Former world champ boxer Pernell "Sweetpea" Whitaker struck, killed by vehicle in Virginia Beach
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- Lawrence Jackson | The Virginian-Pilot
Pernell "Sweetpea" Whitaker at the end of his fight against Felix Trinidad at Madison Square Garden in New York. Sweet Pea lost by unanimous decision. Picture taken Saturday Febuary 20, 1999.
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Pernell "Sweetpea" Whitaker with his trainer and manager Lou Duva in March 1988 in Paris during some free time before his first professional title fight against Jose' Luis Ramirez for the lightweight title — a fight Whitaker lost in a decision. Whitaker was killed Sunday, July 14, 2019, when he was struck by a car while crossing a Virginia Beach street.
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Pernell ''Sweetpea'' Whitaker and trainer Tommy Brooks, pictured March 28, 1987.
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Pernell ''Sweetpea'' Whitaker fights Julio Cesar Chavez in 1993.
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- Rick Bowmer/Associated Press
Welterweight Pernell "Sweetpea" Whitaker celebrates his victory following his 12th round decision over Wilfredo Rivera in the WBC Welterweight Championship at the James L. Knight Center Friday, Sept. 20, 1996, in Miami.
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Former boxer great Pernell Whitaker has begun a career as a trainer. Local fighter Dorin Spivey is his first pupil. Spivey and Whitaker won their first fight working together last month and look impressive doing so. Spivey credits Whitaker with turning his career around in the short time they've been working together. Here, Whitaker looks on as Spivey works out on the bag Monday night at the gym in Portsmouth Virginia, Dec. 12, 2005.
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Pernell "Sweetpea" Whitaker gets his gloves laced as he trains in March 1988 in Paris before his first professional title fight against Jose' Luis Ramirez for the lightweight title.
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Pernell ''Sweetpea'' Whitaker in an undated photo. Swelling around the right eye of Whitaker testified to the ferocity of his opponent.
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Pernell "Sweetpea" Whitaker shadow boxes during a training session in March 1988 in Paris before his first professional title fight against Jose' Luis Ramirez for the lightweight title.
- hit near the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and Baker Road, police said in a news release.
The call came in at 10:04 p.m.
Officers arrived and found a man who had been hit. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle remained there with police.
Whitaker, 55, was a four-time world champion who grew up in Norfolk. He won an Olympic gold medal in 1984. The magazine Ring named him its 1989 boxer of the year.
Whitaker retired in 2001 and spent six years working as a trainer. By 2006, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Reached Monday morning by phone, his youngest son, Devon Whitaker, was shocked after hearing his dad died last night.
"I guess he was wearing dark clothes, the road was dark and the driver didn't see him," said the 23-year-old.
He said his dad was a "cool guy."
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"That's all I can say about him," he said. "I can't really say how I'm feeling because I'm feeling shocked. I'm still trying to process everything that's going on. But he was a cool guy."
Whitaker was a staple at Wareing's Gym in Virginia Beach.
"He was a legacy here," said Jake Wareing. "I grew up watching him all the time."
Wareing said that Whitaker would stop in the gym "from time to time" and give motivational talks to youngsters participating in some of the gym's programs.
Wareing's uncle, Bob Wareing, was Whitaker's main trainer. He died in 2001.