Comments Thread For: Pernell Whitaker - Could He Have Been Perfect Like Mayweather?

[Lefty0616]

I'm a fan of both fighters....but they were different fighters. Had they both fought each other in their primes and at around 135lbs, I believe Mayweather would have won. Mayweather used to mix it up before he started worrying about remaining undefeated. I think he had enough power, defense and speed to give Whitaker more problems than any of the other opponents Sweet Pea fought. I also believe Mayweather fought everyone in his path until he faced De La Hoya (He fought Hernandez, Corrales, Castillo, Endy Chavez, Judah, Manfredy, Gatti, etc.). I don't know if I can say the same about Pernell (He fought Mcgirt, Chavez, and Nelson).

[sargo]

It's not just the record. It's how the man fought.

[ceylon mooney]

Whitaker's win over Chavez is greater than anything Floyd has done.

oh man, true that. floyd never attempted what sweet pea did.

[champion4ever]

For my money, Sweet Pea was better than Mayweather anyhow. I made this same comparison while Whitaker was alive. Pernell was no money fighter. He fought for the love of the game. He never ducked or dodged anyone. Moreover, he fought in a much tougher era too.

In other words, he gave us boxing fans the fights that we wanted to see, when we wanted to see them and did not let the lack of money to prevent us from seeing them. That's why he's an all-time great and a true champion; Who shall forever be missed!

[Nomadic]

100%.

In my record book he's 43-2 as is. And the two fights he lost were his last 2 & allegedly when his drug issues were impacting his career/performance. Maybe things woulda went differently for him behind the scenes if he'd not been robbed so many times in his big fights.

Idk, but regardless he was a bad mfer & his record should look better than it looks if he coulda been perfect or not.

That is so true. Getting robbed that many times could make you doubt yourself and send you into depression.

[elfag]

The similarities:

weight class
athletically gifted (speed/reflexes)
defensive minded
a majority slipping defense

Their styles are quite different though. Whitaker is more like hamed or augustus than he is like floyd. But casuals see that both are defensive with a slipping style defense where punches whiz past their head centimeters away vs a Winky/clottey defense using the guard which is not as visually appealing. Mayweather did use the high guard at times. Mayweather was more conventional, took less risks and more varied in his arsenal and styles.

[illpapi]

I'm a fan of both fighters....but they were different fighters. Had they both fought each other in their primes and at around 135lbs, I believe Mayweather would have won. Mayweather used to mix it up before he started worrying about remaining undefeated. I think he had enough power, defense and speed to give Whitaker more problems than any of the other opponents Sweet Pea fought. I also believe Mayweather fought everyone in his path until he faced De La Hoya (He fought Hernandez, Corrales, Castillo, Endy Chavez, Judah, Manfredy, Gatti, etc.). I don't know if I can say the same about Pernell (He fought Mcgirt, Chavez, and Nelson).

You seriously can't be serious about Mayweather fighting everyone in his path. Did he fight Antonio Margarito when no one wanted to fight him? And please don't say he was a cheat because obviously Mayweather didn't know that at the time. Oh, and did he fight Cotto in his prime? No, he conveniently retired. Why are we so quick to forget? Also, if you are real you know he lost the first Castillo fight. I'm not hating on May but I'm not gonna defend him either on how he went about his career.

[hogey]

He was absolutely an ATG, one of the best defensive fighters of all time and i would fancy him to outpoint even Mayweather. If he had got all the decisions and fights that he deserved then he would be considered among the very top tier. His performance against J C Chavez another ATG was arguebly better than anything other modern greats like Mayweather RJJ produced in their careers. His biggest problem he was just too good and some found his lack of power made for boring fights. Those who truly love the noble art though are usually big fans of Sweetpea as he could do things in the ring that very few could match.

[masterpatric09]

He was boring always ducking under the belt.

Nicolino Loche was way better

[Letmaku]

Talent is not enough. RIP