Pep will be a decided favorite and consensus winner...and perhaps rightly so. I am an unabashed Saldivar guy and think he holds his own against any FW of any era. While not on the level of Pep Saldivar showed his skills were more than competent against slick skilled boxer in Laguna and Winstone. While not as much of a dirty fighter as Saddler, Saldivar can get inside and fight tough. I see a Saldivar decision here, but I am one of the bigger Saldivar appreciators here.
Hi Philly, you're not entirely on your own pal. The list of feathers who stand a significant chance of taking a prime Pep is small as heck but Vicente is right up there imo. I can only think of Armstrong who I'd definitely fancy to do the job cleaner. I'm not outright picking Saldivar to do it but he definitely has a serious chance. If the likes of Bartolo and Terranova could take more than a couple of rounds from Willie..... Saldivar was one of the great fighters in the sport at patiently and incrementally tracking down movers, boxers, speedsters and skilled defensive fighters. Winstone x 3, Laguna, Legra, Seki, Famechon, Luis etc, though clearly at his best over fifteen rounds when he could gradually pin them down. Force them to move increasingly more round after round, skip and feint his way inside behind his jab, hammer away to the ribs with heavy right hooks and, when they'd become more static, run them over from the twelfth round on with his killer straight left, relentless endurance and kamikaze-like combinations. He'd need every round against Pep though, I think. However good the aforementioned lads were, they weren't Pep. It's fair to say that Pep is going to take an early-mid lead if Saldivar goes for the slow-burning approach. Probably past the tenth, so Saldivar would have to really work to slow him down and then time his charge. It's whether Pep has built up enough of a lead to see things out because I think Saldivar stands a significant chance of sweeping the championship rounds, maybe scoring a knockdown or two to gain even more ground on the cards. I actually wouldn't rule a late stoppage though I wouldn't favour it either; Pep was tough, gutsy and rugged with a hard edge and not afraid to get dirty in addition to his deity-like skill. He'd still be shifting left and right, ducking and diving, peppering out his jab and trying to maintain his own voluminous output, but I think he'd be shipping a lot of punches that weren't landing in the earlier rounds and really hurting. Great fight and a close one. If Suzie Q reads this he'll go postal, hehe. Saldivar, Marcel, Sanchez, Pedroza and Nelson are the standout featherweights since Pep himself other than Saddler. I think Willie has an easier time with Nelson and Sal tbh, on account of styles. Pedroza would be a tough night for him too, though I'd still favour Pep to turn the trick in that one.
I fancy Pep to get the job done. I think his movement and speed and toughness would stop Saldivar getting much of a foothold. It would certainly be competitive. Saldivar would probably make it close and competitive down the stretch. But Pep could rally and would probably have a decent lead once Saldivar figures out the best way to get his shots off. Quite telling as I have them 1 & 2 at feather.
Sorry for the confusion guys! I do indeed mean Vicente Saldivar like you have all suggested. Just got confused with his surname and Salvador Sanchez who I posted about straight afterwards.
You can still edit the title if you choose. I had to earlier this week when I misspelled Roosevelt as Rosevelt
I think Pep squeeks out a decision over 15. Saldivar is just a bit too settled with his feet, but would definitely win the later rounds. He would win one in a series.
