Today is a special day for hardcore fight fans as we mark the anniversary of the birth of one of boxing’s singular talents, the greatest featherweight of all-time, and a true ring original, Willie Pep. And while Pep passed on to the big squared circle in the sky back in 2006, he will never be forgotten and we are happy to take advantage of any excuse to pay tribute to his extraordinary skills and ring record. When Guglielmo Papaleo finally retired in 1960, he had amassed an amazing 229 victories against only eleven defeats and one draw. It remains one of the most impressive records in all of pugilism, testifying to Pep’s astonishing talent.
And while being incredibly prolific, Pep in fact suffered defeat only once during his prime, that being by decision to the naturally bigger Sammy Angott in a non-title match in 1943. He had won the world featherweight title in 1942 and would hold it for six years before losing to fellow all-time great Sandy Saddler. When he answered the bell for that match, his record stood at an amazing 134 wins against one draw and a single defeat. And in one of the greatest performances in boxing history, he regained the title from Saddler by decision the following year, before losing twice more to his legendary rival. He went on to compete for another decade and when he finally retired, he was universally hailed as one of the most talented and creative artists the ring had ever seen.
No doubt Pep’s success and astonishing longevity had much to do with his ring intelligence, his skill at controlling the action and avoiding punishment. Here, analyst Lee Wylie, in another of his superb videos, details how Pep’s mastery of timing, movement, footwork and in-fighting, allowed him to neutralize his opponents’ efforts, rendering them offensively ineffectual. It was such technique and ring sophistication which earned Pep the nickname, “The Will o’the Wisp,” and made him a true boxing legend. Check it out:
