Fantastic in boxing ability isn't off the course, while Sweet pea showed his defensive genius from the waist up Willy did it with his legs. His ability to out jab, out counter and win exchanges with harder punching and longer armed fighters is text book for any golden glover on the rise. As much as I studied and tried to match his movements and punches I could never quite get there. As for Jackie Graves and the third round the story originated with St Paul Pioneer Press scribe Don Riley who told how Willy said he'd see how things were going around the third round, the problem being Don's account of the round and the St Paul Scribe who actually covered it were two entirely different fights. Why Don made this up I'll never know as he was my favorite boxing writer.
A strange posting, anything but accurate as to the era and racial devides in title shots which was often the case through the twenties and to the skill set of the fourties and fifties featherweight contenders. Most boxing historians greatest of the featherweights, it would have been something to seen him against Armstrong and Alexis. If he had carried a knockout punch he would be a contender for greatest of all time.
Had a chance to meet him and talk to him....great boxer...smooth...slick. Beat Joey Archibald...Sal Bartolo...Jackie Wilson... ...Sandy Saddler...Phil Terranova...Chalky Wright...Harold Dade...Ray Famechon...Paddy DeMarco....Manuel Ortiz...just to name a few. Voted the #1 Featherweight of all time by the AP...and the #1 Featherweight of the 20th Century!
Joe Louis once said that Willie Pep was one fighter for whom he would be willing to spend his own money to see fight.
There once was a man who won a fight without throwing a punch. He ducked one and the other man fell out of the ring unable to continue.
Pep was so quick when things got rough with Saddler he slipped between his legs spun around and hit Saddler in the back!
Highly Appreciate it . Thank you for answering all 3 questions , You are the only one that did. Much respect.
Dundee and Duva spoke of Pep with genuine reverence when speaking with Brian Kenny. That should say plenty.
He slugged it out with SRR in a barn giving up all that weight. He averaged a fight every 6-8 weeks for 26 years even after surviving a plane crash. So hard core and one of the best ATG's ever
I'll say it more directly, and more bluntly,...the poster is full of shlt...completely biased and racist as well. Just can't bring himself to giving a fighter....an obviously gifted fighter...of a racial group other than his own any credit...an incredibly obtuse and dishonest assessment of Willie Pep.
