Willie Pep interview (RARE !!)

Rare interview with the great Willie Pep, talking about his boxing career, Sandy Saddler and a lot of other stuff !_______________________________________________________________________________________________Tags: willie pep boxing boxer ko tribute sandy saddler knockout tribute interview video rare mike tyson lennox lewis joe louis muhammad ali fedor emelianenko manny pacquiao pacman floyd mayweather defense defensive locche pernell whitaker roberto duran sugar ray leonard robinson fedor emelianenko mma ufc chuck liddell naseem hamed naz wladimir klitschko klitchko david haye vitali derek chisora audley harrison sakio bika andre ward arthur abraham carl froch super six interview tournament andre dirrell henry armstrong lou ambers alexis arguello arturo gatti rocky marciano graziano wilfred benitez salvador sanchez legend george foreman marvin hagler tommy hearns mike mccallum bernard hopkins roy jones junior jr Guglielmo Papaleo featherweight international boxing hall of fame banquet Muhammad Ali Lou Ambers Sammy Angott
Fred Apostoli
Ray Arcel
Alexis Argüello
Baby Arizmendi
Henry Armstrong
Abe Attell
Max Baer (boxer)
Caleb Baldwin
Carmen Basilio
Wilfred Benítez
Nino Benvenuti
Jack Kid Berg
Jimmy Bivins
Umberto Branchini
Joe Brown (boxer)
Panama Al Brown
Ken Buchanan
Charley Burley

[@beestonpoet]

he stepped in the ring almost 300 times an he shows almost zero signs of brain damage .. smart guy .. great boxer ..great personality

[@richardv.582]

Unfortunately he died from pugilistic Dementia..😔

[@shawnhughes4192]

@@richardv.582 dimensia is not life threatening! Just like you CAN'T die from Parkinson's. Ali did NOT die from Parkinson's and Willie did NOT die from PD.

[@johnhendricks8140]

He's still very sharp and witty, his evasive fighting style probably helped.

[@fantaztikbeatz]

He Mastered the art of hitting and not getting hit

[@justinnardine8564]

You could not hit that man

[@fedorkus-bebe6780]

he was 134-1 at one stage..one of the greatest pound for pound fighters of all time

[@googlemyself4091]

Lol um how about no. This guy had a great record because he was Italian and the Italian mafia controlled boxing. Saddler whipped his ass 3 of the 4 times they fought.

[@aarondigby5054]

@TurnedLeftAtTheRockyMountains boxing was so corrupt and racist back then, fighters who should've gotten title shots haf to wait a decade or more and would be well past their prime a lot of times.

[@JeffPenaify]

@@googlemyself4091 are you that fucking lazy lol you just say things that sound convenient, knowing you don’t know shit about Peps career 😂. Pep was greater than Sadler and the fact he still got a win in their series is a testament to his ability. Styles make fights and Sadler one of the meanest punchers the 126 lb division ever seen

[@johngotti3487]

@@turnedleftattherockymounta6688 na 134-1

[@johngotti3487]

@@googlemyself4091possibly, they did that a lot for Italian fighters back then. But we can’t deny Sandy Saddler was very dirty those fights. Because he wanted to get in close and Willie was very quick w/his feet. He made it dirty dirty battles

[@Swissthewarlock]

willie pep should be the role model for every fighter/athlete to conduct themselves real classy guy

[@fredstmoritz]

You said that very well brother

[@wallacesharpe196]

Sugar Ray Robinson beat him as an amateur in his hometown of Connecticut and was locked up because the police thought that he was a pro fighting an amateur.

[@sonofapollo5892]

Wallace Sharpe Really???

[@marioperez-ph7er]

Wallace Sharpe They were also weights apart. More props to Willie for fighting himthan sugar ray.

[@purplebondsaiyan2987]

In the MMA World Dominick Cruz uses Willie Pep as his Influence including when it comes to Footwork the "V" Step

[@davidwallace27]

I had the privilege of getting to know Mr Papaleo in my early teens from him being a customer on my paper route. A amazing man. He took the time to talk me on occasion. I once remember telling him that I had a chance to get into boxing in a YMCA program I went to in Hartford. I still remember his reply. "Save your pretty face". I did. And he was a good tipper.

