Why is Willie Pep considered the FW GOAT?

To many, the Saddler fights demote him, I used to think that too. Some may think it unfair when I defend him, as if I am making a double standard. Making excuses for some, but then others don't get the same pass. The fact is, that's true because the same story doesn't apply to everyone. Most of us will never know what it's like to be in a plane crash, much less survive one. To have your back broken has to be a hell to go through. On top of that he had a real tough, physical guy in front of him, making his situation even harder. Saddler would have been hard for him at any point, but for all-around ability, I have to go with Pep. He was like a fine artist or dancer in that ring. Even Whitaker didn't have his gracefulness. 99.9% of the time he was perfection, that's good enough for me.

 

That's all true. But he won about 25 straight fights after the plane crash in about 16 months leading up to the Saddler fight, I think. And they were not all bums. And Saddler destroyed him. And then Pep continued to beat some very good fighters for a few years after that too, except Saddler .... except the one time he did beat Saddler, of course.

 

Saddler held the title 1948-49 and 1950-57, retiring as champion in January of '57.

 

And it should be stated that he avenged the draw by way of 2nd round knockout.

 

I always had some doubt about Pep being the greatest because so few of his opponents, outside of Saddler, got real attention. Not only did McGrain do a good job of illuminating Pep's depth, but so did Rold in The Ring's "100 Year Anniversary". Pep ranked #7 all-time in his assessment of fighters who did the best against Ring-rated opposition. While the study itself is flawed because you would have to apply more context to the fights, it still showed that Pep was busy against credible opposition. When you combine that with rare skill, consistency, and his Championship reigns, I think the picture for why he was the greatest gets clear.

 

You could totally be correct .. it's one of those things ...

 

Agreed, you beat Ike and Bob Montgomery that's very solid

 

Who said that Willie Pep is featherweight goat? Sandy Saddler's top three wins are astronomically better than Pep's top three wins. Saddler also did beat some other good fighters.

And Saddler also had a super featherweight career. He should be higher p4p fighter.