Pernell Whitaker Record
| Total Fights | 46 |
|---|---|
| Wins | 40 |
| Losses | 4 |
| Draws | 1 |
| No-Contests | 1 |
| Title Wins | 7 |
|---|---|
| Title Defenses | 16 |
| Title-Fight KOs | 4 |
| KO Wins | 17 |
| KO Losses | 1 |
Featured Opponents
What is Pernell Whitaker's boxing record?
In a professional boxing career spanning 16 years and five months, Pernell Whitaker fought 46 times with 40 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw.
Whitaker retired from professional boxing with a record of 40-4-1, which included seven world-title wins and 16 successful title defense fights at two weight classes — lightweight and welterweight. He had a 37.8% knockouts-to-fights ratio with 17 of his total 46 fights being knockout wins, four of which were in title fights. The only knockout loss in Whitaker's career was a 4th round TKO loss to Carlos Bojorquez, which was not a world title fight.
His last fight was a 4th round TKO defeat to Carlos Bojorquez on April 27, 2001.
Some of Whitaker's best fights and notable victories include wins over two Hall-of-Famers (Buddy McGirt and Azumah Nelson), Juan Nazario, José Luis Ramírez, Jorge Páez, and Wilfredo Rivera.
| # | Date | Age | Opponent | Res | Via |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | Apr 27, 2001 | 37 | Carlos Bojorquez | Loss | TKO4 |
| 45 | Feb 20, 1999 | 35 | Félix Trinidad | Loss * | UD |
| 44 | Oct 17, 1997 | 33 | Andrey Pestryayev | NC | UD |
| 43 | Apr 12, 1997 | 33 | Oscar De La Hoya | Loss * | UD |
| 42 | Jan 24, 1997 | 33 | Diosbelys Hurtado | Win * | TKO11 |
| 41 | Sep 20, 1996 | 32 | Wilfredo Rivera | Win * | UD |
| 40 | Apr 12, 1996 | 32 | Wilfredo Rivera | Win * | SD |
| 39 | Nov 18, 1995 | 31 | Jake Rodríguez | Win * | KO6 |
| 38 | Aug 26, 1995 | 31 | Gary Jacobs | Win * | UD |
| 37 | Mar 4, 1995 | 31 | Julio César Vásquez | Win * | UD |
| 36 | Oct 1, 1994 | 30 | Buddy McGirt | Win * | UD |
| 35 | Apr 9, 1994 | 30 | Santos Cardona | Win * | UD |
| 34 | Sep 10, 1993 | 29 | Julio César Chávez | Draw * | MD |
| 33 | Mar 6, 1993 | 29 | Buddy McGirt | Win * | UD |
| 32 | Dec 1, 1992 | 28 | Ben Baez | Win | KO1 |
| 31 | Jul 18, 1992 | 28 | Rafael Pineda | Win * | UD |
| 30 | May 22, 1992 | 28 | Jerry Smith | Win | KO1 |
| 29 | Jan 18, 1992 | 28 | Harold Brazier | Win | UD |
| 28 | Oct 5, 1991 | 27 | Jorge Páez | Win * | UD |
| 27 | Jul 27, 1991 | 27 | Poli Díaz | Win * | UD |
| 26 | Feb 23, 1991 | 27 | Anthony Jones | Win * | UD |
| 25 | Nov 22, 1990 | 26 | Benjie Marquez | Win | UD |
| 24 | Aug 11, 1990 | 26 | Juan Nazario | Win * | KO1 |
| 23 | May 19, 1990 | 26 | Azumah Nelson | Win * | UD |
| 22 | Feb 3, 1990 | 26 | Freddie Pendleton | Win * | UD |
| 21 | Dec 11, 1989 | 25 | Martin Galvan | Win | TKO3 |
| 20 | Aug 20, 1989 | 25 | José Luis Ramírez | Win * | UD |
| 19 | Apr 30, 1989 | 25 | Louie Lomeli | Win * | TKO3 |
| 18 | Feb 18, 1989 | 25 | Greg Haugen | Win * | UD |
| 17 | Nov 2, 1988 | 24 | Antonio Carter | Win | TKO4 |
| 16 | Mar 12, 1988 | 24 | Jose Luis Ramírez | Loss * | SD |
| 15 | Dec 19, 1987 | 23 | Davey Montana | Win | TKO4 |
