Old school boxing fans will know who Pernell ‘Sweet Pea’ Whittaker is of course but some new fans likely won’t, one of the legends of boxing.
Through and through.
American Pernell Whittaker is one of the most skilled fighters that ever lived, the respect Floyd Mayweather and others in boxing have for him is huge.
He was a four-weight world champion between lightweight and super-welterweight in the 80s and 90s.
Former WBO lightweight world champion Keyshawn Davis grew up basically in the same area as him in America, not many know.
Keyshawn Davis Tells Andre Ward What Growing Up In The Same Town As Pernell Whitaker Was Like
Davis told former pound for pound kingpin, super middleweight champion and light-heavyweight Andre Ward on his show ‘All The Smoke’:
“That was like our local celebrity for real. Honestly, yeah, that was our local—his name was ringing. I feel like, you know, because he was the one that was still in the community at the end of the day, and probably too much in the community, but that was just him, you know. So that was definitely our local celebrity. Like, when we had local boxing fights and stuff, he would come, like all the attention is on him, you know what I’m saying? So it was definitely something to see, growing up as a kid, seeing like Sweet Pea out there for sure.”
Davis was born in Norfolk, Virginia like Whitaker was.
Keyshawn Davis last weekend unfortunately lost his world title due to missing weight before his fight in Norfolk as it happens.
A calamity of a situation that saw him engage in a brawl backstage even on fight night outside of the ring as well.
The card was saved by Abdullah Mason in the end.
It is reasonable to assume Davis will move up in weight next up.