Boxing legend Pernell Whitaker has died at the age of 55 after being hit by a car.
Whitaker won world titles at four different weights and is considered among the best to have ever laced up a pair of gloves.
According to TMZ, he was hit by a car on Sunday night and later died of his injuries.
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
Whitaker, nicknamed ‘Sweet Pea’ won Olympic gold in 1984 before turning professional in the same year.
He lost his first challenge for a world title against Jose Luis Ramirez four years later but won another version two years later against Greg Hauden.
Whitaker then went on an unbeaten run until 1997 when he ran into Oscar De La Hoya before losing two of this final three fights.
He retired in 2001 following a loss to Carlos Bojorquez as Whitaker finished his career with a record of 40-4-1.
He was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2006 at the first available opportunity.
Whitaker began training fighters in his home state of Virginia and briefly trained world champion Zab Judah.
He hit the headlines in 2014 when he was accused of evicting his mother from the house he purchased for her shortly after turning professional.
Culled from Martin Domin [Mirror]
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