Happy birthday Willie Pep

[JAB5239]

Willie Pep would have been 95 years old today. One of my greatest pleasures was meeting and speaking to him after he sat down with myself and my friends during a fight at Foxwoods casino. RIP Willie!!

[Ray Corso]

One of my mentors in regards to techniques and corner management. Everyone from Connecticut from Bridgeport to New Haven to Hartford from 1965 forward learned something from the Champ. He was personable and deadly honest, he didn't pull punches and you got a straight answer from him.

One of the greatest "pure boxer" that ever lived if not THE greatest!

H.B. Will of the Wisp!

Ray

[The Old LefHook]

No doubt about it, Willie always makes the top 5 AT for pure boxing ability, even now. Young fans could watch a few of his matches and see Willie performing all kinds of techniques they thought Mayweather invented. Like Mayweather, he was so good he didn't even need a big punch to draw huge crowds. Boxing fans do love artistry, as long as it rises to the level of wizardry.

The Hall Of The Greats is not such a gentle place, so I do not know how peacefully Willie is resting. Old pugs will bicker and sometimes brawl. I am not sure they act much differently in their heavenly hall. The place is something like Valhalla, I hear. Willie sits at First Table, if the place is really heaven, for heaven would judge fairly. Robinson, Willie and ten others sit at First Table, and you can guess who most of them are.

[OctoberRed]

I remember a few historians debating long ago on the myth of Pep winning a round without throwing a single punch and just using defense. I think some of them were calling BS.

[JAB5239]

I remember a few historians debating long ago on the myth of Pep winning a round without throwing a single punch and just using defense. I think some of them were calling BS.

It's just a myth if I remember correctly. What was probably meant but got twisted may have been he could have won the round without throwing a punch. Guesswork on my part though.

[Anthony342]

Anyone who wants to improve defense should study Pep, Locche and Whitaker.

[ShoulderRoll]

Anyone who wants to improve defense should study Pep, Locche and Whitaker.

And Mayweather.

[NChristo]

Anyone who wants to improve defense should study Pep, Locche and Whitaker.

Probably better to start with someone like Starling, starting with either of them 3 or Mayweather is an easy way to get hurt.

[OctoberRed]

It's just a myth if I remember correctly. What was probably meant but got twisted may have been he could have won the round without throwing a punch. Guesswork on my part though.

That's what I saw a few historians say about it.