Let’s check out former two-time world Featherweight champion preventing from 1940 to 1966 Willie ‘Will o’ the Wisp’ Pep, additionally successful the world Junior Light-weight title.
From Rocky Hill, Connecticut, Pep as soon as advised middleweight world champion Rocky Graziano, “You couldn’t hit me with a fist stuffed with stones!”
Pep made his debut in July of 1940 successful his first sixty-two fights earlier than tasting defeat. In July of 1942 he gained his forty-fourth straight battle successful his first title defeating Abe “The Boston String Bean” Denner (33-15-1) over 12 rounds for the USA New England Featherweight title.
Pep gained his fifty-fourth straight battle, defeating former world featherweight champion Chalky Wright, 142-34-18, over 15 rounds for the NYSAC Featherweight title.
In March of 1943 Pep suffered his first loss, to Sammy Angott, 69-17-5, at Madison Sq. Backyard, in a non-title bout after sixty-two straight wins.
In April, he defeated future NBA world featherweight champion Sal “Pleasure of East Boston” Bartolo, 45-14-6, by break up choice, and two fights later by choice. Later in April, he defeated Jackie Wilson, 90-24-8, over 12 rounds.
In 1944, Pep defeated former world bantamweight champion Manuel Ortiz, 58-11-2. The next month defeated Lulu Costantino (88-11-6). In September and December, he once more defeated Chalky Wright.
In December of 1945 Pep fought a draw with Jimmy McAllister, 39-16. In March of 1946 he knocked out McAllister. In June added the NBA title defeating Bartolo, 71-17-6. In September stopped Lefty LaChance, 123-42-17.
In August of 1947, Pep gained the world Featherweight title knocking out Jock Leslie, 58-9-4, in 12 rounds. In October of 1948, he misplaced his title to Sandy Saddler, 86-6-2, by knockout at Madison Sq. Backyard. 4 months later, he defeated Saddler to regain the title in 1949 Ring Journal’s Struggle of the Yr.
Pep made defenses, stopping Eddie Compo, 57-1-3, knocking out Charley Riley, 57-11-2, and defeating Ray Famechon, 59-5.
In September of 1950, of their third assembly, Pep misplaced to Saddler by stoppage at Yankee Stadium, dropping to 152-3-1.
In February of 1952, Pep gained the World Junior Light-weight title knocking out Diego Sosa, 74-26-8, in Havana, Cuba. In February of 1955, he once more gained the world Featherweight title, defeating Teddy Davis, 63-50-5, at MSG.
In a title protection Pep stopped Filipino Flash Elorde, 30-9-2. In January of 1959, he retired with a document of 220-9-1 after a pair of defeats. He got here again six years later, successful 9 straight earlier than shedding, ending with a document of 229-11-1, at age 43.
In 1990, Pep was inducted into the Boxing Corridor of Fame and Worldwide Boxing Corridor of Fame.
