That's a myth with zero evidence to back it, hardly a point of comparison. And Pea had great legs as well, in fact he was one of the best ever, if not the best, at fighting off the backfoot, whereas Pep used more lateral movement.
Whitaker against Nelson; During the late rounds, Nelson is coming forward, Whitaker is moving backwards in a straight line and keeping a bit distance, then he throws three jabs in a row which split through Nelson's guard and knock his head back. Effective jabs at that. Only a brief period during a fight, but never seen a fighter land so cleanly and effectively while backing up in a straight line with the jab. Three in succession. It's a myth that Robinson knocked Fullmer out going backwards. He was backing away, stopped to be in a stationary position, then landed the left hook. People like Bert Sugar say "Robinson could knock opponents out going backwards" I would need my memory refreshed on what opponent it was. Wasn't Fullmer, thats for sure.
Whitaker's punch that all but ended the fight against Lomeli was more a knockout punch of a fighter moving backwards. But bringing that up doesn't really suit the agenda of those that want to categorize Pea as featherfisted. :good
Who wants to see a one or two round blowout with power? Not me. Much rather see pure skills with knowledge. :good IMO if Whitaker was around during the 40's and 50's his record would his record have been 200-15 or thereabouts?. Probably.
Sweetpea,,,your wrong, period. Don Riley was the boxing writer for the St. Paul Pioneer press until his retirement a few years back and covered the Graves-Pep match in the old armory here. I've read his account a number of times and it was he who asked Pep if he could do it. Riles is a great old boxing man, wish he was still writing. He once teeed off our Scott LeDoux by a very accurate statement,,,,Scott went further with less then any other contender. I think Pea that Riles wrote a book containing the press role account of the Pep-Graves third round. I will try and contact him for info,,so you can get ,,edumacated on the facts.
Its very close and both are sublime boxers and defensive matrix men, if you compare both when they move up against bigger men though Pepp comes out better, Pepp lost against Angott, Whitaker still dominated against the bigger men, I edge towards Whitaker
Rileys account of the third round Pep-Graves match, which he won on all three cards without throwing a punch, for those of you who have never read it,,,,went something like this: Pep came out for the third with his hands down, and for three minutes put on the most stunning display of boxing ability without ever throwing a punch. Feinting, spinning, slipping, dancing every direction, and tieing Graves into knots, and at the end of the round all three judges gave it to Pep. Without Pep having thrown a punch. I'll see if the Pioneer Press archives can be brought up this next week, if so I will post his actual quotes.
Chalky Wright was an excellent fighter,Sal Bartolo,Willie Joyce,LuLu Constantino,Phil Teranova,Paddy Demarco,Ray Famechon and Sandy Sadler Ray Famechon....Pep had 229 wins 11 losses and 1 draw....Pea had 40 -4-1 record ...Chalkey Wright had 170 fights Stolz was 49-6-2 and the rest had over 50 fights under there belts....I dont really know how well McGirt,Nelson,Chavez would have been in that day...I think they would have been a talent but I dont know if they would have stood out....Pea would have but it would not have been as smooth as his era IMO
You click on the box next to Pep's name Pep is the better boxer, I suspect he forgot more about boxing, than Whitaker learnt.