To the casual observer, watching Willie train at Stillman's after breaking his back, he looked the same -- same stand-up comic, prankster, 'n magician sparring. He scoffed at anything less. Too many laughs 'n tail to chase. He dismissed any notion that he was different. ("FORGETABOUTIT!") Even phonin' it in, he could still dance rings everybody. A 50% Pep still could...MOST everybody. The moves were all there, just NOT quicksilver, 'n without that edge, he was mortal.
is there any available footage of him pre-accident? don't think i've ever seen any aside from the Ralph Walton footage which i only have at some weird speed.
The quickness was not something you could judge side-by-side, N, but veteran trainers at Stillman's recognized Willie'd lost a hair. That HAIR is what brought him back to the pack.
It's like a fireball pitcher that loses a hair off his fastball. He may get by on junk, but he's never the same intimidator.
I think Arguello was a better classic puncher than Saddler was..Saddler when i would see him appeared to be a lightweight, and was very, rough and strong for a 126 lb featherweight...Junior Jones,of a couple of years ago reminded me of Saddler in stature, though not as strong as Saddler. What a combination left hook-uppercut Sandy had....Rough and tough he was....
that hook-uppercut was so deadly and hard to defend. i can't think of any more recent fighters who have had that punch in their repetoire either.
My father idolized Pep. Talked him up all the time, said his style WAS boxing... He was sad when I took the brawler/puncher route in my own ring career. Always thought his boy would make a great technician. Took me 20 years longer than he estimated to become any semblance of slick. One of the last conversations me and my old man had was about Pep's lone victory over Saddler and how it may be the most underrated win we knew of. Feel like Willie is a half brother I never met when I think about Pa sometimes.
And our natural gifts and persuasions in the ring could not have been more different. I was the Anti-Pep.
I guess boxing like Pep is either in you or it isn't. But don't tell me you were more like Saddler were you?