Is Willie Pep 'The Greatest'?

Discussion in 'World Boxing Forum' started by split_decision, Mar 18, 2015.


  1. Henke67

    Henke67 One of the 45% Full Member

    9,468
    377
    Feb 10, 2009
    I think you can only make a strong case for SRR, Langford, Greb or Armstrong. Once you get to #5 (imo that's Ezzard Charles), any argument becomes a lot weaker.
     
  2. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    14,470
    59
    Feb 23, 2008
    Honestly he has a lot more than a few good names if you really look into it.
     
  3. attaboi

    attaboi Boxing Addict banned Full Member

    7,143
    12
    Feb 19, 2012
    He's a to 5 most skilled boxer of all time but he lacks in the resume department.
     
  4. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    14,470
    59
    Feb 23, 2008
    There was a thread in the classic section about 3 years ago where a poster was trying to claim Pep's peak record of 130-0 made him the best ever. He was dismissed of much arguing and going around in circles.

    On a side note, i met and spoke with Pep in the early 2000's at Foxwoods casino at some fights. He was as down to earth and funny as could be expected. A complete and classy gentleman. Im sure he soon forgot me, but as a oxing fan it was a lasting memory for me.
     
  5. Cafe

    Cafe Sitzpinkler Full Member

    38,461
    8,026
    Sep 2, 2011
    I don't think so, but for people saying his resume is bad doesn't his have like the highest number of HoF's beaten?
     
  6. southpaw123

    southpaw123 Active Member Full Member

    582
    19
    Sep 20, 2012
    Well I will say this, if you are trying to make a case you have more ways to prove it than you would for Grebb. I don't get why ppl love that guy so much. Can't find much footage on him and the footage you do find leaves myself less than impressed.
     
  7. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    14,470
    59
    Feb 23, 2008
    You can find plenty of footage of his opponents and his resume speaks for itself.
     
  8. southpaw123

    southpaw123 Active Member Full Member

    582
    19
    Sep 20, 2012
    But have you seen him fight? I've seen a limited sparing session and I can't say he looked all that great
     
  9. The_Hawk_2

    The_Hawk_2 Lineal WW Champion Full Member

    244
    0
    Feb 19, 2015
    I have looked into it.
     
  10. kingfisher3

    kingfisher3 Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,561
    1,905
    Sep 9, 2011
    youtube. it's good.
     
  11. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    14,470
    59
    Feb 23, 2008
    That was footage of him goofing around. Do any of us really think that guy could beat Tunney? He did though and arguably more than once. You dont need to see a fighter if you seen many of his opponents. There is also plenty of newspaper articles and fighter testimony as to Grebs ability and greatness.
     
  12. southpaw123

    southpaw123 Active Member Full Member

    582
    19
    Sep 20, 2012
    Obviously the first place I searched. Only thing I found was training footage. If you have anything else please send it over. I can't say if he is as good as some people claim but then again I can't argue it. But again the training footage left me unimpressed
     
  13. southpaw123

    southpaw123 Active Member Full Member

    582
    19
    Sep 20, 2012
    He lost to him multiple times...
     
  14. kingfisher3

    kingfisher3 Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,561
    1,905
    Sep 9, 2011
    my bad, assumed you meant pep.

    the greb footage doesn't even qualify as a sparring session imo, just 2 guys, the other one way too old to be a sparring partner, ****ing about for the camera.
     
  15. JAB5239

    JAB5239 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    14,470
    59
    Feb 23, 2008
    And all you can say is he has a padded record? Take away all that padding and he still has fought and beat more great fighters than 99.9% of every other fighters who ever lived. Instead of focusing on the guys outside the top ten focus on the guys he beat in it. Than keep in mind there was a deeper talent pol and only one title.