27 | Jul 27, 1991 | Poli Díaz | Win | UD | 12 | Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA, WBC, and IBF lightweight titles |
| 28 | Oct 5, 1991 | Jorge Páez | Win | UD | 12 | Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA, WBC, and IBF lightweight titles |
| 29 | Jan 18, 1992 | Harold Brazier | Win | UD | 10 | Pennsylvania Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 30 | May 22, 1992 | Jerry Smith | Win | KO | 1 (10) | El Toreo de Cuatro Caminos, Mexico City, Mexico |
| 31 | Jul 18, 1992 | Rafael Pineda | Win | UD | 12 | The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won IBF junior welterweight title |
| 32 | Dec 1, 1992 | Ben Baez | Win | KO | 1 (10), 0:37 | Convention Center, Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
| 33 | Mar 6, 1993 | James McGirt | Win | UD | 12 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBC welterweight title |
| 34 | Sep 10, 1993 | Julio César Chávez | Draw | MD | 12 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC welterweight title |
| 35 | Apr 9, 1994 | Santos Cardona | Win | UD | 12 | Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC welterweight title |
| 36 | Oct 1, 1994 | James McGirt | Win | UD | 12 | Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC welterweight title |
| 37 | Mar 4, 1995 | Julio César Vásquez | Win | UD | 12 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBA super welterweight title |
| 38 | Aug 26, 1995 | Gary Jacobs | Win | UD | 12 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC welterweight title |
| 39 | Nov 18, 1995 | Jake Rodríguez | Win | KO | 6 (12), 2:54 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC welterweight title |
| 40 | Apr 12, 1996 | Wilfredo Rivera | Win | SD | 12 | Atlantis World Casino, Sint Maarten, Netherlands Antilles — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC welterweight title |
| 41 | Sep 20, 1996 | Wilfredo Rivera | Win | UD | 12 | James L. Knight Center, Miami, Florida, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC welterweight title |
| 42 | Jan 24, 1997 | Diosbelys Hurtado | Win | TKO | 11 (12), 1:52 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC welterweight title |
| 43 | Apr 12, 1997 | Oscar De La Hoya | Loss | UD | 12 | Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBC welterweight title |
| 44 | Oct 17, 1997 | Andrey Pestryayev | NC | UD | 12 | Foxwoods Resort Casino, Ledyard, Connecticut, U.S. — Originally a UD win for Whitaker, later ruled an NC after he failed a drug test |
| 45 | Feb 20, 1999 | Félix Trinidad | Loss | UD | 12 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For IBF welterweight title |
| 46 | Apr 27, 2001 | Carlos Bojorquez | Loss | TKO | 4 (10), 0:27 | Caesars Tahoe, Stateline, Nevada, U.S. — Bout stopped due to Whitaker's broken clavicle |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): IBF lightweight title February 18, 1989 – 1991 (won from Greg Haugen; added the WBC and The Ring lightweight titles on August 20, 1989 in the José Luis Ramírez rematch and the WBA title on August 11, 1990 against Juan Nazario, unifying the division; last lightweight defense October 5, 1991 against Jorge Páez, per the bout table); IBF junior welterweight title July 18, 1992 (won from Rafael Pineda, per the bout table); WBC welterweight title March 6, 1993 – April 12, 1997 (won from James McGirt; defenses included the Julio César Chávez draw and the McGirt rematch; lost to Oscar De La Hoya); WBA super welterweight title March 4, 1995 (won from Julio César Vásquez in a one-division move up, per the bout table, then returned to welterweight) — all dates per the bout table
- Mar 28, 1987 vs Roger Mayweather: Won vacant NABF lightweight title
- Jul 25, 1987 vs Miguel Santana: Retained NABF lightweight title; Won vacant USBA lightweight title
- Mar 12, 1988 vs Jose Luis Ramírez: For WBC lightweight title
- Feb 18, 1989 vs Greg Haugen: Won IBF lightweight title
- Apr 30, 1989 vs Louie Lomeli: Retained IBF lightweight title
- Aug 20, 1989 vs José Luis Ramírez: Retained IBF lightweight title; Won vacant WBC and The Ring lightweight titles
- Feb 3, 1990 vs Freddie Pendleton: Retained WBC and IBF lightweight titles
- May 19, 1990 vs Azumah Nelson: Retained WBC and IBF lightweight titles
- Aug 11, 1990 vs Juan Nazario: Retained WBC and IBF lightweight titles; Won WBA lightweight title
- Feb 23, 1991 vs Anthony Jones: Retained WBA, WBC, and IBF lightweight titles
- Jul 27, 1991 vs Poli Díaz: Retained WBA, WBC, and IBF lightweight titles
- Oct 5, 1991 vs Jorge Páez: Retained WBA, WBC, and IBF lightweight titles
- Jul 18, 1992 vs Rafael Pineda: Won IBF junior welterweight title
- Mar 6, 1993 vs James McGirt: Won WBC welterweight title
- Sep 10, 1993 vs Julio César Chávez: Retained WBC welterweight title
- Apr 9, 1994 vs Santos Cardona: Retained WBC welterweight title
- Oct 1, 1994 vs James McGirt: Retained WBC welterweight title
- Mar 4, 1995 vs Julio César Vásquez: Won WBA super welterweight title
- Aug 26, 1995 vs Gary Jacobs: Retained WBC welterweight title
- Nov 18, 1995 vs Jake Rodríguez: Retained WBC welterweight title
- Apr 12, 1996 vs Wilfredo Rivera: Retained WBC welterweight title
- Sep 20, 1996 vs Wilfredo Rivera: Retained WBC welterweight title
- Jan 24, 1997 vs Diosbelys Hurtado: Retained WBC welterweight title
- Apr 12, 1997 vs Oscar De La Hoya: Lost WBC welterweight title
- Feb 20, 1999 vs Félix Trinidad: For IBF welterweight title
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-11-02.
