There's a small bit of substance to what Pender is saying. Robinson had immense: SPEED POWER HEIGHT (5'11 tall for a middle in those days, never mind welter) CHIN He didn't have to strictly "box" (hit-and-not-get-hit) defensively for round after round, in every fight. He could punch, slug, and toy with opponents. He was really hurting guys in there.
I've never even thought Pep was that good. He's got great speed and coordination but that and a dollar and a quarter will buy you nothing but a bunch of wins on Boxrec. It's not the stuff that skills are made of.
Ignorant. Just another young person saying "those old black and white era fighters couldn't hang in this era." If he makes it into his 60's, he'll finally see that cycle revealed. Embracing straight ignorance youth.. and double down on it.
May I ask what it is about Pep's footwork, defence, reflexes and ability to put combinations together that doesn't make you think that Pep was all that good?
Well, it basically doesn't take that much skill. If he didn't have speed or coordination or reflexes, he would just be this guy with this Italian name he doesn't even use. But with those things, and the name, he's a really impressive fooler and overachiever.
Plus, the guy only had a crisp left hand and a crisp right hand. You need more than two punches to be great at boxing. Offense is more than half the battle right there.
That's like saying if Ali didn't have his punch resistance and speed or Joe Louis didnt have his composure and ability to put night-ending combinations together. I fundamentally disagree but you're entitled to your opinion.
It is like saying that, I agree, but still true, as I see it. I'm a big basketball fan and if you want to see skill, for me, you check out a dude named John Stockton. Not some giant guy who's super good at jumping and stuff. In a court of law, unfortunately, it has been found that I am actually not entitled to my opinion, on several occasions. But I still have several, my friend! Blessings! -Scott
But Stockton had great game IQ and a great understanding with Malone, much like some fighters have a great trainer, great timing, great conditioning or speed and reflex. I simply see a fighter with great balance, ring awareness, positioning, great defence and a very underrated offence. He's tripling, quadrupling his jab, hooking off the jab, throwing slick combinations, spinning his man onto the ropes to evade getting cornered. Speed and coordination is one of those things - boxing is a martial art where athleticism combined with mental and psychological prowess - Pep did it remarkably well.