 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | October 1, 1994 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venue | The Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Title(s) on the line | WBC welterweight title | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tale of the tape | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Whitaker wins via 12-round unanimous decision (118–112, 117–112, 117–110) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pernell Whitaker vs. Buddy McGirt II, billed as The Final Say, was a professional boxing match contested on October 1, 1994, for Whitaker's WBC welterweight title.
Following a hotly disputed draw with Julio César Chávez, reigning WBC welterweight Pernell Whitaker would then return to his hometown of Norfolk, Virginia to make a successful defense against Santos Cardona, winning by an easy unanimous decision. [1] Following his win over Cardona, Whitaker would next agree to a rematch with James "Buddy" McGirt. [2] Whitaker and McGirt had fought the previous year, with Whitaker scoring a close unanimous decision to capture McGirt's WBC welterweight title. Following the fight, McGirt would undergo surgery for a torn rotator cuff, an injury that had plagued him throughout both the Whitaker fight and his previous title defense against Genaro Léon. [3] Though expected to be out of boxing for a year, McGirt would return 7 months later with a unanimous decision victory over Nick Rupa. [4] McGirt would ultimately go 5–0 after his first loss to Whitaker and insisted on a rematch, calling Whitaker a "punk" and accusing him of ducking him. [5]
Unlike their close first fight, Whitaker would dominate most of the fight and won by a lopsided unanimous decision. Though Whitaker controlled most of the fight, McGirt would score the only knockdown of the fight, sending Whitaker down on the seat of his pants after landing a right hand. Said Whitaker of the knockdown "It was just a flash knockdown, it caught me off balance, it didn't bother me at all. It made me more aware of what I had to do. I still think I got the round." Knockdown notwithstanding, Whitaker threw a considerable amount of punches more than McGirt, throwing 816 punches of which he landed 330 for a 40% success rate, while McGirt only landed 154 of his 504 thrown punches for a 31% rate. The fight would go the full 12 rounds and all three of the judge's scorecards had Whitaker winning comfortably with scores of 118–112, 117–112 and 117–110. [6]
| Weight Class | Weight | vs. | Method | Round | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welterweight | 147 lb | Pernell Whitaker (c) | def. | James McGirt | UD | 12/12 | Note 1 |
| Heavyweight | 200+ lb | David Tua | def. | Ken Lakusta | KO | 4/10 | |
| Light Middleweight | 154 lb | Raúl Márquez | def. | Darryl Cherry | KO | 6/10 | |
| Cruiserweight | 190 lb | Jade Scott | def. | Stacy McSwain | TKO | 2/10 | |
| Light Welterweight | 140 lb | Dorin Spivey | def. | James Edwards | TKO | 4/4 | |
| Heavyweight | 200+ lb | Courage Tshabalala | def. | Ken Williams | RTD | 1/4 |
Julio César Chávez González, also known as Julio César Chávez Sr., is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 2005. A multiple-time world champion in three weight divisions, Chávez was listed by The Ring magazine as the world's best boxer, pound for pound, from 1990 to 1993. During his career he held the WBC super featherweight title from 1984 to 1987, the WBA and WBC lightweight titles between 1987 and 1989, the WBC light welterweight title twice between 1989 and 1996, and the IBF light welterweight title from 1990 to 1991. He also held the Ring magazine and lineal lightweight titles from 1988 to 1989, and the lineal light welterweight title twice between 1990 and 1996. Chávez was named Fighter of the Year for 1987 and 1990 by the Boxing Writers Association of America and The Ring respectively.
Jorge Adolfo Páez is a Mexican actor, circus performer and former professional boxer. In boxing he held the WBO and IBF featherweight titles. Paez's nickname of "El Maromero" is in honor of the somersault acts he performs at the circus. It was in the circus that he learned acrobatic moves he would later use in the boxing ring. Páez is also the father of Azriel Páez, Jorge Páez Jr., and Airam Páez.
José Luis Ramírez is a Mexican former professional boxer who was a two-time World Lightweight Champion.
