WHITAKER SAYS DELA HOYA “B+ FIGHTER” DURING HIS PRIME
by Dennis Principe
MANNY Pacquiao fans are feeling good about the Filipino boxer’s chances against Oscar Dela Hoya when they recall the Golden Boy’s controversial bout against hall-of-famer Pernell Whitaker.
Whitaker, just like Pacquiao, had more than three-inch disadvantage in height against Dela Hoya.
Another similarity is that both Pacquiao and Whitaker are southpaws.
It would be nice to hear from Whitaker what kind of skills will it take to at least frustrate Dela Hoya the way the 1984 Olympic medalist did to the Golden Boy, himself an Olympic medalist, in their only face off 11 years ago in Las Vegas.
Though Whitaker willingly agreed to be the main guest of Sports Radio’s “Sports Chat” Tuesday morning, he had little to say about Pacquiao claiming that he never saw the Filipino four-division world champion in action.
“I don’t know what kind of comparison, I haven’t seen the gentleman fight. But there’s no Pernell Whitaker. It doesn’t matter how many comparisons people can make,” said Whitaker during the interview “There aren’t Pernell Whitakers anymore out there. It’s a good thing for people to try and compare him (Pacquiao) to me and I wouldn’t take that away.”
The only thing that will probably sound music to the ears of Pacquiao fans is the way Whitaker rated Dela Hoya’s boxing skills, specifically the Mexican-American‘s punches during his prime.
“No, he’s (Dela Hoya) not a big puncher. No he’s not. He’s pretty skillful fighter but he’s not a big puncher. From A to E, I give him a B+. But I wouldn’t say that today. He won’t get credit from me right now because I don’t think he should be in there,” said Whitaker from his home in Norfolk, Virginia. “Think of him 13 years to now, you just don’t get that comparison. He is not the same fighter. I just think he’s been around for too long.”
Whitaker added Dela Hoya should have retired and enjoy his earnings, a move he says will also let younger fighters take over and establish their own legacies.
“Sometimes when it’s over it’s over. You just gotta let it go and reap the benefits from it,” said Whitaker.
Whitaker was a long time World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight champion and was making his ninth title defense against Dela Hoya. Whitaker, then a 33-year-old four-division world champion lost his crown in what was considered by many as a controversial decision.
No rematch ever happened as Dela Hoya continued his rise to legendary status, a feat Whitaker already achieved at that point.
“Once you fight Pernell Whitaker once, you’ll never want to see him again. I don’t have any other reason to say why it didn’t happen,“ said Whitaker about the aborted rematch “It was one of my great moments. I fought for the fans. It wasn’t about me. The fans, you can never cheat them so I let the people decide.”
Dela Hoya and Pacquiao are scheduled to slug it out on December 6 at the MGM Grand Garden in an intriguing 12-round non-title fight set at the welterweight limit of 147-lbs.
Whitaker, who will be turning 45 January of next year, fought the best fighters, most of which are now considered legends of the sport namely Felix Trinidad, Julio Cesar Vasquez, James McGirt, Azumah Nelson, Jose Luis Ramirez, Greg Haugen, Roger Mayweather and Julio Cesar Chavez.
Whitaker ended his career with a ring record of 40-4-1 (17 knockouts). Whitaker has since been in and out of prison for cocaine possession and was rumored to have squandered the millions of dollars he earned in fight purses, something which he denied in one interview with TV giant HBO.
“”I’m doing excellent financially. I’ve got more than most. I’m stable. I don’t need for anything. Anything I want I can buy. I don’t want for anything. Make sure you write that,” said Whitaker, “I regret nothing whatsoever. My career was one to remember. I wouldn’t change a thing. Nothing.”