[@Thedeanoeverton]

Thank you for coming here to comment that

[@swissmilitischristilxxii3691]

Cool story. Pep was an incredible boxer, 1400 rounds, and I'm sure he was a cool guy, it's written on his face.

[@MMMCLXXX]

*Swiss Militis Christi LXXII* He's my relative. I'm guessing he'd be my great uncle. I honestly haven't had the chance to think about it much. Most of my older relatives are gone now. • I live in Canada, after my both sides of my family came through Ellis Island, and my family never really talked about him. I feel sick that I never met him... • They called me "One Punch Paps" lol once upon a time. Heh heh No kiddin'. It runs in the blood. I'm full Calabrese/Roman. 5'10 200lbs. I'm 37 now and broken from construction work and shit. I wish I could CERN back time lol Make some different choices. • I never boxed but won some decent bouts in Taekwondo. I wrestled in high school and won an MVP award. Boxing always got my heart pumping out of my chest though... boy... • MAN, I feel ill. I would have just listened to him the whole time. He could have fucking trained my ass... Fuck... Apparently he had an espresso company called "Gugliermo" if I'm not mistaking. It is/was in Italy though. Sigh... I am pleased to see your Profile/Avatar pic. In ROMAN, it is called *CRVX•GAMMATA.* It a symbol of strength and prosperity. It has many tiers. • CAESAR, my Forefather named Germany, *GERMANIA.* GERMANIA actually is another way of saying _Blood Brother._ Not necessarily literally related as close as say an Irishman, Scot, Englishman, or a Scandinavian and Germanic. But of the EVROPEAN Brothership. He must have seen something long ago. • Anyways. Always something to learn for me.

[@justinansellmak3577]

MMMCLXXX ________ so he was your fathers father brother?

[@RMS550]

Where did he get is style of footwork from, if you know?

[@johnosandra]

If I was a billionaire I would gather up every boxing legend and give them a mansion, they deserve it.

[@nicholashannigan6930]

I've been saying similar for years. I also believe that every boxer should be paid no less than £10,000 for their first professional bout.

[@mr.t658]

@@nicholashannigan6930 nah

[@autmnsveryown]

@@I9IIEIIYIIEIIS Not really doctors are for the most part rip offs of what’s already put here on earth for us to digest and heal (the natural remedies), and teachers are no need bc we have books and the internet.

[@aarondigby5054]

@@nicholashannigan6930 get all the money the mob cheated them out of, what the feds doing with all the money they confiscate from the mob, they need to distribute it to the fighters.

[@TreyLopez482]

@@I9IIEIIYIIEIIS some teachers lol

[@MrRazorblade999]

229 wins is fucking insane.

[@swissmilitischristilxxii3691]

Agreed. I read Pep fought 1400 rounds. It's just incredible.

[@ZoongoZang]

It’s alright

[@ciscog9109]

Amazing man. His speech and his mental faculties are all there. GOAT

[@a.j.rusinek8856]

Of course he'd be mentally sharp. The man was one of the greatest defensive boxers ever and one of the greatest boxers of all time.

[@chemist7908]

That is amazing, although he was in featherweight

[@jamiejosh96]

@@a.j.rusinek8856 unfortunately it caught up with him same as any boxer, he had dementia pugilistica

[@jamiejosh96]

@A l p h e u s false, plenty of fighters with 50 fights that are struggling let alone 100. It’s all about the sparring

[@zapataboxing861]

The best foot work in the sport of boxing

[@tomabela7949]

@Chocolate Bacon Loma is the best. Floyd is good, sugar ray lenoard also

[@mowglie628]

@sf2explus Nope. He doesn't. Great, but he couldn't do what Willie could with his feet. Robinson was much more straightforward with his footwork technique.

[@mowglie628]

@sf2explus Again, nope. Ali's footwork was effective, but quite flawed fundamentally. He wouldn't be among the guys I'd list for best footwork. Pep had no technical flaw in his.

