Pernell Whittaker at 135? Unbeatable?

Question

When Whittaker moved up to to 147, he got himself up against some much larger opposition. But was the primed Pernell Whittaker at 135 unbeatable by any other lightweight or lower ever? Could anyone have scored well enough against the crafty lefty to win a fight? Chavez was an all-time great and maybe took 2 rounds from Sweet Pea.

*I see folks going on about Duran. Using PW's whipping of Chavez as a template, why would Duran have any better luck? Notice what happened to Duran when Sugar Ray decided to use his boxing skills instead of infighting skills. PW wouldn't have even considered a slugfest. Too many folks assumed Chavez would walk through PW the same one some here assume Duran would. I'm not so sure.*

Answer 1

my man, sweet p....hmmmmm. HE was and still is one of the greatest southpaws in the history of the sweet science. I have mentioned this before---Sweet P would have been TOTALLY unbeatable at 135. Far superior speed, agility, footwork, and workmanship. TOO crafty, too smart, and simply Mr. TOO DAMN GOOD. Enough said. I know that others may think otherwise, I respect that---but I don't buy it. WHITAKER at 135 takes no prisoners, and more importantly NO Losses!

Answer 2

I was a big fan of Pernell Whitaker's but no, he wasnt unbeatable by any means at 135. Hector Camacho in the early to mid 80s was faster and had a better punch. By 1986 when Edwin Rosario got to him he was on his way down but he had the speed, southpaw style and enough pop in his punches to give Pernell fits. Floyd Mayweather Jr. is too big and too fast and at 135 I could see beating Pernell as well. I dont know if Duran had the style to beat Pernell. He was strong and busy but he could be hit and Pernell was so awkward, like a Winky Wright but even more so, that he would have made Duran quit even earlier than Ray did in 1980. As for Pete winning 8 of 12 rounds against DLH, I dont think so. Scoring is so subjective. Just because someone says it on here doesnt mean that is automatically the way it should have been. I dont bother listen to those HBO announcers because they are so biased that by the time the fight is over whoever they are pushing has convinced anyone watching on tv that their boy won and that is not always the case. Oscar has close fights against John John Molina, Pernell Whitaker, Ike Quartey, Felix Trinidad, Felix Sturm, and Floyd Mayweather Jr. and unfortunately in the end, the only scores that matter are the three judges because those are the ones that go down in history.

Answer 3

No! Roberto Duran would have beaten him like a drum at 135!

Nice theory Elmer Fudd, but it doesn't work because:

1. 135 to 147 is the hardest jump in boxing. Duran did it immediately, and beat one of the greatest Welters ever - an almost unbelievable acheivement!

2. Duran was already a lttle past prime when he fought Leonard the first time- he had already been champion for 8 years!

3. Duran blew up to almost 200 pounds partying between those fights ( he was practically crowned the King of Panama!) and had to crash hard to make weight. Leonard had heard about what Duran was doing down in Panama, and pressed for a quick re-match.

4. Even with all that working against him, Duran was still very much in that second fight, and quit because of Ray's clowning, not because he was getting beat. He felt like if you wanna clown - go to the circus! (Although I feel his having to crash before the fight had somthing to do with it.)

Answer 4

I think Pernell's defense and ability to effectively use his jab and 1-2 combinations would have frustrated Duran. I see it playing out much like Leonard-Duran 2. With Duran not knowing how to connect and calling it a day.

Answer 5

Good question and it would have been a great fight against Duran at this weight. Of course Duran was a terror with a middleweight punch at lightweight! Whitaker is probably one of the most elusive and frustrating fighters ever. I believe Duran knew enough tricks to counter Whitakers elusiveness and would have pinned him on the ropes. Whitaker is smart and would tie him up, but Duran is stronger at this weight than Whitaker. It would be close but I got to give the decision to the all time greatest lightweight still, Roberto Duran!

Answer 6

Maybe, and I stress "maybe" Duran or Willie Pep could have given Pea a run for his money, but it would have been razor thin close with any lightweight. Pernell is arguably the best lefty of all time in any weight class, and that is high praise. Chavez didn't take any rounds against Pernell, that was no draw, Whitaker eaisly defeated Chavez. I stood right there and watched Pernell win 8 of 12 rounds and score a knock down against Oscar DeLa Hoya in Oscar's prime, only to get robbed by the judges. Whitaker was truly one of the very best.

Answer 7

Here's something all of you have not considered if Leonard could frustrate the all time great Duran into quiting, saying " no mas" or no more in english, If Leonard could make him quit like some ***** by out boxing him.........

What do you think one of the top 4 greatest boxers of all time, which Whitaker was, would do to Duran!

He would have given Duran a boxing lesson!

Answer 8

You would even contemplate putting that man in the ring with Duran at this weight, it beggars belief to me. I cant even add to that so take it as you will. My opinion complete domination.
It looks like Blog May have kissed your *** on this one but believe me he knows his boxing and he knows that Duran would destroy sweet p at Lightweight and i would say he would also realises that Hagler is the best Lefty of all time.

Answer 9

Duran, maybe Hector Camacho.

Answer 10

Short and sweet...nobody could touch Sweet Pea at 135...literally.