Boxers do not come much more skillful then Featherweight Pep - but Locche as a Jr Welter is just too big in my humble opinion,
I rate Pep as a better fighter than Locche -- but the difference in size is pretty big, and I think Locche would take it. Locche's offense wasn't that good. It's a testament to his defense and ring generalship that he was so great despite it.
I do not see how Nicolino can get much offense going. The admittedly little I have seen of Nicolino may not be giving me all I need to make this assesment. He seems to need the fighter to come after him. I do not think size will make that much of a difference. Saddler hit much harder and was much faster than Locche. Pep in his prime will not get caught in a wrestling match so it really boils down to how Pep approaches this fight. I think Pep will force Nicolino to come forward and look to be offensive which is not his style. He seem more likely to try and anticipate Pep because that was his habit. Pep cannot be anticpated. You have to go after him, wrestle him, rough him up. If not, Pep is going to out manuever you, out jab, and out hustle you. Pep was not a power puncher but he did get 68 KO's. He has a little sting and if you get hit enough while you are off balance this will make you gun shy. The angles, footwork, speed and Locche's lack of offense firepower leave Pep the ability set the pace and find his rhythm. Pep wind a clear decision. Nicolino does not has the style to beat Pep.
The matchup is too bizarre to comprehend but Locches offense was so limited. The occasional left hook was about it.
They would be moving around and dodging each other so quickly and efficiently eventually one of them would just get vertigo and fall over for a 10 count Probably Locche
Not a fair fight as loche weighed about 10 pounds more than Willie Pep...I was lucky to see Pep in his very prime years before his airplane crash that almost killed him. Awesome to watch ! Pep's best win was against a great boxing stylist Willie Joyce who was a top lightweight in 1944...Willie outclassed Joyce who was a boxing marvel who outpointed the great Ike Williams twice....P4P Willie over Loche for sure...
