The Boxing History Blog

Pernell Whitaker Now campaigning as a light-welterweight, Pernell Whitaker easily outpointed Harold Brazier in January 1992 and knocked out Jerry Smith in a round four months later. On 18th July 1992 he stepped back into world-class territory and challenged Rafael Pineda for his IBF light-welterweight title. The defending champion had been a professional since April 1986 and the sole loss on his record came in a challenge to Mark Breland's WBA welterweight crown three years later. The Colombian went on a winning run of six before facing Roger Mayweather for the vacant IBF light-welterweight championship in December 1991. Pineda stopped Mayweather in the ninth round and successfully defended the title for the first time against Clarence Coleman, the same night as Whitaker's first-round blowout of Jerry Smith. On 18th July 1992 at the Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas, Pineda and Whitaker clashed for the championship. The champion was docked points in rounds six and eight for low ...

Pernell Whitaker The new IBF lightweight champion made the first defence of his crown against undefeated Mexican Louis Lomelli at the end of April 1989. Whitaker staggered his opponent in the first round and went on to stop the Mexican in the third. Four months later Whitaker would face arch-nemesis Jose Louis Ramirez again in his home town of Norfolk, Virginia. The fight was also for the vacant WBC lightweight championship, as the holder, Julio Cesar Chavez, had moved up to the light-welterweight division. During fight week it very much looked as if both governing bodies wouldn't be sanctioning Whitaker-Ramirez II. Both organisations were squabbling over who would name the officials, them or the Virginia Athletic Commission. They also had trivial debates, such as what logo would be on the referee's shirt. As it turned out, referee Chris Wollesen, wore neither. On the Wednesday, which was four days before fight night, the IBF president, Bob Lee, was persuaded to sanctio...

Pernell Whitaker One of boxing's most masterful defensive fighters passed away at the age of fifty-five on 14th July 2019. Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker was struck by a vehicle in his home state of Virginia in Virginia Beach at approximately 22-00 on the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and Baker Road. Emergency personnel performed CPR in an attempt to resuscitate him, but they were unsuccessful. The driver of the vehicle also remained at the scene to speak to police. Born on 02nd January 1964 in Norfolk, Virginia, Whitaker went on to be one of America's top amateur boxers, capping off his multi-championships by taking gold at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 as a lightweight, finishing his record as 201-14. Whitaker turned professional in November 1984, ending Farrain Comeaux's 11-0 ledger with a second-round TKO at Madison Square Garden. Also on the card, making their debuts, were the other US Olympic medal winners, Evander Holyfield, Meldrick Taylor, Ma...

Iran Barkley Iran Barkley was taught to box in the Bronx by his sister Yvonne. He was born on 06th May 1960 and aged twenty-one was runner-up in the New York Golden Gloves and the gold medallist in the Empire State Games as a middleweight. The following year, staying as a middleweight, he won a sliver medal at the United States Amateur Championships and gained bronze at the Copenhagen Box Cup and the World Amateur Championships in Munich. 'The Blade' turned professional in December 1982 and stopped the undefeated (3-0) Larry Jordan with a second-round TKO. He picked up his first defeat, a six-round points decision against Osley Silas, to drop to 4-1 with three stoppages. Barkley won his next three, but at the start of 1984, he ran into the more seasoned Robbie Sims, who stopped him in the sixth round. With two more wins under his belt, he finished the year with another points defeat against Eddie Hall. In February 1985 he gained revenge for his first defeat b...