Hey cple-- re: Willie Pep

[HomicideHank]

I've heard for years how Willie Pep was the "Will 'o the Wisp" , one of the finest defensive fighters ever. But any footage I've ever seen (about 6 fights), I really wasn't all that impressed with his defense.


I understand he had about 240 fights, so maybe I caught footage from the tail end of his career. How bad did the accident he had alter his style or abilities?

I'm just really interested on your take, because from what I've seen (which admittedly isn't jack), I just didn't see the wizard all the oldtimers fawned upon.

[cple]

To my knowledge, there isn't any footage of Pep in his prime or prior to his crash. If there is, i haven't seen it or it's extremely rare. However, from most eye witness accounts, Pep was noticeably lesser fighter than he was at his peak. Still, he was great enough to beat some of the best lightweight fighters of his time.

[realtim]

He withstood Sandy Saddler beat him aswell.
Lost the other fights though that they had.
Pep was a great fighter though

[Prorock]

I think that Pep is one of the best boxers in the history of boxing. His defence was perfect...

[SBleeder]

This is the oldest thread I could find... so I bumped it.