In This Corner - Willie Pep

Willie Pep
(Guglielmo Papaleo)
(the "Will o' the Wisp")
Record 230-11-1 (65 KO)
Pep was the ultimate boxer; He was shifty, quick, clever and game; Willie moved around the ring like a skater moves on ice or a dancer jogs on the stage
Willie began fighting in July, 1940 and was the Featherweight Champion of the World by November, 1942; He won 63 bouts before losing for the first time in 1943 and then won all of his fights for the next five years except for a single draw; Sporting a record of 136-1-1, he lost for the second time in 1948; In a career of 242 bouts, Pep lost but eleven times and had the lone draw
Herb Goldman ranked Pep as the #3 All-Time Featherweight; Nat Fleischer ranked him as the #7 All-Time Featherweight; Charley Rose ranked him as the #10 All-Time Featherweight; Pep was inducted into the Ring Boxing Hall of Fame in 1963 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990

[@americanIDOLfan11111]

110-1 before he gets into a life changing car accident... and still came back and won 119 more fights.

[@walterwhite751]

Ana Costellano plane crash my friend , nearly paralyzed.

[@shaynewilliams4482]

PLANE accident. That makes you really think things through man..

[@RyanMclain]

Do you know how good your defense has to be to survive a plane crash?!

[@garrison6863]

One of the all time greats, unmatched footwork and agility.

[@EhAmes94]

Why is there no movies of him?!!! What a story!!

[@EhAmes94]

@Twice is the Worst Girl Group Yeah this would have to be a movie funded by passionate indepedant film makers

[@BASILHSBOXING]

Many people can fight but only a few smart can box...Willy the legend!

[@Feedback406]

This dude got a badass personality

[@Feedback406]

Yea he a cool ass white boy

[@alexchiddle5091]

+Feedback406 unlike the black boys today huh

[@Feedback406]

na chill out with all that

[@leaddispenser9]

+sean oxborough lmao

[@watchmanschannelofdespair]

@@Feedback406 you started it by bringing up skin color, moron.

[@JohnSmith-eu8fc]

Willie Was a amazing fighter, 62-0 before he lost that says it all.

[@chrisevans5259]

Willie Pep, Harry Greb, Sugar Ray Robinson, Jimmy Wilde and Henry Armstrong the 5 Greatest Boxers of ALL-TIME

[@ChristIsGod777]

Roberto Duran deserves a spot in top 5 100%

[@ChristIsGod777]

My all time top 10 (no ranking): Pep, Duran, Robinson, Benny Leonard, Armstrong, Wilde, Tunney, Greb, Salvador Sanchez and Joe Louis

[@sabretooth5404]

@@ChristIsGod777 I see your ranking joe Louis in you top 10 but not Ali. finally some1 with a brain, you obviously know your boxing

[@3-ddjr460]

@Mikejk Smith Who the hell is Chris Evans??????????

[@Nimvar]

@@sabretooth5404 Im pretty sure Louis could have beaten Ali too

[@MrCaLiBoNeZ]

There's a saying "Put some Pep in your step." I use that at work all the time. Most don't know that Pep ain't a abbreviation. It's a name. RIP Willie Pep

[@fli_pep]

Great fighter..ahead of his time...

[@MegaCrazyColombian]

Fighter: I want to fight Willie Pep!! I want to fight Willie Pep!! Trainer: How may times I got to tell you, you are Willie Pep!! I laughed so hard at that

[@MrPauliei]

ever hear of vinny pazienza or gotti... . i met willie in 1990. What a nice person...great sense of humor.

[@johncoppola4636]

Willie Pep was the best hands down. Too fast, too clever, too much movement for most of todays muscle bound stand up, headhunting fighters. Most of them would never touch him.

[@falconesports1581]

🇮🇹 the greatest boxer ever 🇮🇹 "the will of the wisp"

[@dassacable]

In this corner series is amazing!!.. So many history behind the champions and records.. RIP for Willie

[@leinsecgramadredei6417]

110-1 will make the great of these era Vasyl Lomachenko and Mayweather be ashame of their record. Back then they have what 15 rounds? Tsk this guy is a Legend of all time.

[@sabretooth5404]

why would lomachenko be ashamed of his record? in 15 fights he's beaten 9 former world champions, became a world champion in only his 3rd fight. won 5 world titles in 3 different weight classes. and all in the span of 5 years. that's nothing to be ashamed of

[@BusquedaBlues]

@@sabretooth5404 plus his amateur record was 396-1 and he won two gold medals in boxing during the 2008 and 2012 olympics.

[@dan32113]

he is strengthening his neck muscles, i used to do it when i boxed. Its to improve punch resistance by having a strong neck!

[@b3at2]

The true artform of boxing..the sweet science. YES!

