Willie Pep

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Willie Pep
Willie Pep.jpg
Statistics
Real nameGuglielmo Papaleo
Nickname(s)Will o' the Wisp
Weight(s)Featherweight
Height5 ft 5 in (165 cm)
Reach68 in (173 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born(1922-09-19)September 19, 1922
Middletown, Connecticut, United States
DiedNovember 23, 2006(2006-11-23) (aged 84)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights241
Wins229
Wins by KO65
Losses11
Draws1
No contests0

Guglielmo Papaleo (September 19, 1922 – November 23, 2006) was an American professional boxer, better known as Willie Pep who held the World Featherweight championship twice between the years of 1942 and 1950. Pep boxed a total of 1,956 rounds in the 241 bouts during his 26-year career, a considerable number of rounds and bouts even for a fighter of his era. His final record was 229–11–1 with 65 knockouts. Pep, known for his speed, finesse and elusiveness, is considered to be one of the best fighters of the 20th century; after his 199th win, Kid Campeche described his experience by saying, "Fighting Willie Pep is like trying to stomp out a grass fire."[1] Pep was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Pep was voted as the No. 1 featherweight of the 20th century by the Associated Press[2] and ranked the No. 1 featherweight of all-time by the in 2005.[3] He is currently ranked by BoxRec as the 31st greatest pound-for-pound fighter of all time.[4]

Boxing career[]

Amateur career[]

Pep first fought as an amateur in 1937. At the time, amateur boxers from Connecticut were allowed to fight for money. It was during the Great Depression and Pep's father was earning $15 per week at the Works Progress Administration. Pep worked as a shoeshine boy in downtown Hartford alongside Johnny Duke. Both boys joined a gym together and became sparring partners. Willie was soon earning more in one night of fighting each week. When his parents found out he was boxing, his mother was worried for him, but his father said that if he was making so much fighting on Fridays, maybe he should see about fighting on Tuesdays as well. "My old man, he was a sports fan" Pep later quipped.[5]

In 1938 Pep fought Sugar Ray Robinson in the attic of a feed store in Norwich, Connecticut.[6] According to Pep's later telling, Robinson was an amateur champion in the state of New York, where amateurs were not paid, so he took a pseudonym to get bouts for money in Connecticut. Because of this, Pep did not know who he was fighting at the time. Before the fight he was told his unknown opponent was not good, but he recalls quickly learning otherwise once the bout began and Robinson was "all over me".[7]

Professional career[]

Pep started boxing professionally on July 10, 1940, beating James McGovern by a decision in four rounds in Hartford, Connecticut. Like many boxers of the first half of the 20th century, Pep concentrated his early fighting career on boxing in New England, and he split his first 25 contests between Connecticut and Massachusetts. He was undefeated during that span and for fight number 26, he finally headed west, beating Eddie Flores by a knockout in the first round at Thompsonville, Michigan. A couple of fights later, he travelled further west and made his California debut, beating Billy Spencer by a decision in four rounds at Los Angeles.

By the time Pep stepped up his quality of opposition he was undefeated at 41–0, and met world title challenger Joey Archibald in 1942. He beat Archibald by a decision in ten rounds and, in his next bout, challenged Abe Denner for the New England-area featherweight title. He won the fight by a decision in 12, and his status among the world's top featherweights continued to climb. He won ten more bouts to reach 52–0, including a rematch win over Archibald, before he was given his first world championship try, in October. He became the World Featherweight Champion by outpointing the defending world champ Chalky Wright over the 15 round distance. He fought twice more to finish the year, winning both by knockout.

Pep began 1943 by winning six bouts in a row to find himself with a record of 62–0. But in his seventh bout of 1943, he suffered his first defeat, at the hands of Sammy Angott, another world champion boxer. Angott beat Pep over the ten round distance, by decision. Ten days later, Pep was back in the ring, beating Bobby McIntyre by a decision. He closed 1943 winning five fights in a row, including two over future world champion Sal Bartolo and one over Jackie Wilson. The second win over Bartolo was in a defense of the world title.

Nineteen forty-four was a very good year for Pep. He won all 16 of his bouts that year, including wins over bantamweight champions Willie Joyce and Manuel Ortiz. He fought and beat Wright two more times, with Pep's featherweight title on the line once. He also made his first fight abroad, beating fringe contender Jackie Lemus in Canada.

On June 6, 1944, he fought near featherweight contender, and rated lightweight Julie Kogon before a record crowd of 7,751 in an extraordinary bout in Hartford, Connecticut, and won soundly in an eight round decision. Pep was given eight rounds by one of the judges.[8][9][10]

He had eight fights in 1945, winning seven and drawing one. He beat former world champion Phil Terranova to retain the title, and had a ten-round draw with Jimmy McAllister.

