Pep was never the same after a plane crash before these fights. If that never happend, I think he'd win every fight with Saddler by UD.
First fight I'll give Saddler. Pep won the second. The third Pep was dominating on all scorecards and should have won by TD or at least a no contest. As for the fourth, this was clearly a dirty fight. Nontheless, Pep was winning on all scorecards and lost because of an injury he got when Saddler eyegouged him.
its funny how ppl praise pep's elusiveness, but badger pernell's high defensive skills as a boxer, its not a bad thing to run around whilst ur opponenet runs out of gas, and all the while duck punches as well as throw them.....thats major skill, the world is pure racist!!! ugghh
Saddler could hit like hell -- at his best he probably could have decked a light-heavyweight at least -- and Pep was a great defensive boxer. So we have the clash of two contrasting stylists, each at his best. Dang, doesn't get much better than this, if at all:) --
@stevevandien Well actually Pep was far from his best here, he was past his prime and had broken his back in an airplane crash prior to his feud with Sadler. That just goes to show how great Will O The Wisp was, to come back after such a horrific injury and still cement his legacy.
Saddler was hard as nails. Less being disqualified, he could probably take most welterweights of today.
Its a shame that these guys, some of the best P4P ever, aren't included in games like Fight Night. It seems as though people don't remember fighters under welterweight throughout history. Many of these classic fights from lower weight classes are the best you could ask for.
Pep and Ray Leonard had sort of the same kind of elusiveness with their mastery of lateral movement. Pep is beautiful to watch. Two of the great feathers no doubt, Pep and Saddler
I have book on him. Its called "A biography of Sugar Ray Robinson -Pound for Pound" by Herb Boyd 3 (Helped along by Ray Robinson 2) - Published by Amistad - 2005. Tells you everything - what a book. But more importantly what a Boxer/fighter he was. He was a special to boxing as Bruce Lee is to Kung Fu. He did do things wrong in his private life which he could have done better. But in the ring we might never ever see a boxer fighter that good again.He was that good!
Sugar Ray Robinson beat Willie Pep in their amateur days. Sugar Ray Robinson is/was the greatest fighter/boxer in boxing history. The complete boxer.fighter who had everything.
Wow he lost his title cause of a dislocated shoulder. Jake Lamotta gained his title the same way. Only I think Marcel Cerdan made it up cause he was taking a pretty damn good beating.
The referee was Ruby Goldstein, who refereed more championship fights than any referee in boxing history with the exception of Arthur Donovan. He was widely considered to be the best referee in America. For years he was a fixture on the Gillette Cavalcade of Sports and the Friday Night Fights.
About his only criticism was that some thought he had a tendency to stop fights too hastily. Then, in the spring of 1962, he refereed the 3rd Emile Griffith/Benny Paret fight, and Paret died
Goldstein was assigned the blame for failing to stop the fight in time to prevent Paret from sustaining fatal injuries.
Personally, I'm convinced that Goldstein was an unfortunate scapegoat. But the publicity ruined Goldstein's career, and he never officiated at another fight. He died in 1984.
There were several excellent refs back in those days: Arthur Mercante,sr., Zach Clayton, Johnny LoBianco, Mark Conn, Goldstein, Donovan, and, in Chicago, Frank Sikora.
Thanks very much for the history lesson and sharing your in-depth knowledge - much appreciated. I'll see if I can get a hold of the fight. On second thoughts I'm not sure I want to watch it knowing what the outcome will be...
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Pep was never the same after a plane crash before these fights. If that never happend, I think he'd win every fight with Saddler by UD.
First fight I'll give Saddler. Pep won the second. The third Pep was dominating on all scorecards and should have won by TD or at least a no contest. As for the fourth, this was clearly a dirty fight. Nontheless, Pep was winning on all scorecards and lost because of an injury he got when Saddler eyegouged him.
Overall Pep is greater than Saddler.
crowley0312 2 months ago
its funny how ppl praise pep's elusiveness, but badger pernell's high defensive skills as a boxer, its not a bad thing to run around whilst ur opponenet runs out of gas, and all the while duck punches as well as throw them.....thats major skill, the world is pure racist!!! ugghh
nae8man87 7 months ago
Saddler could hit like hell -- at his best he probably could have decked a light-heavyweight at least -- and Pep was a great defensive boxer. So we have the clash of two contrasting stylists, each at his best. Dang, doesn't get much better than this, if at all:) --
stevevandien 1 year ago
@stevevandien Well actually Pep was far from his best here, he was past his prime and had broken his back in an airplane crash prior to his feud with Sadler. That just goes to show how great Will O The Wisp was, to come back after such a horrific injury and still cement his legacy.