| 14 | Jul 25, 1987 | 23 | Miguel Santana | Win | TKO6 |
| 13 | Jun 28, 1987 | 23 | Jim Flores | Win | TKO1 |
| 12 | Mar 28, 1987 | 23 | Roger Mayweather | Win | UD |
| 11 | Dec 20, 1986 | 22 | Alfredo Layne | Win | UD |
| 10 | Oct 9, 1986 | 22 | Rafael Gandarilla | Win | UD |
| 9 | Aug 16, 1986 | 22 | Rafael Williams | Win | UD |
| 8 | Mar 9, 1986 | 22 | John Montes | Win | UD |
| 7 | Nov 12, 1985 | 21 | Jesus De la Cruz | Win | TKO1 |
| 6 | Aug 29, 1985 | 21 | Teddy Hatfield | Win | KO3 |
| 5 | Jul 20, 1985 | 21 | John Senegal | Win | TKO2 |
| 4 | Apr 20, 1985 | 21 | Nick Parker | Win | UD |
| 3 | Mar 13, 1985 | 21 | Mike Golden | Win | TKO4 |
| 2 | Jan 20, 1985 | 21 | Danny Avery | Win | TKO4 |
| 1 | Nov 15, 1984 | 20 | Farrain Comeaux | Win | TKO2 |
* World-title fight
Boxing career
Pernell Whitaker (Sweet Pea) was an American professional boxer. He was born in Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. on January 2, 1964. He was a four-weight-class world champion. He died on July 14, 2019 at the age of 55 years. Whitaker was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) in 2007. His professional boxing career spanned more than 16 years — from 1984 to 2001.
Whitaker made his professional boxing debut against Farrain Comeaux at the age of 20 on November 15, 1984, defeating Comeaux via 2nd round TKO. He went on to win 14 more consecutive fights after the debut, which included 8 wins via stoppage.
He had his first world title fight at the age of 24 on March 12, 1988 after 15 professional fights, against Jose Luis Ramírez for the WBC title. He lost to Ramírez via 12 round split decision.
Pernell Whitaker was a undisputed lightweight world champion, and won seven world titles at four weight classes. For all the details about Whitaker's world title wins and defenses refer to the "Championships" section below.
Whitaker had a total of four losses in his professional boxing career.
His last professional fight was a non-title bout against Carlos Bojorquez at 37 years of age, on April 27, 2001. Whitaker lost the fight via 4th round TKO.
Championships
Whitaker had a total of 23 world-title fights, which includes winning seven world titles and 16 successful title defenses. He won 19 of these fights, lost three, and drew in one.
Title Wins
Pernell Whitaker fought for world titles in eight fights and won six of these fights, winning one of them via way of stoppage. In total, he won seven belts across four weight classes.
| Date | Opponent | Division | Titles Won | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 4, 1995 | Julio César Vásquez | Super-welterweight | WBA | UD |
| Mar 6, 1993 | Buddy McGirt | Welterweight | WBC | UD |
| Jul 18, 1992 | Rafael Pineda | Super-lightweight | IBF | UD |
| Aug 11, 1990+ | Juan Nazario | Lightweight | WBA | KO |
| Aug 20, 1989^ | José Luis Ramírez | Lightweight | WBC*, The Ring | UD |
| Feb 18, 1989 | Greg Haugen | Lightweight | IBF | UD |
Title Defenses
Pernell Whitaker had 17 world-title defense fights across two weight classes — lightweight (x8) and welterweight (x9). He won 16 of them and lost only once.
