Willie Pep in his prime

[TheGreatA]

... or atleast close to it, at 22 years of age against Ralph Walton who outweighed Pep by 12 pounds.

[El Dominicano]

... or atleast close to it, at 22 years of age against Ralph Walton who outweighed Pep by 12 pounds.

Great Video, His defense is better then I thought, only judging from that video.

[warp1432]

How did you find this?! Amazing work!

[warp1432]

Here's another video. I'm not sure if he's in his prime, but it was a featherweight title defense so I think he is. Pre Plane crash I think.

[LondonRingRules]

Here's another video. I'm not sure if he's in his prime, but it was a featherweight title defense so I think he is. Pre Plane crash I think.

** No, 3 yrs post crash and after the KO loss and FOY rematch win over Saddler.

What I enjoyed in the first video, early on Walton traps Pep in the corner and tries to wail on him as Willie jukes and jives. Then Pep leaps into Walton, locking his arms up, and releasing just as quick as he spins out with a nice little pop on his mug.

A note for Pea fans, Willie often dipped below the waist. Not clear what the rule was in the day, but I believe that's technically an illegal move in Pea's day that he got away with. The difference between Pep and Pea being Pep could be an offensive dynamo, whereas Pea wasted a lot of opportunity clowning.

Famechon is an superior fighter with excellent offensive style, but Willie is more an upright boxer now, less dipping, ducking, side to side and more controlling the pocket from the outside. Loved watching him spin the rushing Famechon out. He also could seamlessly lead from orthodox to southpaw off of his side to side defense which has to be frustrating as heck for a strong fighter trying to work his way in.

Pep was already at the 150 fight mark at this point after a long storied ama career, really showing his class. The infamous Saddler rubber is lurking in the near future. I think Saddler and his trainer must've studied Pep for a long time before they ever fought, because when Saddler traps him in the corner after another tough fight, he does the grabbing, locking up Pep, and then lifting his shoulders up and yanking down, dislocating one of his shoulders.

Easy way to win a fight over a superior, but weaker fighter.

Pretty much the end of Pep's total dominance, though he still campaigns a long time with a great deal of success, the ultimate testimony of ring craft for an aging fighter with little pop.

[Miburo]

Nice find, showing that trademark weaving coming in. Naito Daisuke is the only active fighter who still utilizes that kind of movement in a similar fashion.

[BennyST]

Ray Famechon was a pretty damn good fighter as well. He is also the father and trainer of the legendary Aussie fighter Johnny Famechon who was the world FW champion back in the late sixties, beating such greats as Jose Legre (for the title) and Fighting Harada twice. Great fighter, though Johnny Famechon fought a hell of a lot more like Pep than he did like Ray. Maybe Ray was so blown away that he taught his son more like Pep.

Famechon was one of the great defensive fighters of that time. Fought much as Pep did. Brilliant in the corners and had a great shoulder-roll.

[TheGreatA]

Willie Pep highlight:



It isn't that great but I tried to focus on showing more aspects of Pep's game (other than his defense which we all already know about), such as his quick handspeed and the jab.

Half of the video is dedicated to Pep's rivalry against Sandy Saddler.

[TheGreatA]

Same highlight in different style:

[warp1432]

Same highlight in different style:

Man....this video. I wish I could give you green K for this because it was absolutely beautiful. What was the fight where it showed mostly overtop ?