[@CoachKeithRobinson]

I am in a room full of guys everyone names their best boxer of all time...... I say "Willie Pep"...... they say "who" I say" you all don't know shit about boxing"

[@hyzeronhisrizer]

Most of my friends are UFC fans and always tell me a boxer would NEVER beat a UFC / MMA guy! I laugh.....maybe against boxers out of the Top 10 - sure...but the top guys? The best of the best boxers? I will take the boxer to win...until proven otherwise.....I mean a top boxer in his prime...not like James Toney against Couture - that was a joke......Toney against Iran Barkley - THAT Toney woulda done much better.......anyway....my rant for the day! Pep was something else! AMAZING!

[@user-ts4ks6kz8m]

Brad Hiuser MMA fighters can just take boxers down and submit/ground and pound them.

[@hyzeronhisrizer]

Сашко Сашкович IF they can get the boxer down! That was my point about all this. When you see the defensive genius boxers...like Pep....the guys that could REALLY move....Ali....Whitaker.....Chavez.....Mayweather etc etc etc.....do you really think an MMA guy will just walk through THAT boxer, take him down and beat on him?! Do you think Randy Couture in his prime would just walk through say Mike Tyson in Tyson's prime?! Seriously?! IF Couture got past those fast and brutally powerful hands....maybe! We will never see it of course....NO WAY will we see a top flight boxer in his prime vs a top flight MMA guy in HIS prime - it won't happen! Too bad really.....

[@user-ts4ks6kz8m]

Brad Hiuser Look, defence is so easy only in boxing, it is so much harder to defend from strikes and takedowns in the same time, look at how Anderson Silva got dominated in his fight with Chael Sonnen. And Silva has great reflexes, technical striking, good defence as well.

[@hyzeronhisrizer]

Сашко Сашкович So, what you're saying is it is easy to be defensive in boxing?! Learning how to be a great defensive boxer is easy? Hmm.......I am not going to get into a boxing vs mma verbal sparring match.....you have your opinion, I have mine. I have nothing but the utmost respect for ANY fighter - boxer or mma! But I have spent lots of time in boxing gyms and have spent time in karate, kung fu, kick boxing gyms.......and from what I have seen - the difference in skill with the hands between the boxers and the others is incredible! I had quite a few kung fu guys and kick boxers amazed just by watching me on the speed bag! And I was by no means a top flight boxer! Anyway - it would be fascinating to see a guy like a Tyson in his prime vs a Couture in is prime! Or Silva vs Roy Jones Jr in his prime.....like I said, too bad we will never see it!

[@mikecesa4444]

One of the greatest champions of all time! I knew his cousin from Danbury, Ct. who by the way was quite successful out west!

[@MrByaeger]

great video of a great fighter, much respect. whole body movement like nobody before him, a true pioneer that set the stage for many future fighters. and please, children, go squabble somewhere else. the grown ups are talking here.

[@ronbonora7872]

I agree!

[@patrickyoung3503]

Fabulous fighter a dedicated man to his profession . He could box & fight with the best of them .

[@BoxingRealTalk]

They are called bridges, Tyson used to do them too and probably plenty of other fighters. I do them myself, they build up strength in the neck to help absorb a hard shot

[@kristofertogun9688]

Great Willie Pep! What A Determination To Win Nomatterwhat

[@Kev80ification]

Amazing fighter!!!

[@TheSnoopindaweb]

🤔🤨💭 ~ Being acquainted with the Rouse family as a teen, I heard some about Mr. Pep, but little did I know until 75 and playing with this machine 💻 Yup❗ G-G.

[@marioperez-ph7er]

Willie pep vs ricardo Lopez. Amazing footwork

[@arama0010]

What a Legend, Greatest defensive master and what a record!

[@pauleliot6429]

Beautifully done,

[@Ithro-Ithrozovich]

Thanks a lot for uploading this :)

[@abudujana13]

Unbelievable fighter!! Thanks for the video, CELTICPACMAN

[@SuperAram111]

the GREAT GREAT willie pep.......................

[@elticomoe]

Simply impressive!

[@Rodageado]

Willie pep was an awesome fighter.

[@ToonsGoofyMemes]

Best defensive fighter.

[@GottliebGoltz]

What an athlete.!

[@marco1964ism]

pochi italiani in italia conoscono questo grande campione il cui nome era guglielmo papaleo orgoglio italoamericano

[@roccodinosantino1474]

If it wasn't for that plane crash he would have been probably the greatest boxer ever lived

[@bfighter8930]

Willie Pep fought so good, it made men aroused!!! 🤣🤣😂😂

[@kashifbenshamim8445]

What a legend

[@dmitryvolkov8508]

He was Amazing Fighter! (Y)

[@GChris-ny8fp]

BADASS

[@paulhughes6101]

Nice

[@muhamadrafihudin462]

The featherweight legend

[@34566samuel]

Willie Pep boxeador y bailarín

[@maximusmaxwell4392]

thats joey giardello at 5.40 another great middleweight champ

[@joracer1]

Smart and fighter usually dont go together, but in this case its solidified.

