Pernell Whitaker, 4-Time Championship Boxer, Killed After Getting Hit By A Car

One of the greatest boxers to fight in the ring, Pernell Whitaker, was hit by a car in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and was killed. The 55-year-old southpaw is remarked as one of the best boxers in history.

According to FOX News, the driver stayed at the scene, saying they didn’t see Whitaker when he was walking on the street.

“I guess he was wearing dark clothes, the road was dark and the driver didn’t see him,”  Devon Whitaker, son of Pernell, told the Virginian-Pilot. “That all I can say about him, I can’t really say how I’m feeling because I’m feeling shocked. I’m still trying to process everything that’s going on. But he was a cool guy.”

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Police received an emergency call late on Sunday night, when officers located the man who was hit by the vehicle, he was found dead at the scene.

“When officers arrived on scene they located an adult male victim who had been hit by a vehicle. The victim succumbed to his injuries on the scene,” said L.M. Bauder, the Virginia Beach Police Department spokesman, according to ESPN.”The driver of the vehicle remained on scene with police.”

Whitaker was placed in the Boxing Hall of Fame 13 years ago, and was known for winning world titles in four different weight classes. He thrived in the late 80s and early 90s, winning a lightweight world championship, one junior welterweight and welterweight championship, and a junior middleweight championship. He was regarded as one of the best defensive boxers of his generation, tiring out opponents and constantly making them miss.

“I loved PW and he loved me — there was no doubt,” Kathy Duva, the Main Events promoter who was in charge of promoting Whitaker through the entirety of his career, said according to ESPN. “He was this person who was only comfortable in the ring. He had demons but when he was in the ring that was when he was in control and when he was happy and when he was the very best at what he did, and he wanted to show that to everybody.”