Akexis Arguello vs Willie Pep.

Arguello had problems with speed and movers.

 

sometimes it's just that simple

arguello didn't have the rough, physical style of a saddler or the negative, grab and clutch style of angott.

he'd hurt him if he landed but he just wouldn't hit pep much

 

That's why I didn't feel compelled to elaborate. Of course, Pep could be hurt and obviously Arguello had the power to knock him into another time zone, but Pep is too fast, too elusive and too assertive. Arguello never gets a chance to get going...

 

J, I agree. I love Arguello as a puncher and a gentleman. But boxing
is about styles, and I believe as you post that Pep would be too elusive for Arguello,and wins a 15 rd decision.Of course Willie had trouble with the lightweight Sammy Angott, but who didn't have trouble with the Clutch.
I also believe that Arguello had the style and punching power to whip
Sandy Saddler, who was lanky and a rough and cruel puncher, but was
EASY to hit, and if Arguello hit Sandy Saddler cleanly he would have whipped
Saddler. I also feel that Willie Pep before his near fatal plane crash in 1947,would have beat Saddler readily...:good

 

agree 100%. again, amazing that a pep AFTER such an accident and the damage it cause pep carved such a win streak and engaged in one of the all time great rivalries

but arguello in this case is, as you and davek said, against one of the most mobile and evasive fighters ever. for someone as slow of foot as arguello, that's deadly

and well said, he truly was a gentleman

 

Willie Pep wins 10 rounds in a row, until one left hook to the body.

 

The"Will 'O The Wisp"...

 

which hurts him, maybe puts him down and he dances his way to a decision:bbb

 

Not a picnic for Willie, who would have found the vulnerable points on his torso targeted by Alexis's uncanny precision. Pep's face would also likely be a mess, thanks to a sharpshooter who typically aimed for the sternum of his opponents. Willie would take the clear UD, but not without hitting the deck at some point, and he'd look and feel like hell when it was over. Arguello was surprisingly quick at 126.

 

I'll take Pep along with everyone else, but closer, much closer...Pep's quickness, movement and boxing instincts win the decision for him. But Arguello would hurt him badly throughout the fight, and Pep may find himself on the canvas more than once. Agree w/ the consensus but closer...Dou is right, Arguello was a devastating sharp shooter, and would be aiming for Pep's sternum. Don't underestimate Arguello, he was an ATG at the weight, himself.

 

I certainly wouldn't underestimate Arguello. I always thought he is the best punching featherweight since, who knows, Terry McGovern.?
He was to me the featherweight Joe Louis, a deadly puncher with perfect leverage, and innate class as a gentleman. One of my alltime fantasy fights would be Sandy Saddler,who I saw inside and outside the ring, and Alexis Arguello, get it on ! Both tall and rangy. One for the ages...

 

Burt, I can't even make a pick on Saddler/Arguello...I would say that you would definitely know more about Saddler than I would!!!!. Saddler could be hit, but he also would be alot rougher than anybody Arguello ever encountered at the weight...Arguello has the edge with crisper, precision shots, while Saddler was very adept in changing the entire dynamic of a fight...what I mean by that is, Saddler would hold and hit, butt, lace,thumb. choke, elbow...You name it! Against a Saddler, you were drug down into the gutter to fight. Arguello might still win...Maybe. Arguello would have to fight his way out of the gutter, because he isn't fast enough to get away from Saddler. If the young Arguello were able to keep his composure, he would have a chance. Saddler was a nasty guy.

 

Saddler a nasty guy,that's for sure...In close he was like a python.Tall and strong as a lightweight. But I don't think he ever fought a hitter like Alexis
Arguello. There was one guy who fought a little before Saddler ,who hit like a mule. His name was Chalky Wright. He as older, but he could hit .Pep licked him a couple of times ,but Wright was in his thirties by then...Cheers...

 

ahhh, good ole chalky wright. i was just thinking about him when i was considering the greatest mexican boxers ever (if he WAS in fact born in mexico)

either way, chalky was a tremendous hitter and like you said, was quite old. i believe it was 13 years as a pro before he got a title shot and past prime likely before he met pep (though based on styles, was pretty much made for the wisp anyway)