who do you considered more skillfull pernell or willie

whitaker or pep

 

Whitaker.

 

Whitaker.

Pea is the most skilful fighter in history, in my opinion.

To be concise about why:

No-one else I have ever seen fight can stay on the outside and jab and box, or fight on the inside in a phone booth, with such aplomb.

That's not to say I think he beats everyone who has ever fought at his best weight (135), as stylistically I would strongly favour peak Duran to beat him more often than not, but in terms of skillset, I think Pernell is the most high-level technician I've ever seen.

His complete execution of the excellent Buddy McGirt in their rematch is, all things considered, the greatest all-round offensive exhibition I've ever seen. Pea throws every punch in the book, and does so beautifully.

Then consider the defensive mastery he displayed in fights such as Ramirez II.

GOAT (skills-wise) IMHO.

 

Whitaker, this is not to say Pep didn't have great all around boxing skills. Whitaker has better boxing skills than just about any boxer in the history of the sport. This Includs Pep.

 

Can't say because there's a bit of an uneven playfield when it comes analyzing their skill level. We have HD quality footage on the majority of Whitaker's fights, while the only complete films on Pep are from when he was several years past his prime. There is no film of his boxing clinics against the likes of Chalky Wright, Sal Bartolo, Willie Joyce, Manuel Ortiz, Allie Stolz, Jock Leslie and Humberto Sierra that defined his career.

 

True, but what sets Whitaker apart are vastly superior in-fighting skills.

 

Do you know that Pernell's infighting skills are one of the key reasons why many Mexicans call him "el loco black Marco Antonio Rubio"?

 

Pea and i dont think its too close. He is in the top echelon of skilled fighters. Paired with his natural speed and reflexes he is a joy to watch.

 

VERY well said.! How can today's pundits be so definitive about the skills of the prime Willie Pep, when they have NEVER seen on film the prime Will of the Wisp.? Truly they can't. We must remember at his best,and even on the downside,Pep really was beaten about 3 or 4 times in about 200
hundred fights. I have seen the Pep before his near fatal plane crash in 1947, and he was the most elusive fighter I have ever seen. Bar none.
Whitaker was a great fighter also, and being a southpaw didn't hurt him either. But Pernell was a lightweight/welter, while Pep who had more than FOUR times as many bouts was a 126 pound featherweight. I wonder how
Pernell would have fared were he to have fought another 175 fights.?:good

 

All good points and very nicely put burt!:thumbsup

 

Whitaker, the level of opponent needed to reach Whitaker's skill level did not exist in 1940s America.

 

Hey Burt, who do you think was more skilful:

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or

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:good

 

Sweet Pea

 

You who never saw the elite lightweights of the 1940's as Ike Williams, Beau Jack, Bob Montgomery, Willie Joyce, Freddie Dawson, Sandy Saddler,
Johnny Bratton,Kid Gavilan, etc. would not be maken such a silly and unfounded statement, had YOU seen these babies above. All who had at least twice as much fights, as Whitaker against vastly more exerienced fighters.......atsch

 

Burt has a point here.....try to imagine judging Whitaker without McGirt fights or Haugen, etc......This conversation would be different.....

I would like to hear more about Pep´s offensive skills.....