Via Ken Hisner: First, we have in this corner the 1975 Pan Am Gold Champion and 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist, WBC and WBA Welterweight, WBA Light Middleweight, WBC Super Middleweight and WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion “Sugar” Ray Leonard, of Palmer Park, MD.
On the other side, we have the 1983 Pan Am Gold Medalist and 1984 Olympic Gold Medalist, IBF, WBC, WBA Lightweight, IBF Welterweight, WBC Welterweight and WBA Lightweight World Champion Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, of Norfolk, VA.
Both Leonard and Whitaker won Pan Am and Olympic gold medals. As pros, both won world titles in four weight classes.
Leonard, 36-3-1, with 25 stops and one stop, made six world title defenses, and Whitaker, 40-4-1, 1NC, with 17 stops and one stop, did made 14 world title defenses.
Leonard was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1997. Whitaker was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007.
Armed with speed, ability and charisma, “Sugar” Ray Leonard, filled the boxing void when Muhammad Ali retired in 1981. With the public searching for a boxing superstar, Leonard was appeared at the right time.
With superb hand speed, Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker, the elusive male-dominant, was a defensive marvel and used a powerful right stab and a straight left hand to score the goal. He is a real performer in the ring.
These comments come from the profile of the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Leonard won against Wilfred Benitez, Roberto Duran (twice), Ayub Kalule, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler and Donny Lalonde. He drew with Thomas Hearns. He lost to Roberto Duran, Terry Norris and Hector Camacho.
Whitaker has beaten Alfredo Layne, Roger Mayweather, Greg Haugen, Jose Luis Ramirez, Fred Pendleton, Azumah Nelson, Juan Nazario, Jorge Paez, Rafael Pineda, Buddy McGirt twice, Julio Cesar Vasquez, Jake Rodriguez and Diosbelys Hurtado. He lost to Jose Luis Ramirez, Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad. He painted with Julio Cesar Chavez.
There you have it comparing two of the greatest boxers of modern times. If you like an aggressive crowd-pleaser, it’s “Sugar” Ray Leonard. If you like a defensive wizard, it’s Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker.
Try to keep your comments boxing and not punctuation. It’s a boxing site, not a high school writing class.
