Who do you rate higher -B. Leonard or Willie Pep?

Someone has to start,so here goes. I am one of a very few who saw Willie Pep in his prime, before his near fatal plane crash accident. He was the greatest and most elusive boxer I have ever seen, Not the greatest boxer,for that title belongs to Ray Robinson. But Pep had nowhere the power that Ray had. Willie Pep was the "artful dodger", jab and scoot away out of danger.
Robinson hit with great speed and force. Better all around fighter was Robbie.
Having said that, Everything I have heard and read from the oldtimers who saw Benny Leonard rule the lightweight division for SEVEN years against
the greatest contenders, and proclaimed Leonard as the lightweight equal of
Welterweight Ray Robinson. Leonard was a fast skillful boxer with a great jab,
great reflexes, and a very powerful two handed puncher. He was probably the fastest thinking fighter,boxinbg has ever had,according to Ray Arcel and other experts. So I would take Leonard over Pep,at equal weights P4p.
His much deadlier punching ability made Leonard superior to Pep IMO..

 

Good post Burt, I agree 100%.

 

Depends on criteria. Like in most instances.

 

Benny Leonard IMO.

He has the stronger resume and greater accomplishments.

I also think he is one of the rare occasions where a fighter who fought pre 50s has a style that would not need much tweaking vs a modern opponent.

 

Leonard

 

Benny worked harder at developing his craft from what I gather. He made himself into a puncher with power in both hands after a diligent extended effort. He was never able to analyze precisely how he finally made what appears to have been a quantum leap in concussive force, and his early death may have deprived us of a published masterpiece comparable to Dempsey's Championship Fighting. (I strongly suspect Leonard may have responded to Jack's classic manifesto with one of his own. Dempsey wrote that it took him over a quarter century to successfully codify how he did what he did. Benny, younger by a year, and competing five years after Jack, didn't have enough time to attempt such a self evaluation.)

 

I would read a how to box manual written by Benny Leonard. Had he written one.

 

Benny Leonard


but I contend that I am not knowledgeable enough about either fighter to make a bold statement about whose better.


I think Pep had the skills, and Benny had the brain

 

AND the PUNCHING POWER, Rez:good