[@jerrylanglois7892]

If records decide who's the greatest, it goes to willie.

[@gkj1992]

@sergiolemus87 Yes, he was the World Featherweight Champion 1942-1948, lost it to Sandy Saddler, then won it back in Feb. 1949, and held it till Sept. 1950 when he lost to Saddler once more.

[@Stavol2Dual]

carries himself like a king

[@khorse69]

This is where Ali got his style from!!

[@billwhite9703]

Some of it. Not all.

[@thomasgrizzell9730]

Pep was Awesome

[@gwattsrealestate]

He beat Chalky White who wasnt no joke, he didnt train and at times stayed up partying before a fight. Boxing fans should not even mention Mayweather Jr in same breath as Willie Pep.

[@jamecpa10]

papaleo was a good style figther, too many skills

[@vincentreynolds934]

True.

[@alexalvarez1111]

The Greatest boxer of all time! The man who was 108-1-1 before breaking his back and leg in a plane crash, and was told he might never walk again. But just 6 months later, he came back and defended his title successfully. Lost a close decision to Sugar Ray Robinson in the amateurs, and it was close even though Ray was 28 pounds heavier than him. Has more title defences than Robinson as well. 9 successful title defences. Finished his career with a record of 229-11-1. The Goat. 🇮🇹🇮🇹🐐

[@kevinlopez6885]

Hands down, the greatest defensive fighter of all time .. oh, and by the way, 229 WINS within 241 total bouts. With all due respect to how great they are in their time, when all is said and done, Mayweather and Paquiao combined aren't fit to carry his spitbucket. Period.

[@leaddispenser9]

Only one who was as slick as him was "El Radar" Wilfred Benitez. The forgotten defensive wizard.

[@RumbleFish252]

+leaddispenser9 And Whitaker.

[@zhanefields800]

rescue work said he will never fight again that cut to bone.... the great one can use anything as motivation to get back up when there down that is heart of a true champ but come back better than before very few have this heart.

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

The more I hear about this guy, the more I'm convinced he is among the top 5 fighters EVER. Yet casual boxing fans seem to only have two words in their vocabulary- Ali and Tyson; it gets tiresome

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

In my view Tyson is the most overrated fighter ever. Yes he was accomplished becoming the youngest heavyweight and certainly had incredible power. But here are some facts- - He beat some good but not outstanding heavyweights (I don't include Holmes as he was past his best) - Spinks, Thomas etc were talented but not all-time greats - He was beaten by an average Buster Douglas- during the peak of his power. His fans make a lot of excuses for that, but Douglas was also overcoming a lot of adversity - He is on record as having used drugs before fights. I have no respect for fighters who cheat and it should automatically take prestige away from them. - He got beaten twice by Holyfield and then by Lennox Lewis - His KO rate is exaggerated- impressive but not in the top 20 - As is his punch power. Earnie Shavers hit harder Don't get me wrong. Tyson is well above average, perhaps great in his own right, but certainly not in the top 10 or even top 15. He was powerful, controversial and very famous but I don't think he is even close to the best heavyweight ever I also think casual fans confuse fame with legacy- Tyson is the most famous boxer since Ali but that doesn't make him the best

[@Stavol2Dual]

Nathan Hazlett casuals don't even look at boxing history, smh wouldn't know jack johnson if he hit them square on the jaw

[@coreystewart5939]

Centrist Philosopher spot on brother...i brought up Sam Langford name today as far as best boxers pound for pound, and all i received were confused eyes, i just had to walk away lol 😂

[@samuelbethea523]

Centrist Philosopher Willie was great 👍🏿 one of the greatest of all time!! A lot of fighters don’t get their just deserve I’m glad people are keeping their memories alive! Going to watch Spider Webb another fighter no one knows! The least talked about on Murderers Row! Gratitude 🙏!

[@markyncole]

He'd be the most hated fighter alive if he were fighting today. "He only runs"

[@leaddispenser9]

No he wouldn't. because he has charisma. I highly doubt it.

[@markyncole]

+leaddispenser9 Ya he would. If you are not a slugger or KO artist and were white today,you need to find a new career. People just don't appreciate the Science of boxing anymore.

[@leaddispenser9]

+markyncole well i guess you have a point there. people don't appreciate anything nor have sense anymore.

