Interesting questions: Who was better defensively Willie Pep or Pernell Whitaker?

[DarkTerror88]

Im going Pep. I think it goes

Locche
Pep
Whitaker

its all very close though

[StarshipTrooper]

he looks pretty damn fast to me.

his footwork is ridiculous.

F l i c k e r is on record as saying no one knew how to fight prior to 1990 and athletes didn't exist before that time either :rolleyes9:

Poet

[Scott9945]

It could be Pep, but I've seen a lot more of Whitaker and was always amazed at his defensive skills.

[F l i c k e r]

F l i c k e r is on record as saying no one knew how to fight prior to 1990 and athletes didn't exist before that time either :rolleyes9:

Poet

i like that. going in directly, that's a first for you. typically you go indirectly. nice.

however, i already stated, maybe it's the camera work. so it could have just been the videos i watched.

either way. both are great defensively. it will simply come down to who you enjoy to watch.

[Wild Blue Yonda]

One thing nobody has yet touched on is the number of bouts they had. Whitaker would be hard-pressed to duplicate Pep's success over the same sustained number of bouts his predecessor had. I think that's a factor in Pep's favour.

Additionally, the victory over Saddler. Yes, Pep lost three of four, but people badly, badly under-estimate how diminished Pep was. Defeating Saddler (a Feather who knocked out three LW Champs), himself arguably the greatest 126lber who ever drew breath (a case can certainly be made), after those injuries *****s any single effort in Whitaker's comparatively brief career.

Now, that all said, I prefer Whitaker as both a fan favourite & a defensive guru. Pep was all reflexes & agility, & it was a marvel, but I find Whitaker's defense more impressive in a direct comparison, because the lack of movement & escape, coupled with such a high work-rate, were as unique to defensive fighters as Whitaker's patented moves. Whitaker was more flat-footed in his defense, & made himself appear more available to rivals, before vanishing as though he were a vapour trail. An astounding, astounding boxer.

I have to give it to Pep, all told, but Whitaker challenges him on this issue. I just wonder, among other things, if Whitaker could really sustain Pep's career workload. Seems highly unlikely, given his predilections for certain outer-ring activities.

[IronDanHamza]

One thing nobody has yet touched on is the number of bouts they had. Whitaker would be hard-pressed to duplicate Pep's success over the same sustained number of bouts his predecessor had. I think that's a factor in Pep's favour.

Additionally, the victory over Saddler. Yes, Pep lost three of four, but people badly, badly under-estimate how diminished Pep was. Defeating Saddler (a Feather who knocked out three LW Champs), himself arguably the greatest 126lber who ever drew breath (a case can certainly be made), after those injuries *****s any single effort in Whitaker's comparatively brief career.

Now, that all said, I prefer Whitaker as both a fan favourite & a defensive guru. Pep was all reflexes & agility, & it was a marvel, but I find Whitaker's defense more impressive in a direct comparison, because the lack of movement & escape, coupled with such a high work-rate, were as unique to defensive fighters as Whitaker's patented moves. Whitaker was more flat-footed in his defense, & made himself appear more available to rivals, before vanishing as though he were a vapour trail. An astounding, astounding boxer.

I have to give it to Pep, all told, but Whitaker challenges him on this issue. I just wonder, among other things, if Whitaker could really sustain Pep's career workload. Seems highly unlikely, given his predilections for certain outer-ring activities.

Very good points.

[studentofthegam]

Im going Pep. I think it goes

Locche
Pep
Whitaker

its all very close though

I like Locche the best of those three because his seemed more effortless while expending the least energy. Pep had great feet and used upperbody movement only when trapped. Whitaker was more flamboiant and used it to entertain the crowd a lot. I'll go with Pep out out the two based on the longevity. Over 200 fights I cant really argue with that much plus I can actually make a judgement off of visual evidence.

[kendom]

Personally I would say Whitaker 's defense looks so much better, you'd rather have a whitaker style defense because it just looks so damn cool to dodge punches like that.

[gatorDelux]

both slick as hell but pep beats sweet p in foot work. IMO

[Wild Blue Yonda]

Very good points.

Thanking you.