“SWEET PEA” We were just sitting around shooting the front porch breeze one sunny afternoon a week or so ago when one talker shifted his rocking chair a bit and lamented what he called the “fact” that our Commonwealth of Virginia - rich in so many ways - did “not have a well-known pro boxer.”
”Not even an uno - not a single one of 'em” And, encouraged by a lack of listings he started calling off all the others - Arthur Ashe in Tennis, someone else suggested Ralph Sampson and the mention of that name reminded some one of Alonzo Mourning, another basketball great from Chesapeake via Miami Heat. Several voices contributed the name Moses Malone, 76ers-Philly... born Petersburg, Va.
Quickly, into football: Lawrence Taylor, Williamsburg, NY Giants, Hall of Famer 1999; Bruce Smith, Tech-Bills-Redskins.
Before they could jump into Virginia's golf-bag owners, I inserted what was to be my total comment for the session.
“How about remembering RING Magazine's 1989 “Boxer of the Year” for 1989? He used was “Sweet Pea” ....and others took over: “Right! “Sweet Pea”, out of my own home town of Norfolk, Virginia.They immediately went into some of the events of Whitaker career, and said he was now retired.
Oddly enough my only knowledge about Pernell was the result of writing a story years ago and learning the difference between a WW which he was at times– a Welterweight - and also, when had been seven pounds lighter - a Junior Welterweight. I found there are twenty-three such categories of fisticuff fighters.
Sweet Pea Whitaker stayed in the 140-147 pound area which caused him to be listed as WW and JWW. The twenty-three levels go from l05 pounds - called “Strawweight” or “SW.” It would be nice fall if the weights went up in some definite sequence such as five pounds a jump, but such is not the case. If a SW gains 8 pounds he become a SSW which is, the same as a Junior Lightweight Weight” or JLW. You can stay at that weight or gain to 108 pounds and become a LFW (Light Fly Weight”) if you wish ,or a fully fledged fly if your weight edges up to112-pounds. You then work your way up though the Bantams to about 130, 135 and 140 lbs.
That's about where “Sweet Pea “ stayed - from JWW-Junior Welterweight which is the same as Super Lightweight at 140 pounds. Imagine! Eight more classes to go!
Professional boxer Pernell Whitaker, born January 2, 1964 at Norfolk, Va, was one of the truly great of our time. He was our lightweight medalist at the 1984 Olympic games and held world championships in both Welterweight and Lightweight divisions in his pro-career.
A.L.M. May 21, 2005 [c467wds]
