Report- Boxing legend Pernell Whitaker killed Sunday

Horrible news out of Virginia where Boxing Hall of Famer Pernell “Sweat Pea” Whitaker has been killed as a pedestrian in a Sunday night vehicle accident in Virginia.

TMZ had the details on the 55 year old Whitaker apparently being struck sometime around 10 p.m. eastern time Sunday night in Virginia Beach and dying a short time later:

Boxing Legend Pernell Whitaker, was hit and killed by a car. R.I.P. https://t.co/FdYZ8NYosU

— TMZ Sports (@TMZ_Sports) July 15, 2019

Here’s more from the gossip site:

We’re told officials received a call around 10:04 PM in response to an accident at the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and Baker Road.

When cops arrived, they located the man who had been hit by a vehicle who was in really bad shape — and our sources tell us that man was Pernell Whitaker.

Emergency medical personnel at the scene tried to resuscitate Whitaker — even performing CPR on him — but unfortunately, Whitaker succumbed to his injuries and died.

TMZ further reported Monday that the driver that struck Whitaker stayed at the scene and was questioned by Virginia Beach police.

The (Virginia) Daily Press newspaper reached one of Whitaker’s five children by phone late Monday morning. 23 year old Devon Whitaker told the paper that his father had been wearing dark clothes on a poorly lit area of North Hampton Boulevard in Virginia Beach, when he was struck.

The investigation into the fatal accident continues.

Whitaker was one of the most decorated U.S. fighters of the last 35 years. He won Olympic Gold in Los Angeles in 1984 and became a superstar almost immediately, as a professional. He won his first 15 pro fights before losing a close decision to Jose Luis Rameriz for the WBC Lightweight title in March of 1988.

Whitaker, with his smooth southpaw style, hand speed and elusive defense, recovered from that defeat and two fights later beat Greg Haugen by unanimous decision in February 1989 to capture the IBF Lightweight belt. We wrote in May about the anniversary one of his significant title wins over Azumah Nelson.

Whitaker went on to win over 20 world title fights in four different divisions over eight years before finally losing again, this time to Oscar De La Hoya by another narrow 12 round decision in April of 1997. He still is the only fighter, since the creation of the IBF, WBC and WBA, to hold and defend successfully all three lightweight titles as undisputed champ six times in a row.

Whitaker was named Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year in 1989 and was dubbed their best “pound for pound” fighter in each year from 1993-97.

Whitaker finished with a career record of 40-4-1 fighting last in April of 2001. “Sweet Pea” was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame 2006.