Willie Pep is often considered the standard by which masterful boxing is measured. When Floyd Mayweather Jr., himself a remarkable defensive genius, delivered a surgical masterclass against the dangerous Diego Corrales, HBO analyst Larry Merchant, captivated by the performance, remarked that Floyd reminded him of the legendary ‘Will-o-the-wisp’.
This was a compliment of the highest order. Pep was so masterful across every inch of the ring that the old story suggests he even won a round without throwing a single punch. While that tale might be more legend than truth, what is undeniably true is the incredible career Pep carved out.
Across 26 years, he competed in 241 professional fights, fighting nearly 2000 rounds. He won 229 times, scoring 65 knockouts, suffering 11 defeats, and fighting to one draw.
In 1942, at just 20 years old, Pep won the featherweight championship of the world, extending his record to an impressive 54-0. He would hold this title for much of the decade, achieving statistics that are almost unfathomable by today`s standards.
Between 1940 and 1950, many of the great fighters of the era across the smaller weight divisions found it nearly impossible to land a punch on his elusive figure. Legendary bantamweight champion Manuel Ortiz, who, like Pep, dominated the weight class below for much of that decade, challenged the defensive wizard at a catchweight.
Before these two all-time greats met at the peak of their careers, Pep had actually served as a sparring partner for Ortiz. Heading into their bout, both men were in formidable form. Despite their high rankings in their respective divisions, Pep effortlessly outboxed Ortiz. As reported by the Daily Record, `The Hartford Italian, thanks to his accurate left jabbing and fleet footwork, made his one-time employer look like a novice`.
This kind of dominance was a constant result in Pep’s fights throughout those years. Notable names like Sal Bartolo, Jackie Wilson, Phil Terranova, Joey Archibald, Chalky Wright, and Paddy De Marco were just a few of the many fighters who struggled to even touch him.
Boxing historian Bert Sugar recounts the famous story of Pep`s ‘no-punch round’ against Jackie Graves. Sugar states, ‘before the fight, Pep reportedly told ringside writers, “Watch me in the third round, I`m going to win the round without throwing a single punch.” And believe it or not – he would move in, feint, tie his opponent up, pivot away, start a punch but pull it back, or block and slip under attacks. And incredibly, on two of the three official scorecards, he was awarded the round without landing a blow.’
Just six months after that masterful performance against Graves, Pep would face an ordeal far more challenging than any opponent could present. In January 1957, he was on board a plane heading into a snowstorm, which crashed, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuring everyone else on board.
The severe injuries he sustained required him to wear a body cast, leading many to believe his career was over. Pep, however, determined to return, declined a $500,000 settlement and, astonishingly, returned to the ring just five months later, outpointing Victor Flores. Those at ringside could hardly believe it. The sport`s most elusive master demonstrated incredible determination. He would go on to fight 131 more times over the next 19 years.
His story alone is remarkable, but his greatness is further emphasized by the sheer volume of high-level fights he took part in and the statistics he compiled. Before the crash, his record stood at an astonishing 108-1-1 (37 KOs). He had won 62 consecutive fights before suffering his first defeat to the legendary Sammy Angott.
He responded to this setback with an immediate 72-fight unbeaten streak. This 72-fight run stretched across 1943-1948. Remarkably, this included winning 26 straight fights immediately following his return just five months after the devastating plane crash.
Even with a record of 134-1-1, the 26-year-old Pep had not yet faced his most renowned adversary, Sandy Saddler. Saddler was a formidable featherweight, possessing the physique of a Tommy Hearns but the relentless, aggressive style of a George Foreman. He towered over opponents and had an exceptionally long reach.
However, he rarely utilized his height advantage to fight from a distance; instead, he constantly pressed forward, overwhelming and bulldozing his smaller opponents. This style resulted in 104 knockouts out of 145 victories. Saddler`s brutal power and rugged style were inevitably going to pose problems for a fighter like Pep, and when the pair met for the first time in 1948, the stark contrast in their styles proved disastrous for Pep.
Saddler dominated Pep in their first encounter, dropping him multiple times before securing a fourth-round knockout to claim the featherweight title. The larger, more aggressive Saddler was simply too difficult a stylistic matchup for the ‘Will-o-the-Wisp’. Nearly a decade of dominance ended abruptly and violently. For Pep to have any chance against him, he needed to deliver a flawless performance. This challenge, however, is why Pep is held in such high regard – known for his technical perfection and ability to overcome adversity. In the rematch, he aimed for nothing less than perfection.
The second bout in their eventual four-fight series is often considered Pep`s masterpiece. In this fight, the man known for his near-unbreakable dominance proved he could indeed overcome a seemingly insurmountable challenge. The pair clashed four months after their first fight, with many believing Pep`s reign was over after his brutal defeat in October.
To everyone`s surprise, Pep came out aggressively, controlling the fight against his relentlessly aggressive opponent. He landed an incredible thirty-seven jabs in the first round alone, quickly making Saddler appear uncomfortable, a familiar sight for many of Pep`s foes. Although the lanky champion remained persistent and continued to press forward, Pep countered his attacks effectively and constantly.
Inevitably, Saddler`s relentless pressure started to take its toll, opening a cut on Pep`s cheek. However, Pep remained disciplined, sticking to his strategy throughout the grueling 15 rounds. The crowd erupted when the scorecards were read, announcing Pep as the new featherweight champion once more. This victory was perhaps the most significant of his career, making him only the second fighter in the division`s history to reclaim the title.
The two rivals would meet a total of four times, including one bout infamously dubbed ‘boxing’s dirtiest fight’. Saddler won three of the four contests. He proved to be an exceptionally challenging opponent for Pep.
Yet despite losing the overall rivalry, the battles against Saddler gave Pep the chance to demonstrate that beyond his technical brilliance, he possessed the heart to overcome tremendous obstacles, proving, as described by James P. Dawson, that he could ‘draw upon every ounce of strength in his compact little body’ to solidify his legacy as a boxing immortal.
Saddler`s dominance prevented Pep from holding a world title again after their third meeting in 1950. Nevertheless, during his final championship reign, before suffering the second defeat to Saddler, Pep had another impressive 20-month run, defeating notable fighters like future Hall of Famer Charley Riley and bantamweight champion Harold Dade during this period.
He continued fighting for another 16 years, although he couldn`t maintain the same level of flawless execution seen between 1940 and 1948. He still demonstrated a remarkable consistency over an incredible number of bouts, a feat few fighters have ever matched.
A testament to Pep`s defensive mastery and ability to minimize damage is that even in his later years, after so many tough fights in a demanding era, his interviews were still sharp and witty. Pep exemplified class both inside and outside the ring.
His final professional record stands at 229 wins, 11 losses, and one draw, with 65 knockouts. Willie Pep passed away in 2006 at the age of 84.
Oliver Croft