MrBumboclart 8 months ago
@MrBumboclart Thanks much. Had read about Pep's airplane crash years ago, but had forgotten about it:) --
stevevandien 8 months ago
great video, thanks for posting. 2 legends of Boxing, what a fight.
Im looking for the 1949 fight between Pep and Saddler, it was Ring Magazine's fight of the year. enjoy boxing fans
paul4mula 1 year ago
Saddler was hard as nails. Less being disqualified, he could probably take most welterweights of today.
Its a shame that these guys, some of the best P4P ever, aren't included in games like Fight Night. It seems as though people don't remember fighters under welterweight throughout history. Many of these classic fights from lower weight classes are the best you could ask for.
souperserver 1 year ago
damm over 100 fights and sandy was only knocked out once
Blackjesus3 1 year ago
fighters from the past are soooo much tougher and more interesting 2 watch
Blackjesus3 1 year ago
@Blackjesus3 amen to that totally agreee
haris000000 1 year ago
Boy, that Pep was something. His movement is so pure and stylish...
He was great, really great.
Kedbuka 1 year ago
Pep and Ray Leonard had sort of the same kind of elusiveness with their mastery of lateral movement. Pep is beautiful to watch. Two of the great feathers no doubt, Pep and Saddler
jesusneverexisted300 1 year ago
Man its hard to hit Pep!
jesusneverexisted300 1 year ago
saddler and pep would carve up feathers to welters today - both have it - ring generalship in truckloads.
isafella1 2 years ago
No cabe duda son dos mágnificos boxeadores pero basta con esta exhibición para aquilatar la grandeza tanto de Ray Robinson como de Sal Sanchez
supermelomanazo 2 years ago
I have book on him. Its called "A biography of Sugar Ray Robinson -Pound for Pound" by Herb Boyd 3 (Helped along by Ray Robinson 2) - Published by Amistad - 2005. Tells you everything - what a book. But more importantly what a Boxer/fighter he was. He was a special to boxing as Bruce Lee is to Kung Fu. He did do things wrong in his private life which he could have done better. But in the ring we might never ever see a boxer fighter that good again.He was that good!
redjam40 2 years ago
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saddler showed pep was ordinary, he won 3 out of 4 fights with pep
jigglyfidda125 2 years ago
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jigglyfidda125 2 years ago
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jigglyfidda125 2 years ago
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jigglyfidda125 2 years ago
Sugar Ray Robinson beat Willie Pep in their amateur days. Sugar Ray Robinson is/was the greatest fighter/boxer in boxing history. The complete boxer.fighter who had everything.
redjam40 3 years ago
Totally agree,Robinson was a natural born athlete,with grace,power,and loads of style.A great dancer too
sopitabo 2 years ago
best pound for pound fighter in history Willie Pep.
PoPolilB 3 years ago
I think Willie would have won this one...RIP Champ
MrCravat 3 years ago
Wow he lost his title cause of a dislocated shoulder. Jake Lamotta gained his title the same way. Only I think Marcel Cerdan made it up cause he was taking a pretty damn good beating.
deathmetalmilitia 3 years ago
saddler 134-1-1 at the best point in his carreer.
shadmofo 4 years ago
you sure you got the right name there..pep was 135-1-1 at one point from what i have read
69chevy68 3 years ago
Your right I meant to write Pep.
shadmofo 3 years ago
The ref must have been as fit as the boxers!!
DJKaija 4 years ago
What makes you say that?
deathmetalmilitia 3 years ago
Coz of the way he was jumping around - you don't see too many refs being that active these days...
DJKaija 3 years ago
DJKaija:
The referee was Ruby Goldstein, who refereed more championship fights than any referee in boxing history with the exception of Arthur Donovan. He was widely considered to be the best referee in America. For years he was a fixture on the Gillette Cavalcade of Sports and the Friday Night Fights.
About his only criticism was that some thought he had a tendency to stop fights too hastily. Then, in the spring of 1962, he refereed the 3rd Emile Griffith/Benny Paret fight, and Paret died
foxygranpa7 3 years ago
DJKaija: (page 2)
Goldstein was assigned the blame for failing to stop the fight in time to prevent Paret from sustaining fatal injuries.
Personally, I'm convinced that Goldstein was an unfortunate scapegoat. But the publicity ruined Goldstein's career, and he never officiated at another fight. He died in 1984.
There were several excellent refs back in those days: Arthur Mercante,sr., Zach Clayton, Johnny LoBianco, Mark Conn, Goldstein, Donovan, and, in Chicago, Frank Sikora.
foxygranpa7 3 years ago
Hi Foxygranpa7,
Thanks very much for the history lesson and sharing your in-depth knowledge - much appreciated. I'll see if I can get a hold of the fight. On second thoughts I'm not sure I want to watch it knowing what the outcome will be...
123Geezer 3 years ago