VIRGINIA BEACH — On Sunday, at 10:04 p.m., 911 received a call for vehicle/pedestrian accident in the intersection of Northampton Boulevard and Baker Road.
When officers arrived on scene they located 55-year-old Pernell Whitaker who had been hit by a vehicle.
He succumbed to his injuries on the scene. The driver of the vehicle remained on scene with police.
Police said it is not believed that drugs, alcohol or speed were factors of the crash.
Whitaker is generally regarded as one of the greatest defensive boxers of all-time.
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. From 1993 to 1997, The Ring ranked him as the best active boxer in the world, pound for pound. He currently holds the longest unified lightweight championship reign in boxing history at 6 title defenses.