[@markyncole]

leaddispenser9 Being Italian when the Mob ran boxing also was a big helped to Pep even though his amazing record speaks for itself

[@nazri1155]

only casuals. not true fight fans. those who appreciate the art of fighting

[@efilperpenfuhrer]

This is the REAL Bruce Lee. ho.

[@elijahdratte1118]

efilperpenfuhrer He was a beast for sure, but you comparing Apple's to oranges my man.

[@ronbonora7872]

Apparently Bruce Lee and Joe Lewis would both study Pep fight films!

[@raheemwilliams5475]

Amazing as hell, whooping ass

[@AB-ce5fg]

All good house keepers when you break up they keep the house!! HAHAHAHA

[@RadioUgly]

@RadioUgly Ah this is the show where I heard that. Now I feel dumb.

[@AbuKahn]

My friends father.

[@reg5381]

Willie Pep was the original Floyd Mayweather before Floyd.Willie Pep defined the name of its game,boxing.

[@alenstephen7043]

He has the voice of Robert De Niro

[@procioneintubato]

Has he had some power, we wouldn't be arguing on who's the greatest.

[@ddtrocketspace]

He is my grandpas cousin.

[@WORLD8NSH5KNIGHT1]

Willie Pep vs Jimmy Wilde? Who wins? that would be interesting, although im not sure if Wilde ever went above flyweight

[@joeydudester1]

you're right khorse69! You can see and indentify the way Pep threw his right and in defense turn his face in perfect timing and Ali has gone on record to say he based some of his footwork and defense on Willy Pep. Tyson is a classic historian on boxing and also laid much respect to Pep. Tyson basically saying Pep was amazing for boxing at that time and definitely amongst the greats. I dont understand this racists rant from nae8man87 but thanks for adding knowledge

[@barbarapineda9062]

This former Billy peplito,n.. was a small, man,.hesna handsome guys'en he's no longer here, r.n.p Pepileto' ages, today he's 102 yrs ol,

[@LittleRapGuy]

Boxing

[@Tonylowk]

some1 pleaaaaasssee tell me what he was doing at 4:25 is that bad for you in the long run? that shiit looks fucking dangerous

[@RadioUgly]

Bruce Lee used to watch old footage of Willie Pep. I hear he won a round without throwing a punch.

[@khorse69]

@joeydudester1 I simply ignore nae8man87 because its obvious he doesnt know a thing about boxing, some people never understand, in the fight game fighters will always learn from those who have gone before them. Great fighters study from the greats!

[@bigmember5908]

anyone got anything on his training? vids, rumors, books, articles I'll take any of it

[@emiliano5895]

Guillermo papaleo..= Willie Pep

[@jameshannah6052]

They took ray robinson to jail for beating willie pep in amatuers thougt he was a pro!

[@jessyj1971]

This is before my time , but Sandy Sadler beat 3 out of 4 times.

[@abbeykroeter]

Yeah it says that in the video. AFTER Pep nearly died in a plane wreck.

[@cogen651]

Yea, it took a severe plane crash. Nothing like a handicap.

[@walterwhite751]

jessyj1971 after a plane crash and broken back.

[@cheeesefunnel]

177 more wins than Pacman

[@ah93704]

@crowley0312 lol

[@theman1819]

@boloboxing and a wife

[@marvelousmarvin5480]

Can someone please tell me what the first man said. He was married 6 times and if the horses were just as fast as his wives... that's all I got out of him folks haha.

[@richarddlsidoro6085]

+marvelousmarvin He'd be a millionaire today, but he doesn't have dime one.

[@dan32113]

If you mention the greatest fighters, Harry Greb has to be up with the best! The only man to beat Gene Tunney. Also Jack Dempsey refused to fight him, because Greb got the better of sparring. Greb is either number 1 or 2 as greatest middleweight champion ever! Also only being a middleweight he beat many of the best lightheavyweights of the era. With 261 victories, the man is a bonfide Legend..

[@toopkarcher4941]

Willie Pep vs Floyd = UD for Pep + Most boring fight in history

[@billwhite9703]

It would actually be a great fight featuring two incredible boxers.

[@RELopez-mk4ic]

Sandy Sadler beat him three out of four times.

[@nikosvault]

Plane crash? I mean talk about past your prime. 134-1-1 record before the Sadler fights.

[@MURKYDEEP100]

@nae8man87 That attitude of yours will give you nothin' but a disadvantage in the ring my friend. what are you watchin this vid for anyway, shouldn't you only be watching videos of black fighters?

[@hypnocil10]

bum

[@AssMuncher995]

hypnocil10 229 wins -11 losses-1 draw and you calling him a bum? Well let's see you break his record or any of the boxers today bet your ass that neither you nor any of them would be able to break that record. So yeah nice try.

[@billwhite9703]

Twat.

[@ronbonora7872]

get lost troll!