Pernell Whitaker vs. Buddy McGirt II

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.

The Final Say
DateOctober 1, 1994
VenueThe Scope, Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.
Title(s) on the lineWBC welterweight title
Tale of the tape
Boxer Pernell Whitaker James McGirt
Nickname Sweet Pea Buddy
Hometown Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. Brentwood, New York, U.S.
Purse $2,500,000 $600,000
Pre-fight record 33–1–1 (15 KO) 64–3–1 (44 KO)
Height 5 ft 6 in (168 cm) 5 ft 6+1⁄2 in (169 cm)
Weight 147 lb (67 kg) 146 lb (66 kg)
Style Southpaw Orthodox
Recognition WBC welterweight champion
The Ring No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter
3-division world champion		 2-division world champion
Result
Whitaker wins via 12-round unanimous decision (118–112, 117–112, 117–110)

Background

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]

The fight

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]

Fight card
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

^Note 1 For WBC and Lineal Welterweight titles

References
  1. Champion Whitaker Dispenses with Cardona, Washington Post article, 1994-04-10, Retrieved on 2020-04-15
  2. Whitaker Foe Shoulders His Way Into Rematch, Daily Press article, 1994-08-17 Retrieved on 2020-04-15
  3. McGirt to Have Surgery, NY Times article, 1993-03-10, Retrieved on 2020-04-16
  4. McGirt Armed for Redemption, South Florida Sun-Sentinel article, 1994-10-01, Retrieved on 2020-04-16
  5. Whitaker May Have "Final Say" Against McGirt, Associated Press article, 1994-08-17, Retrieved on 2020-04-16
  6. Whitaker Dominated McGirt in Rematch, NY Times article, 1994-10-02, Retrieved on 2020-04-16
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