On This Day in Boxing History: Norfolk’s own Pernell Whitaker wins the IBF Junior Welterweight Title

On this day in 1992, Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker (out of Norfolk, Virginia) became a two-weight world champion defeating Colombian Rafael Pineda to become the International Boxing Federation (IBF) Junior Welterweight (super lightweight) champion.

Going into the fight, Rafael Pineda held an overall record of 28-1 with 26 wins coming via knockout. Pineda became IBF Super Lightweight champion by beating Roger Mayweather (uncle of Floyd Mayweather Jr.) in December 1991 via ninth-round TKO. This fight was his second defense of the junior welterweight title as his first defense saw him take a seventh-round TKO win against Clarence Coleman.

Pernell Whitaker’s record stood at 29-1 with 14 wins coming via knockout at the time of the fight. This fight was his third in the super lightweight division and his first shot at a world title in the division. Whitaker moved up from the lightweight division following a three-year reign as unified IBF, World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Association (WBA) Lightweight champion successfully defending the title nine times.

After 12 rounds, Pernell Whitaker was awarded the win via unanimous decision with the scorecards reading 117-108, 117-108 and 116-110. Whitaker landed 321 of 787 punches (41%) while Rafael Pineda landed 206 of 700 (29%). Pineda was deducted two points in the fight for low blows in rounds six and eight and Whitaker scored an eighth round knockdown.

Pernell Whitaker would not be IBF Junior Welterweight champion for very long as immediately after his win over Rafael Pineda, he would move on to the Welterweight division. There he would go on to become WBC Welterweight Champion after defeating James McGirt via unanimous decision in March 1993 in just his second fight in the welterweight division.

In the midst of his reign as WBC Welterweight champion, he would also win the WBA Super Welterweight championship after beating Julio Cesar Vasquez in March 1995 via unanimous decision. Following his fight with Julio Cesar Vasquez, however, he would remain in the welterweight division successfully defending the WBC Welterweight championship five times until he lost it to Oscar De La Hoya in April 1997.

At the end of his career, Pernell Whitaker held an overall record of 40-4-1 with 17 wins via knockout. He would be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2006 along with fellow boxing legend Roberto Durán.

Sadly, Pernell Whitaker was killed in a car crash in Virginia Beach on July 14, 2019 at the age of 55.