In 1946, Pep had 18 fights, and won all of them, including a 12-round knockout of Bartolo and a three-round knockout of Wright. He had a six-fight knockout win streak during a span that year.

Despite being severely injured in a plane crash on January 5, Pep fought 10 bouts in 1947, again going undefeated. Many thought he had lost something as a fighter, especially after unexpectedly struggling in fights against Archie Wilmer (Pep won a majority decision) and Pedro Biesca (Pep was floored in the fourth round). He defended the world featherweight belt once that year, knocking out Jock Leslie in twelve rounds at Flint, Michigan.

Nineteen forty-eight was a year that would become important in Pep's life: He won 15 bouts before going into what would be the first fight of his four-fight series with Sandy Saddler. He retained the title by beating Humberto Sierra by a knockout in 10 and he beat former world champion Paddy DeMarco, also in ten, but by decision. Then, on October 29, he lost the world featherweight title to Saddler in a fourth-round knockout.

After two wins, he and Saddler met in 1949. On their rivalry's second installment, Pep recovered the World Featherweight Championship by beating Saddler in a 15-round decision, and then he engaged in a series of exhibition and ten round bouts before defending the crown against Eddie Campo, winning by a knockout in the seventh. He finished that year beating former bantamweight champion Harold Dade by a decision in ten at St. Louis.

In 1950, he won nine fights before meeting Saddler for a third time. Those nine bouts included defenses against Charlie Riley, knocked out in five, and France's Ray Famechon, beaten by decision in 15. Then came the third fight with Saddler. Pep once again lost his World Featherweight Championship to Saddler, being unable to come out for the eighth round due to a separated shoulder suffered at the end of the seventh round. Pep was ahead on all scorecards (5–2, 5–2, 4–2).[11]

Nineteen fifty-one brought a hint of controversy to Pep's life. He won eight bouts in a row to start the year, but his ninth bout, the last chapter of the rivalry with Saddler, was his most important bout that year. Pep quit because blood from his right eye was bothering him. According to Nat Fleischer in The Ring, December 1951, this was an extremely dirty fight, with "wrestling, heeling, eye gouging, tripping, thumbing- in fact every dirty trick known to the old timers..." Referee Ray Miller "let the bout get out of hand..." "The pattern of the 'contest' never varied. Pep wouldn't make a fight of it and Sandy couldn't. Pep too frequently backed around the ring and Saddler just as often missed as he kept boring in trying to corner his man. Then when he did, the rowdy tactics got under way and ended only when either both were sprawled on the canvas still wrestling each other, or the referee was outside the ring trying pull the boys apart or both fighters and official were entangled in a pretzel formation on the ring floor." Pep was ahead on the scorecards of the officials after eight rounds, but he quit after nine rounds, "declaring he no longer could continue because of severe pains caused by a deep cut over the right eye."[12]

In 1952, Pep had 12 fights, winning 11. He was knocked out in six by Tommy Collins, but also held two wins over Billy Lima that year.

Pep won all 11 fights in 1953, and entered 1954 on a 17-fight winning streak. After beating David Seabrooke by a decision, he lost to fringe contender Lulu Perez by TKO after a delayed reaction to a punch. Pep ended up winning three more bouts before the end of the year.

Pep went on boxing for five more years, retiring in 1960, and then he came back in 1964 and boxed for two more years. During that last period of his boxing career, he won 43 bouts and lost only five, but his only opponent of note during that time was Hogan Kid Bassey, a future World Featherweight Champion who knocked Pep out in nine rounds. Pep boxed in Caracas, Venezuela, losing to Sonny Leon by a decision in 10, and in his last fight, in 1966, he lost to Calvin Woodland by a decision in six.

Pep had a record of 229 wins, 11 losses and one draw, with 65 wins by knockout.

Post-career[]

After retiring, he and Saddler were involved in a series of exhibition bouts, and in 1980, Pep sued Sports Illustrated for running a story suggesting that he threw his fight with Perez. Pep lost the lawsuit, the jury deliberating just 15 minutes.[13]

Pep remained active in boxing after hanging up the gloves, serving as an inspector and referee.

In 1977, Pep was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.

As of March 2006, Pep resided at a nursing home in Connecticut, suffering from dementia pugilistica, before his death on November 23, 2006.[14] He is buried in Rocky Hill, CT. He left four children, William "Billy" Papaleo, Mary Papaleo, Michael Papaleo and Melissa Papaleo, and three stepchildren, April, L.J., Holly Miller and Brian Boduch (husband).[15]

Honors[]

In 1945, Pep was voted Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine.

He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its inaugural year of 1990.

Pep was ranked sixth on Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years in 2002. Pep was also named the third greatest fighter of all time by Bert Sugar.

Pep was ranked 5th on ESPN's 50 Greatest Boxers Of All Time list in 2007.

