Just take a second to let this sink in, Willie Pep started boxing as a professional 2 months shy of his 18th birthday in 1940. By 1942 he was 54-0-0 (that's 27 fights a year), had won the NYSAC World featherweight title (back when that meant something) in The Ring Magazine Fight of The Year vs Chalky Wright. Pep went 62-0-0 before his first loss to Sammy Agnott who was a LIGHTWEIGHT in 1943. Pep recovered until his second loss in 1948 to Hall of Famer Sandy Saddler and Pep's record was then 134-2-1 and this mind you is POST airplane crash which could have and should have ended Pep's career. Pep went on to recover and eventually avenge the loss to Saddler.

But you're going to tell me that doesn't matter? All those guys were bums? Fighting 27 times a year back to back wouldn't wear down a fighter, a fighter wouldn't run the risk of getting caught in that many rounds?


I don't just mention Willie Pep because he's an old timer, I mention him because he was a fucking great fighter! But I guess he just doesn't stand up to Floyd's records and Floyd's challengers.