Willie Pep would have been 90 years old today. I had the honor of meeting this great fighter at Foxwoods casino a few years before he passed away. I was at a Vinny Pazienza fight and he walked by the table I was sharing with several friends so I stopped him to introduce myself and shake his hand. He was such a gracious man he sat down with us for about 15 minutes to talk. We didn't talk much boxing, he instead wanted to know about each of us. To this day I still think that was one of the coolest moments of my life, for one of the greatest fighters ever to take a personal interest in MY life. I have no illusions and am sure he forgot about me shortly later, but he gave me an everlasting memory. Happy birthday and rest in peace champ! Anyone else have any stories about this all time great?
Never shook his hand, but in 1943 at MSG I saw the greatest exhibition of boxing I ever saw...Willie Pep who had won 58 fights in a row,and was in his great prime beat a Lightweight contender Allie Stolz in a 10 round bout winning every round...My dad and the crowd were in awe of Pep that night as he was impossible to hit, and Allis Stolz was a heck of a 135 pound boxer himself...Pep "anticipated" his opponents next move,and the nickname, "will of the wisp" fit him like a glove....This Willie Pep would have beaten Sandy Saddler handily I am convinced...
S, where have I gone wrong ?atsch P.S. THIS Pep [1943] had to be seen to be believed...No hyperbole !...