Willie Pep - would his fans please justify his placement in their top all time lists

Curses! Foiled again!

 

I think you can attest to the fact that I've been here since the thread was started, and yes it's informative, but only from the side of those who have corrected China doll, or whatever his name is.

 

Not necessarily. I can certainly understand the argument as it pertains to the heavyweight division, due to the fact that men are truly bigger, stronger and possibly faster than they were in the 40's. The average heavyweight post 1970, was a bout 6'3", 215 Lbs, as opposed to the average heavy pre 1950, who was maybe 6'0", 198. These changes don't really apply to featherweights, as there really is no significant difference between a 5'5", 126 Lb fighter in 1947, versus a 5'5" 126 Lb fighter in 2007. What's more, guys back then fought sometimes as often as 15 times per year, and had well over 60 fights before getting title shots. Today, boxers may not even reach 60 fights over the course of an entire career. They also don't box in 15 round matches anymore. Lastly, despite the globalization of more featherweights, you still don't have as many licensed fighters in 2007, as you did in 1947, hence the exploding of your myth about a great talent pool in today's world.

Good day sir.

 

I trained with Pep at Stillman's Gym in New York and the Fifth Street Gym in Miami, and saw him fight live in the 1940s, till the end of his career. No "old-school hack" has to puff him up for me; I saw his brilliance first hand. Watching Willie was a religious experience.

Pep was to boxing what Barishnikov is to dance. That's why he's a "legend," BR.

 

:happy :happy :happy :happy :happy :happy :happy

Please tell us more, john garfield!

 

Well, why don't you test your theory. Try horse racing. How many colts were foaled this year compared to 35 to 40 years ago. If there were more, than the best horse from this year is clearly better than Secretariat back in 1972 or 1973. You think so?
The talent pool in horse racing between 1974 and 2007, covering many years, is certainly larger than the talent pool was which produced Secretariat, but Secretariat still holds the records in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. Is this a fly in the ointment for your theory?

 

Except that, when making head to head comparisons, we assume perfect steroid testing will be observed in the lead-up to the contest, or that the old-timers will be permitted to abuse steroids to the same degree that the modern guys can.

Then again, the fact that many old-time pre-steroid fighters STILL look better on film than fighters from an era where steroids are widely available speaks volumes, wouldn't you say?