Following is the table of his successful title defense fights, the next section has the fights where he lost his titles.
| Date | Opponent | Division | Titles Defended | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 24, 1997 | Diosbelys Hurtado | Welterweight | WBC | TKO |
| Sep 20, 1996 | Wilfredo Rivera | Welterweight | WBC | UD |
| Apr 12, 1996 | Wilfredo Rivera | Welterweight | WBC | SD |
| Nov 18, 1995 | Jake Rodríguez | Welterweight | WBC | KO |
| Aug 26, 1995 | Gary Jacobs | Welterweight | WBC | UD |
| Oct 1, 1994 | Buddy McGirt | Welterweight | WBC | UD |
| Apr 9, 1994 | Santos Cardona | Welterweight | WBC | UD |
| Sep 10, 1993 | Julio César Chávez | Welterweight | WBC | MD (draw) |
| Oct 5, 1991 | Jorge Páez | Lightweight | WBA, WBC, IBF | UD |
| Jul 27, 1991 | Poli Díaz | Lightweight | WBA, WBC, IBF | UD |
| Feb 23, 1991 | Anthony Jones | Lightweight | WBA, WBC, IBF | UD |
| Aug 11, 1990+ | Juan Nazario | Lightweight | WBC, IBF | KO |
| May 19, 1990 | Azumah Nelson | Lightweight | WBC, IBF | UD |
| Feb 3, 1990 | Freddie Pendleton | Lightweight | WBC, IBF | UD |
| Aug 20, 1989^ | José Luis Ramírez | Lightweight | IBF | UD |
| Apr 30, 1989 | Louie Lomeli | Lightweight | IBF | TKO |
Title Losses
Pernell Whitaker lost one world-title defense fight, and lost one title in the fight.
| Date | Opponent | Division | Titles Lost | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 1997 | Oscar De La Hoya | Welterweight | WBC | UD |
Highlights
Whitaker fought a total of 46 times during his professional career, which includes 23 world-title fights at four weight divisions. He put on some very good performances in these fights. These nine fights are the highlight of his career.
March 12, 1988: In his first world-title fight, Pernell Whitaker loses to Jose Luis Ramírez via 12 round split decision. He was fighting for the WBC lightweight title.
February 18, 1989: Whitaker wins the IBF lightweight title from Greg Haugen, by beating Haugen via 12 round unanimous decision.
August 20, 1989: Whitaker becomes a unified lightweight world champion by beating José Luis Ramírez via 12 round unanimous decision. He now holds the IBF, WBC , and The Ring lightweight world-champion belts.
May 19, 1990: Whitaker successfully defends the WBC and IBF lightweight titles against Azumah Nelson, winning the fight via 12 round unanimous decision.
August 11, 1990: Whitaker becomes the undisputed lightweight world champion by defeating Juan Nazario via 1st round KO. He now holds the WBC, IBF, and WBA lightweight world-champion belts.
October 5, 1991: Whitaker successfully defends the WBA, WBC, and IBF lightweight titles against Jorge Páez, winning the fight via 12 round unanimous decision.
March 6, 1993: Whitaker wins the WBC welterweight title from Buddy McGirt, by beating McGirt via 12 round unanimous decision.
October 1, 1994: Whitaker successfully defends the WBC welterweight title against Buddy McGirt, winning the fight via 12 round unanimous decision.
September 20, 1996: Whitaker successfully defends the WBC welterweight title against Wilfredo Rivera, winning the fight via 12 round unanimous decision.
FAQs
How many KOs does Pernell Whitaker have on his record?
Whitaker knocked out 17 of his 46 opponents. By his last fight, his KO ratio was at 37.8%. Of his total 40 wins, 17 of them were via KO (42.5%).
What was Pernell Whitaker's first world title win?
Whitaker's first world-title win was the IBF belt at lightweight. He defeated Greg Haugen via 12 round unanimous decision to win the title.
How many world titles did Pernell Whitaker win?
Whitaker won seven world titles at four weight classes.
How many title defenses did Pernell Whitaker make?
Whitaker had a total of 17 title defense fights. He was successful 16 times and lost one time.