Willie Pep was voted as the Greatest Featherweight Ever by the Houston Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2014. The HBHOF is a voting body composed totally of current and former fighters.

"No-punch" round[]

There are claims that Pep won the third round in his fight against Jackie Graves in a fight on July 25, 1946, without throwing a punch. The "no-punch" winning round is disputed; several contemporary newspaper articles make no mention of it,[16][17][18] and an account in The Minneapolis Star describes the third round as "toe to toe slugging with Pep inflicting his best punishment with a right to the body".[19] Pep supposedly tipped off a few ringside reporters before the bout and told them he would win the third round without throwing "a punch of anger."[20]

Professional boxing record[]

Professional record summary
241 fights 229 wins 11 losses
By knockout 65 6
By decision 164 5
Draws 1
Res. Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 229–11–1 United States Calvin Woodland UD 6 1966-03-16 United States City Arena, Richmond, Virginia, United States
Win 229–10–1 United States Ray Coleman KO 5 (8) 1965-10-25 United States Tucson, Arizona, United States
Win 228–10–1 Mexico Sergio Musquiz TKO 5 (10) 1965-10-14 United States Sportatorium, Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Win 227–10–1 United States Tommy Haden TKO 3 (10) 1965-10-04 United States Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win 226–10–1 United States Willie Little TKO 3 (10) 1965-10-01 United States War Memorial Arena, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States
Win 225–10–1 United States Johnny Gilmore UD 6 1965-09-28 United States Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win 224–10–1 Canada Benny Red Randall UD 10 1965-07-26 Canada Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Win 223–10–1 United States Johnny Gilmore UD 6 1965-05-21 United States Crystal Arena, Norwalk, Connecticut, United States
Win 222–10–1 United States Jackie Lennon UD 6 1965-04-26 United States Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win 221–10–1 United States Harold McKeever UD 8 1965-03-11 United States Little River Auditorium, Miami, Florida, United States
Loss 220–10–1 Venezuela Sonny Leon UD 10 1959-01-26 Venezuela Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
Loss 220–9–1 Nigeria Hogan Bassey TKO 9 (10) 1958-09-20 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 220–8–1 United States Al Duarte UD 10 1958-08-26 United States Glovers Bowl, North Adams, Massachusetts, United States
Win 219–8–1 United States Jesse Rodriguez UD 10 1958-08-09 United States Painesville, Ohio, United States
Win 218–8–1 Puerto Rico Luis Carmona UD 10 1958-08-04 United States Presque Isle, Maine, United States
Win 217–8–1 United States Bobby Bell UD 10 1958-07-17 United States Norwood, Massachusetts, United States
Win 216–8–1 United States Bobby Soares UD 10 1958-07-01 United States Memorial Hall], Athol, Massachusetts, United States
Win 215–8–1 Republic of Ireland Pat McCoy UD 10 1958-06-23 United States Sargent Field, New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States
Win 214–8–1 United States Bobby Singleton UD 10 1958-05-20 United States Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 213–8–1 United States Jimmy Kelly UD 10 1958-04-29 United States Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 212–8–1 Puerto Rico Cleo Ortiz UD 10 1958-04-14 United States Arcadia Ballroom, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win 211–8–1 United States George Stephany UD 10 1958-04-08 United States Bristol, Connecticut, United States
Win 210–8–1 United States Prince Johnson UD 10 1958-03-31 United States Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
Loss 209–8–1 United States Tommy Tibbs SD 10 1958-01-14 United States Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 209–7–1 United States Jimmy Connors UD 10 1957-12-17 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 208–7–1 United States Russell Tague UD 10 1957-07-23 United States Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, United States
Win 207–7–1 United States Manny Castro UD 10 1957-07-16 United States Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, United States
Win 206–7–1 United States Manny Castro UD 10 1957-05-10 United States Memorial Stadium, Florence, South Carolina, United States
Win 205–7–1 Mexico Cesar Morales UD 10 1957-04-23 United States War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
Win 204–7–1 United States Hector Bacquettes TKO 5 (10) 1956-07-04 United States Roosevelt Stadium, Lawton, Oklahoma, United States
Win 203–7–1 United States Russell Tague UD 10 1956-06-19 United States Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Win 202–7–1 United States Manuel Armenteros RTD 6 (10) 1956-05-22 United States San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win 201–7–1 United States Jackie Blair UD 10 1956-04-17 United States State Theatre, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 200–7–1 United States Buddy Baggett UD 10 1956-03-27 United States Sportatorium, Beaumont, Texas, United States
Win 199–7–1 Mexico Kid Campeche UD 10 1956-03-16 United States Tampa, Florida, United States
Win 198–7–1 United States Andy Arel UD 10 1955-12-28 United States Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Win 197–7–1 United States Leo Carter TKO 4 (8) 1955-12-13 United States Houston, Texas, United States
Win 196–7–1 United States Pappy Gault UD 10 1955-11-29 United States Tampa, Florida, United States
Win 195–7–1 United States Charley Titone UD 10 1955-10-10 United States Maple Arena, Brockton, Massachusetts, United States
Win 194–7–1 United States Pappy Gault UD 10 1955-09-27 United States Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
Win 193–7–1 United States Jimmy Ithia TKO 6 (10) 1955-09-13 United States Hedges Stadium, Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States
Win 192–7–1 United States Hector Rodriguez UD 10 1955-07-12 United States Hedges Stadium, Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States
