Willie Pep and the Plane Crash- What did he go through?

As we all know Pep was involved in a plane crash in which he was the only survivor. What injuries did he sustain? How long did it take him to recover? And did his style and ability change significantly after the injury and layoff? I recall hearing that he hurt his back and leg but to what extent?

Certainly this is one of the two or three best comebacks in boxing history(the other two being Foreman and Leonard), and an inspiration. I'm looking for anecdotes because I myself suffered a somewat similar injury that I am just about to recover from, and I could use the extra inspiration to get back in shape and moving like I used to :good

 

Heres a little bit info i found:

But let's go back to January 5, of 1947 and factor into the equation of the Pep-Saddler contest, indeed, factor into the balance of Pep's ring career, a relatively unknown fact about Willie Pep. On that date, Willie Pep was involved in an airplane crash which snuffed out the lives of 3 occupants of the plane. There were 11 survivors, including Willie Pep. The injuries sustained by Pep, thought to have been serious enough to end his ring career, consisted of a leg fracture and a fractured back.

Pep spent January through May, 1947 in a leg cast, a body cast and a back brace. When all were removed, Pep resumed fighting, remarkably resuming his career in June, 1947, while winning 26 fights in a row to extend his winning streak to 73 victories. He would not be beaten until he faced the challenge posed by Sandy Saddler on October 29, 1947 in Madison Square Garden. Saddler, who was 5 years younger than Pep, was a devastating ring slugger, as attested to by his career 103 knockouts. In sudden quickness, Saddler knocked out Willie Pep in the 4th round as Ruby Goldstein administered the count before raising Saddler's arm as the new featherweight champion.

 

Holy ****. All the best.

 

I'm actually doing quite well now. Didnt fall out of a plane but I did fall 3 stories, broke a wrist and a single vertebra, getting both casts off on thursday

 

Good to hear. I've seen people more damaged from tripping over their own feet.

 

Sorry but.

Plane crash>>>>>>>falling 3 storeys

Man up.

 

For what it's worth , I saw the virtually untouchable Willie Pep in MSG beating a top lightweight Allie Stolz, in Jan,1943. We at MSG were in awe by Pep's mousquito like
speed,and cleverness that night.After his near fatal plane crash in 1947,Willie Pep,though still a great fighter,lost some of his blazing speed.No doubt about that. At his best,and aside from the Sammy Angott controversial loss in 1943 ,Willie seldom lost a ROUND,so
fast and clever was he. To survive that crash, then fooling his doctors who predicted Pep would never fight again,and resume his great career, to go on another great win streak, is
one of the great feats of boxing history.The Willie Pep I saw before the plane crash would have surely licked any version of Sandy Saddler IMO. I was damn lucky to see two of the greatest fighters of alltime ringside, Ray Robinson, and the "will of the Wisp",Willie Pep ..

 

I'm just not on Pep's level

 

:rofl

 

I dont know whats so funny

 

This will get you through, S.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxWeMDEVf_8&feature=related[/ame]

 

a little too synthy for me, this one is more my style

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3OUytRg3L0&feature=player_embedded[/ame]

 

Very nice. I looked through a number of versions, there are so many on Youtube it's ridiculous.

Do you play SF on 360? We should definitely throw down if you do...HD Remix, of course.

 

Nah, but my friend is considering buying it on his. I'll let you know if i do....