Willie Pep: “Hit the opposite man, however don’t let him damage you”

Does the title Guglielmo Papaleo ring a bell, battle followers? In all probability not. However should you’re over 50, possibly even should you’re in your 40s, likelihood is your head nods instinctively while you hear the title Willie Pep—a reputation that, based on 8 out of 10 boxing historians, belongs to the best featherweight to ever lace up the gloves.

We had been thumbing via the 1998 version of The Boxing File Ebook—as we regularly do when digging for forgotten gems or legendary figures to revisit—after we got here throughout Pep. Born Guglielmo Papaleo on September 19, 1922, in Middletown, Connecticut, the son of Italian immigrants went on to carve out a legacy few have rivaled.

Pep turned professional on July 25, 1940, at simply 17 years outdated, defeating Joey Marcus by choice. That night time marked the start of a profession that will span almost three a long time—with a six-year break between 1959 and 1965—and conclude on March 16, 1966, when he dropped a six-round choice to Calvin Woodland in Richmond, Virginia.

Amongst seasoned boxing scribes, there’s near-universal settlement: no 126-pounder earlier than or since can actually evaluate to Pep. He was a wizard within the ring—an unmatched mix of pace, footwork, ring IQ, and distance management. The Ring journal as soon as ranked him No. 6 on its listing of the best fighters of all time. He was often called “Will o’ the Wisp”, a moniker that described his elusive, ghostlike motion—consistently switching stances, slipping punches with uncanny head motion, and vanishing earlier than his opponents might land a glove.

Pep was a two-time featherweight champion who dominated the division for six years. Although not an influence puncher—definitely not on the extent of his archrival Sandy Saddler—he nonetheless stopped 65 of his 241 opponents. He retired with a report of 229 wins, 11 losses, and 1 draw, struggling simply six knockout defeats.

From his debut, Pep rattled off 62 straight wins earlier than tasting defeat for the primary time in opposition to former light-weight champion Sammy Angott on March 19, 1943. He responded by successful 28 extra, adopted by a draw with Jimmy McAllister in 1946, after which one other 41 consecutive victories. However in 1949, he suffered his first knockout loss—by the hands of Sandy Saddler, who took Pep’s world title in a brutal encounter. Pep had gained the belt in 1946 by outpointing Sal Bartolo. Saddler would go on to defeat Pep two extra instances by knockout in a bitter four-fight rivalry. Pep managed only one win—by choice.

As a result of Saddler gained three of their 4 grueling, bloody wars, some have argued that he, not Pep, deserves the featherweight crown in boxing historical past. It’s a debate that point hasn’t settled fully. Many imagine Pep was by no means fairly the identical after a near-fatal airplane crash in January 1947 close to Millville, New Jersey. He was touring for a bout when the airplane went down, killing round 20 folks. Pep survived—however with two fractured vertebrae and a damaged leg.

The person who famously mentioned, “Hit the opposite man as a lot as you’ll be able to, however don’t let him damage you”—boxing’s essence distilled right into a single line—handed away from Alzheimer’s illness on November 23, 2006, on the age of 84. In a wierd accident, his fiercest rival, Sandy Saddler, additionally succumbed to Alzheimer’s—on September 18, 2001.