Win 191–7–1 United States Mickey Mars TKO 7 (10) 1955-06-14 United States Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Win 190–7–1 United States Joey Cam TKO 3 (10) 1955-06-01 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 189–7–1 United States Gil Cadilli UD 10 1955-05-18 United States Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Loss 188–7–1 United States Gil Cadilli SD 10 1955-03-30 United States San Francisco, California, United States
Win 188–6–1 United States Charley Titone UD 10 1955-03-22 United States Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
Win 187–6–1 United States Merrill Olmstead UD 10 1955-03-11 United States Bennington, Vermont, United States
Win 186–6–1 Puerto Rico Mario 'Eladio' Colon UD 10 1954-11-01 United States Daytona Beach, Florida, United States
Win 185–6–1 Canada Til LeBlanc UD 10 1954-08-18 Canada Moncton Arena, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
Win 184–6–1 United States Mike Tourcotte UD 10 1954-07-24 United States Hartwell Field, Mobile, Alabama, United States
Loss 183–6–1 United States Lulu Perez TKO 2 (10) 1954-02-26 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win 183–5–1 United States Davey Seabrook UD 10 1954-01-19 United States Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Win 182–5–1 United States Tony Longo UD 10 1953-12-15 United States Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Win 181–5–1 Cuba Billy Lima KO 2 (10) 1953-12-08 United States City Auditorium, Houston, Texas, United States
Win 180–5–1 United States Davey Allen UD 10 1953-12-04 United States Legion Arena, West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
Win 179–5–1 United States Sonny Luciano UD 10 1953-11-21 United States Armory, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
Win 178–5–1 United States Pat Marcune TKO 10 (10) 1953-06-05 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win 177–5–1 United States Jackie Blair UD 10 1953-05-13 United States Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Win 176–5–1 United States Noel Paquette UD 10 1953-04-07 United States Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Win 175–5–1 United States Joey Gambino UD 10 1953-03-31 United States Tampa, Florida, United States
Win 174–5–1 Mexico Pepe Alvarez UD 10 1953-02-10 United States Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas, United States
Win 173–5–1 Canada Dave Mitchell UD 10 1953-01-27 United States Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Win 172–5–1 United States Billy Lauderdale UD 10 1953-01-19 The Bahamas Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
Win 171–5–1 Cuba Jorge Sanchez UD 10 1952-12-05 United States Legion Arena, West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
Win 170–5–1 United States Fabela Chavez UD 10 1952-11-19 United States Oakland Avenue Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
Win 169–5–1 United States Manny Castro TKO 5 (10) 1952-11-05 United States Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Win 168–5–1 Cuba Billy Lima UD 10 1952-10-20 United States Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Win 167–5–1 Canada Armand Savoie UD 10 1952-10-01 United States Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 166–5–1 United States Bobby Woods UD 10 1952-09-11 Canada Denman Auditorium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Win 165–5–1 Cuba Billy Lima UD 10 1952-09-03 United States Legion Field, Pensacola, Florida, United States
Loss 164–5–1 United States Tommy Collins TKO 6 (10) 1952-06-30 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 164–4–1 United States Claude Hammond UD 10 1952-05-21 United States Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Win 163–4–1 United States Buddy Baggett KO 5 (10) 1952-05-10 United States Eustis Park, Aiken, South Carolina, United States
Win 162–4–1 United States Kenny Leach UD 10 1952-05-05 United States Golden Park, Columbus, Georgia, United States
Win 161–4–1 United States Santiago Gonzalez UD 10 1952-04-29 United States Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, United States
Loss 160–4–1 United States Sandy Saddler RTD 9 (15) 1951-09-26 United States Polo Grounds, New York, New York, United States For NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring featherweight titles
Win 160–3–1 United States Corky Gonzales UD 10 1951-09-04 United States New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Win 159–3–1 Puerto Rico Jesus Compos UD 10 1951-06-04 United States Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Win 158–3–1 United States Eddie Chavez SD 10 1951-04-27 United States Cow Palace, Daly City, California, United States
Win 157–3–1 Mexico Baby Ortiz TKO 5 (10) 1951-04-17 United States Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
Win 156–3–1 United States Pat Iacobucci UD 10 1951-03-26 United States Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Win 155–3–1 United States Carlos Chavez UD 10 1951-03-05 United States Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Win 154–3–1 United States Eddie Webb TKO 2 (10) 1951-02-26 United States Legion Coliseum, Sarasota, Florida, United States
Win 153–3–1 United States Tommy Baker TKO 4 (10) 1951-01-30 United States Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Loss 152–3–1 United States Sandy Saddler RTD 8 (15) 1950-09-08 United States Yankee Stadium, New York, New York, United States Lost NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring featherweight titles
Win 152–2–1 United States Proctor Heinhold UD 10 1950-08-02 United States Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, United States
Win 151–2–1 United States Bobby Bell UD 10 1950-07-25 United States Griffith Stadium, Washington D.C., United States
Win 150–2–1 United States Bobby Timpson UD 10 1950-06-26 United States Outdoor Arena, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 149–2–1 United States Terry Young UD 10 1950-06-01 United States Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Win 148–2–1 Puerto Rico Asuncion Llanos KO 2 (10) 1950-05-15 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 147–2–1 United States Ray Famechon UD 15 1950-03-17 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring featherweight titles
