Sports Hall of Fame boxer Pernell ‘Sweet Pea’ Whitaker dies after being struck by vehicle July 15, 2019July 15, 2019 Tom Schad, USA TODAY Comments Off on Hall of Fame boxer Pernell ‘Sweet Pea’ Whitaker dies after being struck by vehicle Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker died Sunday after being struck by a vehicle in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The Hall of Fame boxer was 55 years old.