Retired boxing legend Pernell Whitaker was struck by a car and killed on Sunday night (July 14, 2019) in Virginia Beach, pronounced dead at the scene after emergency personnel failed to revive the 55 year-old pugilist.
The driver has not been charged.
”I guess he was wearing dark clothes, the road was dark and the driver didn’t see him,” his son, Devon Whittaker, told The Virginian-Pilot. “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.”
Whittaker (40-4-1, 1 NC) retired in early 2001 following a string of high-profile losses. During his heyday, “Sweet Pea” was widely-considered the pound-for-pound best in the business, capturing championship titles across four different weight classes.
His in-ring accomplishments, which include a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics, landed him a spot in the International Boxing Hall of Fame back in 2007, alongside fellow “sweet science” standouts Roberto Duran and Ricardo Lopez.