Win 146–2–1 United States Jimmy Warren UD 10 1950-02-22 United States Miami, Florida, United States
Win 145–2–1 United States Roy Andrews UD 10 1950-02-06 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 144–2–1 United States Charley Riley KO 5 (15) 1950-01-16 United States Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring featherweight titles
Win 143–2–1 United States Harold Dade UD 10 1949-12-12 United States Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
Win 142–2–1 United States Eddie Compo TKO 7 (15) 1949-09-20 United States Municipal Stadium, Waterbury, Connecticut, United States Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring featherweight titles
Win 141–2–1 France Jean Mougin UD 10 1949-07-12 United States MacArthur Stadium, Syracuse, New York, United States
Win 140–2–1 United States Johnny LaRusso UD 10 1949-06-20 United States Century Stadium, West Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
Win 139–2–1 United States Al Pennino UD 10 1949-06-14 United States Wahconah Park, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, United States
Win 138–2–1 Puerto Rico Luis Ramos UD 10 1949-06-06 United States New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Win 137–2–1 United States Sandy Saddler UD 15 1949-02-11 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States Won NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring featherweight titles
Win 136–2–1 United States Teddy Davis UD 10 1949-01-17 United States Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
Win 135–2–1 United States Hermie Freeman UD 10 1948-12-20 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Loss 134–2–1 United States Sandy Saddler KO 4 (15) 1948-10-29 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States Lost NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring featherweight titles
Win 134–1–1 United States Johnny LaRusso UD 10 1948-10-19 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 133–1–1 United States Chuck Burton UD 8 1948-10-12 United States Jersey City, New Jersey, United States
Win 132–1–1 United States Paddy DeMarco UD 10 1948-09-10 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win 131–1–1 United States Johnny Dell TKO 8 (10) 1948-09-02 United States Municipal Stadium, Waterbury, Connecticut, United States
Win 130–1–1 United States Teddy Davis UD 10 1948-08-17 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 129–1–1 United States Teddy Davis UD 10 1948-08-03 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 128–1–1 United States Young Junior KO 1 (10) 1948-07-28 United States Utica, New York, United States
Win 127–1–1 United States Luther Burgess UD 10 1948-06-25 United States Flint, Michigan, United States
Win 126–1–1 Cuba Miguel Acevedo UD 10 1948-06-17 United States Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Win 125–1–1 Cuba Charley Cabey Lewis UD 10 1948-05-19 United States Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Win 124–1–1 United States Leroy Willis UD 10 1948-05-07 United States Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win 123–1–1 Cuba Humberto Sierra TKO 10 (15) 1948-02-24 United States Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida, United States Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring featherweight titles
Win 122–1–1 United States Joey Angelo UD 10 1948-01-19 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 121–1–1 United States Jimmy McAllister UD 10 1948-01-12 United States Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
Win 120–1–1 Mexico Pedro Biesca UD 10 1948-01-06 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 119–1–1 United States Lefty LaChance TKO 8 (10) 1947-12-30 United States Manchester, New Hampshire, United States
Win 118–1–1 Mexico Alvaro Estrada UD 10 1947-12-22 United States City Hall, Lewiston, Maine, United States
Win 117–1–1 United States Archie Wilmer MD 10 1947-10-27 United States Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win 116–1–1 Canada Jean Barriere KO 1 (10) 1947-10-21 United States Portland, Maine, United States
Win 115–1–1 United States Jock Leslie KO 12 (15) 1947-08-22 United States Atwood Stadium, Flint, Michigan, United States Retained NBA, NYSAC, and The Ring featherweight titles
Win 114–1–1 Cuba Humberto Sierra UD 10 1947-07-23 United States Auditorium Outdoor Arena, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 113–1–1 United States Paulie Jackson UD 10 1947-07-15 United States New Bedford, Massachusetts, United States
Win 112–1–1 Canada Jean Barriere KO 4 (10) 1947-07-11 United States North Adams, Massachusetts, United States
Win 111–1–1 United States Leo LeBron UD 8 1947-07-08 United States Crystal Arena, Norwalk, Connecticut, United States
Win 110–1–1 United States Joey Fontana KO 5 (10) 1947-07-01 United States Hawkins Stadium, Albany, New York, United States
Win 109–1–1 Mexico Victor Flores UD 10 1947-06-17 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 108–1–1 United States Chalky Wright KO 3 (10) 1946-11-27 United States Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Win 107–1–1 United States Tomas Beato KO 2 (10) 1946-11-15 United States State Armory, Waterbury, Connecticut, United States
Win 106–1–1 United States Paulie Jackson UD 10 1946-11-01 United States Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Win 105–1–1 United States Lefty LaChance TKO 3 (10) 1946-09-17 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 104–1–1 United States Walter Kolby TKO 5 (10) 1946-09-04 United States Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, United States
Win 103–1–1 United States Doll Rafferty KO 6 (10) 1946-08-26 United States Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Win 102–1–1 United States Jackie Graves TKO 8 (10) 1946-07-25 United States Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Win 101–1–1 United States Harold Gibson TKO 7 (10) 1946-07-10 United States Civic Stadium, Buffalo, New York, United States
