Lightweight (≤60 kilograms), Men

Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker was runner-up at the 1982 World Championships to Cuban Ángel Herrera, the 1980 Olympic gold medalist. Herrera turned the tables at the 1983 Pan American Games, defeating Whitaker in the final. They should have been co-favorites in this class but Herrera could not compete because Cuba joined the Soviet-led boycott, leaving it open for Whitaker. He came through, winning four unanimous decisions to make it to the final against Puerto Rico’s Luis Ortíz. Ortíz almost lasted two rounds, but received a standing eight-count with only three seconds left in round two, and his handlers threw in the towel, giving Whitaker the gold medal. It was another of many titles for Pernell Whitaker. After turning professional, he won world titles in the lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight, and junior middleweight divisions, also holding titles from all the major professional federations. He fought through 1997, coming back briefly in 1999 and 2001, ending with a career record of 40 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw. In 2002, The Ring magazine ranked him #10 among the Top 100 Fighters of the Past 80 Years.