Pernell Whitaker Sr. was an American professional boxer who competed from 1984 to 2001, and subsequently worked as a boxing trainer. He was a four-weight world champion, having won titles at lightweight, light welterweight, welterweight, and light middleweight; the undisputed lightweight title; and the lineal lightweight and welterweight titles. In 1989, Whitaker was named Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine and the Boxing Writers Association of America. He currently holds the longest unified lightweight championship reign in boxing history at six title defenses. Whitaker is generally regarded as one of the greatest defensive boxers of all-time.
James Walter "Buddy" McGirt is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1982 to 1997, and has since worked as a boxing trainer. He held world championships in two weight classes, including the IBF junior welterweight title in 1988, and the WBC and lineal welterweight titles from 1991 to 1993.
Simon Brown is a former professional boxer. Known as "Mantequilla", a name given to him by his famous trainer Jose 'Pepe' Correa, Brown was two-weight world champion in the welterweight and light-middleweight divisions, and at one point considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in boxing.
Erislandy Lara Santoya is a Cuban-American professional boxer who is the current WBA middleweight champion, having held the title since 2021. He has held multiple world championships in two weight classes. Previously he held various versions of the WBA light middleweight title between 2014 and 2021, and the IBO light middleweight title twice between 2015 and 2021. As of May 2022, Lara is ranked as the world's fifth-best active middleweight by BoxRec.
Shawn Christian Porter is an American sports commentator and former professional boxer who competed from 2008 to 2021. He was a two-time welterweight world champion, having held the IBF title from 2013 to 2014 and the WBC title from 2018 to 2019. Porter was particularly known for his aggressive pressure fighting style, physical strength, chin, and high workrate.
Jermell DeAvante Charlo is an American professional boxer. He has held the World Boxing Association (WBA) and Ring magazine light middleweight titles since 2020, and previously the undisputed championship in that weight class from 2022 to 2023.
Josh Taylor is a Scottish professional boxer. He is a former undisputed super lightweight champion, having held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Association (WBA) titles between 2019 and 2022, the World Boxing Council (WBC) title between 2021 and 2022, the World Boxing Organisation (WBO) title between 2021 and 2023 and the Ring magazine title between 2019 and 2023. At regional level, he held the Commonwealth light-welterweight title from 2016 to 2017. As an amateur, he won a lightweight silver medal at the 2010 Commonwealth Games and light-welterweight gold at the 2014 edition.
James Toney vs. Roy Jones Jr., billed as The Uncivil War, was a professional boxing match held on November 18, 1994, for the IBF super middleweight championship.
Pernell Whitaker vs. Oscar De La Hoya, billed as Pound for Pound, was a professional boxing match contested on April 12, 1997 for the WBC welterweight championship.
Oscar De La Hoya vs. Hector Camacho, billed as Opposites Attack, was a professional boxing match contested on September 13, 1997 for the WBC welterweight championship.
Arturo Gatti vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr., billed as Thunder & Lightning, was a professional boxing match contested on June 25, 2005, for the WBC super lightweight championship.
Viktor Vasylovych Postol is a Ukrainian professional boxer who held the WBC light-welterweight title from 2015 to 2016 and challenged twice for the WBO light-welterweight title in 2016 and in 2020. As of May 2021, he is ranked as the world's fifth best active light-welterweight by the Transnational Boxing Rankings Board and by BoxRec and fourth by The Ring magazine.
Wilfredo Rivera is a Puerto Rican former professional boxer who fought three times for world titles, losing to Pernell Whitaker twice and to Oscar De La Hoya.
Buddy McGirt vs. Pernell Whitaker, billed as Pound for Pound: Who's Number One?, was a professional boxing match contested on March 6, 1993, for the WBC welterweight title.
Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio César Chávez, billed as The Fight, was a professional boxing match contested on September 10, 1993, for the WBC welterweight title.
Pernell Whitaker vs. Julio César Vásquez, billed as Showdown of Champions, was a professional boxing match contested on March 4, 1995 for the WBA super welterweight title.
Pernell Whitaker vs. Gary Jacobs, billed as "Summer's Blockbuster" was a professional boxing match contested on August 26, 1995 for the WBC and lineal welterweight titles.