By Don Colgan
He was the greatest ringman of his time, rivaled only by Sugar Ray Robinson. His career comprised a full generation, from 1940 to 1966, a full 26 years. His 230 victories is an incomprehensible number today, when titles are defending twice a year and a full ring career often consists of between 30 and 40 contests.
Consider Pep’s knockout percentage. 65 of his triumphs were inside the distance, a 28% KO ratio. In his ring prime, he was never considered a belter. He was a flawless ring artist who delivered a hail of jabs, crosses, uppercuts and left hooks for every imaginable angle. Yet the amount of knockouts Pep registered would amount to two careers today.
He fought three, sometimes four times a month. Often twice a week. The Hartford belter won his first 62 bouts before bowing to Sammy Angott in a non title bout over the ten round distance at New York. To analyze his year to year record, from 1942 to 1950, the number of victories and the sheer volume of bouts Pep engaged in is staggering. Remember, this was during and immediately followed World War II. The caliber of Pep’s opposition ranged typically from the seasoned club fighter to consistent world class opposition. He was frequently extended to the eight or ten round distance and engaged in many punishing bouts.
Pep fought 22 times in 1941 and 24 times in 1942, a staggering 43 matches in two years. Consider Joe Frazier’s career record of 32 wins, four defeats and one draw. Pep fought more in two years than Joe did in 11. At age twenty he defeated Chalky Wright to gain the world’s featherweight crown. After the Angott defeat, Willie reeled off 73 consecutive victories, surviving a near fatal plane crash in 1947, and brought an unfathomable 134-1-1 ledger into the ring when he defended his championship against a decided underdog, young Sandy Saddler.
Willie was fully capable of astonishing feats inside the four square. Non more remarkable than round three of a bout against a formidable contender, Jackie Graves in Minneapolis in 1945. Pep was in the mood to put his ring prowess on full display that evening, and decided to accomplish this by boxing an entire round without throwing a single punch. Pep eluded the dangerous southpaw at every turn in the third heat, maneuvering Graves at will and producing a dazzling display of speed and élan. ‘Now you see me, now you don’t” he seemed to say as Graves flailed helplessly after Pep. Willie was awarded the round on all three scorecards, without deigning to throw a single blow.
Saddler was a very underrated boxer at the time he stepped into the ring against Pep in October 1948. His upper body was that of a welterweight and his left jab was a scissor, capable of ripping an opponent’s face to shreds. Besides, Sandy was a deadly puncher, capable of inflicting a brutal body attach to lower an opponents guard, to be followed by
a finishing barrage to the head that usually spelled finis’.
However, Pep’s glittering record and worldwide recognition as perhaps the pound for pound best in the world earned him the position of overwhelming favorite for his championship defense against Saddler. However, that night he decided to adopt a tactic that another great ringman, Sugar Ray Leonard, would attempt 32 years later in Montreal against the great Roberto Duran. He decided to punch with Saddler and managed to hold his own over the first two heads. Than Sandy began a crushing assault on Pep’s midsection followed by a series of smashing left hooks to Pep’s jaw. Pep was down several times and knocked out in round four.
Four months later, on February 11, 1949, Pep again faced Saddler in their epic return. This time, in the unusual role of challenger and now an underdog as well, the “Will O’ The Wisp” saw his finest hour. Saddler came to punch and was intent on stopping Willie for a second time. Pep rained blows on Saddler’s head over the first five rounds, building a solid points lead. As the fight progressed their were similarities to Duran-Leonard I as Saddler punched his way back into the fight, hurting Willie in the 9th round as applying savage pressure as the contest entered the championship rounds. Yet Pep’s remarkable work rate, speed and heart were too formidable to be overcome. He regained the Featherweight crown via a clear cut though difficult unanimous decision.
Pep made several defenses of his featherweight crown as Saddler had to wait his turn for a year and a half. Willie was no more than even money, even a slight underdog to the active and very dangerous Saddler. Fight fans didn’t know what to expect. Willie, however, had lost a bit of his edge after his title winning effort in their second bout. Saddler was entering his prime and the great Pep was gradually leaving his behind.
The third and fourth Pep-Sandler bouts were a testimony to brutality as the two rivals fouled each other savagely, both ending up on the canvas in their fourth bout. Saddler regained the title via an 8th round TKO, decking Pep in the third round yet falling slightly behind through the middle sessions. The manhandling the more frail Pep absorbed at the hands of Sandler resulted in a dislocated shoulder and the crown went back to Sandy.
Their fourth bout saw Pep brawl. It was competitive and Willie could have regained the title a second time. He out punched Sandy on numerous occasions yet seemed to have lost much of his ring guile. He had no choice but to fight Sandy’s fight and Pep did not have the physical constitution to overpower Saddler. He again retired prematurely, after round nine, due to a lacerated optic. Pep’s championship days were over.
The Pep Sandler bouts became lore, representing boxing in it’s golden era. A time where battlers fought three times a month and every contender in the top ten was a force to be reckoned with. What Willie achieved during the over extended ring career will never be rivaled. Not in any sport. Baseball, football, hockey, horse racing, tennis. A career record of 230 victories, 11 defeats and one draw.
242 bouts during his career. Over seven times the amount fought by the great Frazier. Was it quality, or quantity? The answer, it was a lot of both. Willie was the featherweight equivalent of Muhammad Ali. Did he fight too long? Yes, he did.
Was he among the top ten fighters, pound for pound, of all time. Yes, he was!