Win 100–1–1 United States Sal Bartolo KO 12 (15) 1946-06-07 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States Retained NYSAC and The Ring featherweight titles;
Won NBA featherweight title
Win 99–1–1 United States Jimmy Joyce UD 8 1946-05-27 United States Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Win 98–1–1 Puerto Rico Jose Aponte Torres UD 10 1946-05-22 United States Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, United States
Win 97–1–1 United States Joey Angelo UD 10 1946-05-13 United States Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win 96–1–1 United States Ernie Petrone UD 10 1946-05-06 United States New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Win 95–1–1 United States Georgie Knox TKO 3 (10) 1946-04-08 United States Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win 94–1–1 United States Jackie Wilson UD 10 1946-03-26 United States Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Win 93–1–1 United States Jimmy McAllister KO 2 (10) 1946-03-01 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win 92–1–1 United States Jimmy Joyce UD 10 1946-02-13 United States Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, United States
Win 91–1–1 United States Johnny Virgo KO 2 (10) 1946-01-15 United States Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, United States
Draw 90–1–1 United States Jimmy McAllister MD 10 1945-12-13 United States Baltimore Garden, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Win 90–1 United States Harold Gibson UD 10 1945-12-05 United States Lewiston Armory, Lewiston, Maine, United States
Win 89–1 United States Eddie Giosa UD 10 1945-11-26 United States Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 88–1 Canada Mike Martyk TKO 5 (10) 1945-11-05 United States Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, United States
Win 87–1 United States Paulie Jackson UD 8 1945-10-30 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 86–1 United States Phil Terranova UD 15 1945-02-19 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States Retained NYSAC and The Ring featherweight titles
Win 85–1 United States Willie Roache UD 10 1945-02-05 United States New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Win 84–1 Canada Ralph Walton UD 10 1945-01-23 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 83–1 United States Chalky Wright UD 10 1944-12-05 United States Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Win 82–1 Puerto Rico Pedro Hernandez UD 10 1944-11-27 United States Uline Arena, Washington D.C., United States
Win 81–1 Cuba Charley Cabey Lewis UD 10 1944-11-14 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 80–1 United States Jackie Leamus UD 10 1944-10-25 Canada Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Win 79–1 United States Chalky Wright UD 15 1944-09-29 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States Retained NYSAC and The Ring featherweight titles
Win 78–1 Cuba Charley Cabey Lewis TKO 8 (10) 1944-09-19 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 77–1 United States Joey Peralta UD 10 1944-08-28 United States West Springfield, Massachusetts, United States
Win 76–1 United States Lulu Costantino UD 10 1944-08-04 United States Municipal Stadium, Waterbury, Connecticut, United States
Win 75–1 United States Manuel Ortiz UD 10 1944-07-17 United States Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 74–1 United States Willie Joyce UD 10 1944-07-07 United States Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 73–1 United States Julie Kogon UD 10 1944-06-06 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 72–1 Canada Joey Bagnato KO 2 (10) 1944-05-23 United States Buffalo, New York, United States
Win 71–1 United States Frankie Rubino UD 10 1944-05-19 United States Chicago, Illinois, United States
Win 70–1 United States Jackie Leamus UD 10 1944-05-01 United States Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win 69–1 United States Harold 'Snooks' Lacey UD 10 1944-04-20 United States New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Win 68–1 Panama Leo Francis UD 10 1944-04-04 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 67–1 United States Sal Bartolo UD 15 1943-06-08 United States Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, United States Retained NYSAC and The Ring featherweight titles
Win 66–1 United States Jackie Wilson UD 12 1943-04-26 United States Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Win 65–1 Mexico Angel Aviles UD 10 1943-04-19 United States Tampa, Florida, United States
Win 64–1 United States Sal Bartolo SD 10 1943-04-09 United States Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 63–1 United States Bobby McIntire UD 10 1943-03-29 United States Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Loss 62–1 United States Sammy Angott UD 10 1943-03-19 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win 62–0 United States Lou Transparenti KO 6 (10) 1943-03-02 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 61–0 United States Bill Speary UD 10 1943-02-15 United States Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Win 60–0 United States Davey Crawford UD 10 1943-02-11 United States Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Win 59–0 United States Allie Stolz UD 10 1943-01-29 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win 58–0 United States Bill Speary UD 10 1943-01-19 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 57–0 Italy Vince Dell'Orto UD 10 1943-01-04 United States New Orleans, Louisiana, United States
Win 56–0 Mexico Joey Silva RTD 9 (10) 1942-12-21 United States Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Win 55–0 Puerto Rico Jose Aponte Torres TKO 7 (10) 1942-12-14 United States Turner's Arena, Washington D.C., United States
Win 54–0 United States Chalky Wright UD 15 1942-11-20 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States Won NYSAC and The Ring featherweight titles
