Willie Pep- Top 5 fighter of all time?

You say that as if Pep NEVER fought high level Lightweights.

And Benny Leonard loses a bid in the top-5, as well, because he never fought Mickey Walker?

 

Well, Greb fought Tunney....Armstrong fought Ross...Robinson fought Maxim, etc.


That's how the Top 5'ers rolled :smoke

 

No, that's how you interpreted it. I <3 divisional dominance.

 

I have him in the group between 7-12. I tend to rate him at the bottom end of it, but yeah, 7's the highest I could see for him.

 

Had Pep beat Angott in '43, would things be vastly different for you?

 

Don't forget Ezzard Charles, who beat Burley x2 at MW (albeit weight adv), Archie Moore x3 at LHW and both Louis/Walcott at HW. That's only what's on top.

 

that's my point really, its not knocking pep to leave him out of a top 5 p4p, because of his injuries and lack of facing much bigger men regularly.

 

They don't really compare to Tunney and Ross but Pep fought and beat ranked Lightweights Allie Stolz (on numerous occasions) and Willie Joyce.

 

You do realize we're playing about right?

 

Two movements that i see that is done over and over again. Backpedal and duck. That is his main defense and his offense is ordinary and unimaginative.

 

defence - not entirely false but incredibly harsh
offence - how can that jab be called ordinary or unimaginative? fast, fluid and textbook imo

 

He does got a good jab, i wouldn't say much else after that though. His defense is too one dimenisional imo. Consist of ducking while retreating and jab on his way out. It just seem that his defense is way overated and that he pretty much just defends in retreat.

Whitaker does a lot of ducks and abuse the crap out of it but Whitaker got better upperbody movement and counters.

 

Greb fought Tunney, but did not win the series.

Robinson fought Joey Maxim, but was knocked out!

How is that how top 5ers roll.

Willie Pep has as good a shot as any at the top 5 position.

 

Footage of Pep we have is really **** quality and he still looks like a boss in it

 

I concur -- Pep fighting Angott (but not winning) fits that flawed logic.