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12/15/2006 Archived Entry: "Duvas Congratulate 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker on IBHF Induction"
Duvas Congratulate 'Sweet Pea' Whitaker on IBHF Induction
Promoter Dino Duva of Duva Boxing and his hall-of-fame father, Lou Duva, wish to send their sincerest congratulations to former multiple world champion Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker upon the announcement of his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York.
The Norfolk, Virginia, southpaw, who retired with a final mark of 40-4-1, with 17 KOs, won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympic Games and went on to capture six world titles in four different weight classes (WBA, WBC and IBF Lightweight, IBF Light Welterweight, WBC Welterweight, and WBA Light Middleweight) in a glorious professional career that spanned 17 years.
“I was his manager,” says a proud Lou Duva, “and I think it’s fantastic he’s been inducted. He’s done so much for boxing. Pernell was a real team player. I can’t say enough about him. He’s been a credit to boxing.”
Dino Duva echoes the sentiment: “In the 30 years I’ve been in the boxing business, Pernell Whitaker is the best and most technically perfect fighter I’ve ever been involved with and also, from a personal standpoint, he was the most loyal boxer I’ve ever been involved with as well.” (Whitaker spent his entire career under the promotional auspices of the Duva family). “He is surely one of the greatest fighters in history and was nothing short of delightful to work with. We are overjoyed to hear he will be given the recognition he richly deserves and we hope he goes on to be as successful a trainer as he was as a fighter.”
Whitaker, Duva reveals, is on the verge of signing on to serve as head trainer for one of Duva Boxing’s most promising up-and-comers. “Duva Boxing and I, personally, are looking forward to working with Pernell in his second boxing career as a trainer. We are very close to finalizing arrangements for him to train one of Duva Boxing’s brightest prospects, welterweight Raymond Biggs Jr.”
Whitaker will be formally inducted in June 2007. He is joined by all-time greats Roberto Duran and Ricardo "Finito" Lopez in this year’s class of modern-era legends.
