Whenever a "GOAT" or greatest of all-time, conversation arises in any sport it almost always ends with the current or more recent candidate winning the debate. That doesn't necessarily mean that person is actually the true GOAT as much as it means that recent memory usually supersedes anything from our past. More likely it has to do with the current generation not sincerely taking into consideration greats of the past.
In Pernell 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker's case, no one, including myself, is including him in any GOAT conversation; although there is no question he is an all time great. However, when it comes to Floyd 'Money' Mayweather, who is always in those conversations, it must be said that before Floyd, there was Sweet Pea. That is because all the boxing skills that make Mayweather the possible greatest of all-time were the same skills used and mastered once by Whitaker.
Whitaker (40-4-1, 17 KO's), was aptly nicknamed 'Sweet' because he was such in the ring. A superbly slick boxer who possessed a combination of speed, ring generalship, underrated power and prominent defense. It was that combination of skills, most notably the defense, that embodied what Floyd is today. Very simply, you couldn't touch him, but he would touch you. Former welterweight champion James 'Buddy' McGirt, who lost his title to Whitaker, was recently quoted as saying, "The guy would sit in the ring and make you miss, and when you missed, he made you pay."
A four division world champion, Whitaker even outdid Mayweather by winning gold as part of the historic 1984 Olympic boxing team; Mayweather only could muster bronze in '96. Also, the four losses and draw on his record are extremely deceiving. Two of those losses came in his very last two fights at the end of his career, when Whitaker was clearly past his prime; one of those being a decision to the great Felix Trinidad. However, it's the other two losses and draw that are not even up for debate if you ask any true boxing fan that watched the fights live.
A horrible decision loss to Jose Luis Ramirez in 1988, in a fight he clearly won, kept him from winning the WBC lightweight championship, his first attempt at a world title. He would achieve that goal less than a year later by defeating Greg Haugen for the IBF title. Then a questionable decision loss to an undefeated Oscar De La Hoya, the more recent "Golden Boy" of the U.S. from the '92 Olympics, raised the always lingering cloud of boxing politics. However, it is the draw on his record that was the ugliest decision of them all.
September 1993, I remember it like it was yesterday. I, along with a few of my friends, sat in my friend Anthony's living room as we got together to watch the highly anticipated match-up between then reigning welterweight champion Whitaker and at the time (87-0) Mexican icon Julio Cesar Chavez. Chavez had moved up in weight to challenge Whitaker and over 12 rounds put up a spirited effort, but was clearly over-matched. Whitaker using his incredible defense and superior speed, put on a masterful performance in outpointing Chavez; at least that is what we all thought. While one judge had Whitaker winning 115-113, the other two judges scored the fight 115-115, thus causing the fight to be called a majority draw.
Shockingly and sadly, Pernell Whitaker died on Sunday night as he was hit by a car crossing the road in his native Virginia. I find it ironic that this is the way this all-time great would pass since it is three "highway robberies," no pun intended, which define Pernell Whitaker's exceptional career and most likely what keeps him from being part of any GOAT conversation when it comes to boxing. That said, whenever a greatest of all-time discussion is brought up from here on out and Floyd Mayweather's name is mentioned, it should be noted that before Floyd, there was Sweet Pea. RIP Champ!
