RIP Pernell Whitaker

[H2O Man]

"Sweet Pea" Whitaker, one of boxing's all-time great champions, was killed while crossing a street in Virginia Beach last night. He was 55.

[underpants]

1. Damn.

He was great.

[H2O Man]

2. Right.

He had defensive skills that can't be taught. And he made it look fun.

[True Dough]

3. Damn!

A defensive marvel. His highlight reel is amazing to watch.

RIP.

[H2O Man]

4. I saw him

at the Hall of Fame in 2006. I've got some good photos of him.

[True Dough]

6. He's a very deserving hall of famer!

Do you think he was the best lightweight of all time, H20 Man?

[H2O Man]

7. I think he

is at the top level of all-time great champions. There with the most elite fighters. And on any given night, he could have given any of the others hell in the ring.

[True Dough]

5. For those who never had a chance to appreciate "Sweet Pea's" career

or may have forgotten...

[H2O Man]

9. I've watched this

several times today. What talent!

When I did an interview with Greg Haugen years ago, he talked about how it was impossible to hit Pea with a solid punch. Greg has the utmost respect for Whitaker.

[True Dough]

11. Greg Haugen

Now there's a name I haven't heard in a while. Looked up his record online. Forgot that he and "Paz" had a trilogy with Vinny winning twice.

Haugen also had scored a split decision win over Hector "Macho" Camacho and then lost to Camacho by split decision in the next fight.

He TKO'd Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini and got TKO'd by the great Julio Cesar Chavez.

That's all in addition to being in the ring with Sweet Pea (whom he went the distance with).

Quite the resume.

[H2O Man]

12. Tough, tough guy!

I've talked with him briefly this evening. He says Pea was definitely the best fighter he ever faced. He puts him as the second greatest lightweight, close behind Duran.

I'll try to find my interview with him. It was done over the phone, not face-to-face, and I could hear the amazement in his voice when he was trying to describe how impossible it was to hit Whitaker. As you know, it can be very hard to hit a skilled opponnt with two punches. But usually you make some contact with one, even if it's blocked. But he couldn't hit Whitaker. (They came, and remained, friends.)

[True Dough]

13. What is it you're doing interviews for, H20 Man?

Do you have a podcast? A radio show? Do you write for a magazine?

[H2O Man]

14. That interview

was for a boxing internet site I used to write for. I wrote for a magazine long ago. And for some newspapers. Nothing big or important, mainly for fun. But I also liked to focus on things about fighters that usually weren't reported on. And some of those interviews I did were high quality, if I say so myself.

[ADX]

8. Rest in peace, Sweet Pea...

...thanks for the memories...

[H2O Man]

10. Unique talent.