Win 53–0 United States George Zengaras UD 10 1942-10-27 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 52–0 United States Joey Archibald UD 10 1942-10-16 United States Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Win 51–0 United States Bobby McIntire UD 10 1942-10-05 United States Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
Win 50–0 Italy Vince Dell'Orto UD 10 1942-09-22 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 49–0 United States Frank Franconeri TKO 1 (8) 1942-09-10 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win 48–0 United States Bobby Ivy TKO 10 (10) 1942-09-01 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 47–0 United States Nat Litfin UD 10 1942-08-20 United States White City Stadium, West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Win 46–0 Puerto Rico Pedro Hernandez UD 10 1942-08-11 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 45–0 Mexico Joey Silva RTD 7 (8) 1942-08-01 United States Waterbury, Connecticut, United States
Win 44–0 United States Abe Denner UD 12 1942-07-21 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States Won United States New England featherweight title
Win 43–0 United States Joey Archibald UD 10 1942-06-23 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 42–0 United States Joey Iannotti UD 8 1942-05-26 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 41–0 United States Aaron Seltzer UD 8 1942-05-12 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 40–0 United States Curley Nichols UD 8 1942-05-04 United States New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Win 39–0 Canada Spider Armstrong KO 4 (8) 1942-04-14 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 38–0 United States Johnny Compo UD 8 1942-03-18 United States New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Win 37–0 United States Willie Roache UD 8 1942-02-24 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 36–0 Canada Angelo Callura UD 8 1942-02-10 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 35–0 United States Abie Kaufman UD 8 1942-01-27 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 34–0 United States Sammy Parotta UD 6 1942-01-16 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win 33–0 Mexico Mexican Joe Rivers TKO 4 (8) 1942-01-08 United States Fall River, Massachusetts, United States
Win 32–0 Puerto Rico Ruby Garcia UD 6 1941-12-12 United States Madison Square Garden, New York, New York, United States
Win 31–0 United States Davey Crawford UD 8 1941-11-24 United States Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
Win 30–0 United States Buddy Spencer UD 6 1941-11-07 United States Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, United States
Win 29–0 United States Connie Savoie TKO 2 (8) 1941-10-21 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 28–0 Mexico Carlos Manzano UD 8 1941-10-09 United States New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Win 27–0 United States Jackie Harris TKO 1 (8) 1941-09-25 United States New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Win 26–0 United States Eddie Flores KO 1 (8) 1941-08-11 United States Carpet City Arena, Thompsonville, Connecticut, United States
Win 25–0 United States Paul Frechette TKO 3 (6) 1941-08-05 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 24–0 United States Jimmy Gilligan UD 8 1941-07-15 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 23–0 United States Eddie DeAngelis TKO 3 (8) 1941-06-24 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 22–0 United States Harry Hintlian UD 6 1941-06-19 United States Manchester, Connecticut, United States
Win 21–0 United States Johnny Cockfield UD 6 1941-05-12 United States Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
Win 20–0 United States Lou Pugliese KO 2 (6) 1941-05-06 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 19–0 Mexico Joey Silva UD 6 1941-04-22 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 18–0 Puerto Rico Henry Vasquez UD 6 1941-04-14 United States Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
Win 17–0 United States Joey Gatto KO 2 (6) 1941-03-31 United States Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
Win 16–0 United States Marty Shapiro UD 6 1941-03-25 United States Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 15–0 Puerto Rico Ruby Garcia UD 6 1941-03-03 United States Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
Win 14–0 Puerto Rico Ruby Garcia UD 6 1941-02-17 United States Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
Win 13–0 United States Don Lyons KO 2 (6) 1941-02-10 United States Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
Win 12–0 United States Augie Almeda TKO 6 (6) 1941-01-28 United States New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Win 11–0 Puerto Rico Joe Echevarria UD 6 1941-01-13 United States Holyoke, Massachusetts, United States
Win 10–0 United States Jim Mutane KO 2 (6) 1940-12-06 United States New Britain, Connecticut, United States
Win 9–0 United States Frank Topazio TKO 5 (6) 1940-11-29 United States New Britain, Connecticut, United States
Win 8–0 United States Carlo Daponde TKO 6 (6) 1940-11-22 United States New Britain, Connecticut, United States
Win 7–0 United States Jimmy McAllister UD 4 1940-10-24 United States New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Win 6–0 United States Jimmy Riche TKO 3 (6) 1940-10-03 United States Randolph-Clowes Stadium, Waterbury, Connecticut, United States
Win 5–0 United States Jack Moore UD 6 1940-09-19 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 4–0 United States Joey Marcus UD 4 1940-09-05 United States Randolph-Clowes Stadium, Waterbury, Connecticut, United States
Win 3–0 United States Tommy Burns TKO 1 (4) 1940-08-29 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 2–0 United States Joey Wasnick KO 3 (4) 1940-08-08 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Win 1–0 United States Joey Marcus UD 4 1940-07-25 United States Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, United States

