Just saw the fight. Pep was on the comeback trail. He got knocked down 3 times in the 2nd round. What happened in this fight? Many believed he took a dive? Is there anything of note or was Pep just off?
This one seemed to smell if any fight from that era did. Pep was suspended in New York for the rest of his career, I believe. Perhaps Henry or Burt can elaborate.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...2EvAAAAIBAJ&sjid=b9sFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4843,6988244 Lulu Perez KOs Willie Pep, two rounds, New York. Rumors persist afterward of a possible fix, but nothing is proven. It was the last time Pep fought in New York.
Though Pep was not in contention for the featherweight crown, he continued to box successfully, winning almost all of his matches. He lost only once in 12 fights in 1952, and defeated all of his 11 opponents in 1953. Pep only fought five times in 1954, losing only once to Lulu Perez in the second round by TKO on February 26. After this loss, the New York State Athletic Commission took away Pep's boxing license because of his age (31). Pep's career continued in other states. He won all but one of his 24 fights between 1955 and 1957.
There was no doubt, it was fixed; Pep received a life time ban from ever fighting in NY state there after.
February 26- Lulu Perez beats Willie Pep by knockout in round two at New York. The fight is tainted with controversy, as many thought that it was a fixed fight. Pep later sued Sports Illustrated for 75 million dollars after Sports Illustrated ran a story in 1981 suggesting Pep took a dive for 16,000 dollars.
It's kooky, and stinks to high heaven. This was the fastest knockout win of Lulu's career. Willie was also accused of throwing his previous stoppage loss to Tommy Collins. (Ironically, Collins was later the second fastest knockout win Perez ever recorded, also in round two, and Tommy hung the gloves up after that.) With the exception of Ralph Walton, we get to see precious little of a pre plane crash Pep, yet we have film of this embarrassment. I think New York had enough of Willie after not just Perez, but his quitting in the final two Saddler fights. Collins had a good knockout record, and he'd put Saddler on the deck just prior to taking on Pep, so maybe Willie can get the benefit of a doubt here. Perez did not have the kind of record to suggest he was legitimately capable of stopping Pep the way he did.
Was definitely a dive. You can tell by the way Pep theatrically flings his head when he goes down. That said, Pep is a much better actor than Joe Gans.
"age (31)" If this is the reason they gave, it sounds phony as hell. Why would anyone consider a 31 year old so aged he had to have his license pulled? How did Robinson and Moore get licensed?
hh says it all.. I remember the ko of Pep had the "smell" similiar to the Jake Lamotta /Billy Fox fight in 1947...The difference was Lamotta was 26 years old while Willie Pep was 31 when Perez Kod Willie in 1954...I believe an "arrangement " was made and Pep took a dive...Even though the 31 year old Pep was LONG past his prime, to be kod with one shot by Lulu Perez, was highly unlikely...Pep wasn't going to be champ again, so what the hell, I believe..b.b.