#Welterweight champion "Sweet Pea" seeks respect#

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By David Gonzalez 
Staff Writer 

During his 12-year professional boxing career, Pernell Whitaker
has met all challenges and beaten them all.  Saturday night in
Las Vegas, he meets a fighter who is destined for greatness --
Oscar de la Hoya. 

Whitaker, a future inductee into the Boxing Hall of Fame has
solidified his place in the boxing history and a win over de la
Hoya would only enhance his greatness bring him well-deserved
respect. 

"Everybody has been trying to find one special person who could
possibly beat Pernell Whitaker," said Whitaker. "I've been world
champ.  I've been consistent, but I'm still not getting
recognition." 

He has never received the promotional endorsement contracts that
his opponent de la Hoya has or signed an apparel sponsorship
deal with Nike like Roy Jones Junior but his accomplishments in
the ring speaks for itself. 

Whitaker has won six world titles in four weight classes.  Only
three other boxers can make that claim of winning world titles
in more than three different weight classes -- Sugar Ray
Leonard, Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns. 

After capturing all three lightweight titles in 1990 -- unifying
the 135-pound title for the first time since Roberto Duran did
it in 1978 -- establishing himself as the top lightweight of the
decade. 

He went on to capture the junior welterweight (140),
welterweight (147) and even made a one-fight venture into the
junior middleweight division (154) to capture his fourth world
title. 

"Oscar De La Hoya's bio doesn't even stand up next to Pernell
Whitaker's," said Whitaker, whose resume' includes 225 rounds of
world championship experience spanning 21 title fights. 

He has a record of 19-1-1 with three knockouts in title fights
and only the judges' questionable scoring in his 1988 fight
against Jose Ramirez has robbed perfect record.  He later
avenged that defeat and hasn't lost this decade. 

"This is one of the easiest nights I will have.  For all my big
fights its the same," said Whitaker. "This is not the biggest
fight of my career." 

Despite being the defending champion, Whitaker will not receive
the lion's share of the purse when he meets de la Hoya. 
Whitaker will take home $6 million to de la Hoya's guaranteed
$10 million. 

"It's a big event for Pernell Whitaker and his career," Whitaker
said. "I can't put magnuitude on it.  I will get to go out and
showcase, all eyes on you.  I will give the most remarkable
performance of a lifetime." 

Boxing critics have dicounted Whitaker chances of beating the
"Golden Boy" who has youth and power on his side.  With the
demise of Whitaker's world class skills and his most recent
lackluster performances in the ring, he is listed as a 3-to-1
underdog by the oddsmakers in Las Vegas. 

Whitaker's may have lost a step and doesn't possess the
quickness of the "Sweet Pea" of yesteryear, but he's still a
dangerous fighter who should give de la Hoya fits with his
southpaw style. 

"I'm back.  Everything he doesn't give, I'm taking," said
Whitaker. "I'm always at my peak. I will be immortal after this
fight. He belongs to me now." 

Whitaker had a stellar training camp and is looking to put a
damper on de la Hoya's coronation towards greatness after having
a stellar training camp. 

"Different flow, different feeling.  Everything rolled up into
one," said Whitaker.  "Much better prep than any other fight
I've had -- It's a big night." 

Whitaker almost missed his April 12th date with de la Hoya after
struggling against unheralded Cuban Diobelis Hurtado in his last
fight on January 24th. But his experience and surprising power
helped pull out an 11th-round knockout victory. 

Whitaker was knocked down in the opening seconds of the fight
and later in the sixth.  After 10 rounds Whitaker trailed on all
three of the judges' scorecards but rallied, exhibiting the
heart of a champion. 

A big left hand wobbled Hurtado in the 11th, which was followed
up by nine more unanswered overhand lefts.  The series of blows
sent an unconscious Hurtado reeling through the ropes for
Cuban's first lost in 21 bouts. 

Not to go unnoticed, Whitaker had a stellar amateur career.  He
won the amateur triple crown, capturing the gold medal at the
1982 Pan American Games, the World Championships in 1983 and the
Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles in 1984. 

In his 16th professional fight, he gave Ramirez, the
then-reigning WBC lightweight champion, a boxing lesson.
Utilizing his superior hand-speed quickness and defense,
Whitaker outpointed the slow-footed champ over 12-rounds.  When
the results were announced -- Whitaker came out on the short end
of a controversial decison. 

Whitaker went on to capture his first world title less than a
year later -- a decision victory over Greg Haugen.  After
avenging the loss to Ramirez, Whitaker unified the lightweight
title with a first-round knockout of Juan Nazario in 1990. 

After making three title defenses as undisputed lightweight
king, Whitaker went on to capture the 140-pound junior
welterweight championship with a 12-round unamimous decison over
Rafael Pineda. Two fights later he outpointed welterweight Buddy
McGirt to capture his third title in as many weight classes. 

On September 10th, 1993, Whitaker fought one of the biggest
fights of his career when he meet Julio Ceasar Chavez. 

Chavez, who came into the fight undefeated in 87 bouts was known
for his body punching prowess and relentless pressure but
against Whitaker looked ordinary. 

Whitaker controlled the fight with his superior hand speed,
outboxed and confused Chavez. After 12-rounds the fight went to
the scorecards.  When the results were announced -- a draw -- it
marked the second time in Whitaker's career that he was denied
an apparent victory. 

The debatable draw against Chavez only solidified Whitaker's
status among experts as the mythical pound-for-pound best
fighter in the world. 

He defended the 147-pound two more times, easily outpointing
Santos Cardona and outboxing a healthy Buddy McGirt in their
rematch. 

Unable to secure a big-fight because of promotional differences
with either IBF welterweight champion Felix Trinidad or Terry
Norris, he rose in weight and captured the 154-pound crown that
belonged to Argentine Julio Cesar Vasquez. Many experts cite
taht fight as the beginning of a decline in Whitaker's world
class skills.  He eventually vacated the junior middleweight
belt but has since made five more sucessful defenses of his
welterweight title. 
 
Boxing critics began to question Whitaker that he might not even
be the best fighter in the welterweight division after
lackluster efforts in his last couple of fights but until
somebody knocks him out to claim the mythical pound-for-pound
title the title rests with this champ. 

"After this one, there will be no doubt who is the best," said
Whitaker. "The period will be put on that statement."