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Heinz, W.C., The Top of His Game, Library of America, 2015, pg 434
  2. ^ "AP Fighters of the Century List". Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  3. ^ "IBRO Rankings". Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  4. ^ "BoxRec ratings: world, pound-for-pound, active and inactive". BoxRec. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  5. ^ Pep, Willie and Robert Sacchi. (2008) "Willie Pep Remembers Friday's Heroes", 5–6. Arborhouse, Bloomington, IN. ISBN 978-1-4343-0182-6
  6. ^ Stanley, Bill. "The night Willie Pep fought Sugar Ray Robinson", "The Day", New London, 20 October 2002. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  7. ^ Pep, Willie and Robert Sacchi. (2008) "Willie Pep Remembers Friday's Heroes", 7. Arborhouse, Bloomington, IN. ISBN 978-1-4343-0182-6
  8. ^ "Willie Pep Gains Nod Over Kogon", Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, pg. 12, 7 June 1944
  9. ^ "Pep Outpoints Julie Kogon", Star-Gazette, Elmira, New York, pg. 11, 7 June 1944
  10. ^ Kogon was in the featherweight range at 130 in "Pep Defeats Julie Kogon", The Troy Record, Troy, New York, pg. 16, 7 June 1944
  11. ^ "Willie Pep vs. Sandy Saddler (3rd meeting)". BoxRec. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  12. ^ "Sandy Saddler vs. Willie Pep (4th meeting)". BoxRec. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  13. ^ Myler, Thomas (2006), The Sweet Science Goes Sour: How Scandal Brought Boxing To Its Knees, Vancouver: Greystone Books, p. 34, ISBN 1-55365-233-9
  14. ^ "Pep's Name Should Grace Front Street". HartfordInfo.org. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  15. ^ "Papaleo, William 'willie Pep'". Hartford Courant. November 25, 2006. Retrieved June 26, 2016.
  16. ^ "Graves, Pep hit Deck More Than Dozen Times". Dayton Herald. Minneapolis. UP. July 26, 1946. p. 23. Retrieved December 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Champion Ends Bout In Eighth". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Minneapolis. AP. July 26, 1946. p. 17. Retrieved December 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Lee, Bill (July 26, 1946). "Willie Pep Scores Knockout In Eighth Round Of Fight With Southpaw Jack Graves". Hartford Courant. Minneapolis. p. 15. Retrieved December 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Johnson, Charles (July 26, 1946). "Graves Kayoed in Eighth, But Sixth Rivals Firpo-Dempsey for Thrills". The Minneapolis Star. p. 11. Retrieved December 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. The third brought more toe to toe slugging with Pep inflicting his best punishment with a right to the body, but Jackie landed often enough to gain an even break.
  20. ^ Stradley, Don (April 2007), "Willie Pep: 1922–2006", The Ring, 86 (4): 71

External links[]

Achievements
Preceded by
Albert "Chalky" Wright
World Featherweight Champion
November 20, 1942 – October 29, 1948
Succeeded by
Sandy Saddler
Preceded by
Sandy Saddler
World Featherweight Champion
February 11, 1949 – September 8, 1950
Succeeded by
Sandy Saddler
Retrieved from ""