[@ScratchyBarkerAnim8]

Walcott's footwork is the best for me

[@mgt4673]

2:41 He broke his back............SPINAL.

[@theesotaricitalian6338]

lmfao i can not believe no one else got this joke i am about peeing onmyself laughing

[@ChimpFromSpace]

His back is broken!

[@APSXX]

*thpinal

[@marcelprimes]

Timo 88 he’s referring to a mike Tyson quote

[@dk7541]

I almost spit out my coffee when I read that...thank you 😂😂👍

[@gionncaomhinmorpheagh4791]

Growing up in Ireland in the 1950s, Willie Pep was one of the absolute role models for all of us in the many and various boxing clubs that sprang up during that time. I don't believe he himself ever realised just what sort of total revolution he'd have on boxing in coming generations. MsG

[@gragrn]

242 fights and his nose is as straight as the day he was born, now that's a great boxer!

[@urivan9613]

Willie Pep: "My style is: he who hits and run away lives to fight another day"

[@illkid86]

lemigod who gives a shit about floyd this about pep

[@illkid86]

lemigod did you not hear wtf I said ? fucking dummy

[@johnnnyoh]

lemigod exactly another boxer who boxes a lot like willie pep is Paulie malignaggi who was also cicilian , also idk how someone whose a willie pep fan can get mad about comparing Floyd to pep lmao

[@hueyfreeman1983]

lemigod the difference is maywather literally runs away

[@lukecarroll4052]

That's not the exact quote but you got the important part right.

[@jeffreylarson8533]

At "Frank's Downtown Restaurant" in Hartford CT, a Great Italian joint, Willy was served free for life after winning the championship. I got to serve him a few times back in the 80's when I was a waiter there. Also, my father was a golden glove boxer in Hartford in the 50's and Willie used to come around the gym and give pointers. My Dad never ran out of stories about Willie. The Pride of Hartford!

[@GChris-ny8fp]

Tell us some

[@justinnardine8564]

Is Frank’s still around?

[@georgeyblessed6183]

242 fights and he’s sharper and more articulate then most people in their 20s. A testament to his defensive GENIUS!!

[@OldWorldNY]

One of the very best defensive boxers EVER! 👏🔥🥊🙏☝️

[@grandmasterelixon85]

Met Willie pep on Green street Middletown CT. Trust me he could still hit mitts as an old man I should know I held mitts for him.

[@dannanrik]

Awesome!!!

[@justinnardine8564]

My grandfather is from Middletown and knee WP is he still around

[@Motorfirez]

240 bouts and perfectly sharp

[@leinsecgramadredei6417]

5'6" WOW seems walking tall than any fighters nowadays. One of the real LEGEND that pre-dates the footwork of Dominick Cruz, Dillashaw, and Vasyl Lomachenko.

[@bryanlaiko6685]

Dominick Cruz was inspired by Willie Pep, and if you look at his footwood you can see simiarities. I doubt we would have the modern greats without Pep.

[@hariako]

He’s 5’4” .. lol

[@Dempsey1873]

​@@hariako*5'5*

[@wheelinthesky300]

Guy was a boxing genius.

[@ZoongoZang]

He alright she’s no Ali or Pernell Whitaker

[@josegenuino5706]

Anyway, in boxing it's nice to see a [legend] boxer in his age perfectly well.

[@nonyobussiness3440]

José Genuino he never got hit that's why

[@johnnnyoh]

non yobussiness exactly its the guys that box smart and get to enjoy the rest of their lives the fighters that fall victim to the bloodlust of the crowd all end up with cte, casual fans can criticize guys like Mayweather but he boxed smart and left the game with a level head intact

[@sirsmizzi8882]

Damn Sandy 😔

[@johnhendricks8140]

229 wins thats awesome. This guy's evasive style is awesome to watch, he's a special fighter.

[@OakLawnSpeedShop]

He is my grandfathers cousin. My grandfather was named Frank Papaleo. RIP Willie and Gramps. Crazy they both died at the same age. 84

[@MrBumboclart]

Damn Sandy looked in pretty bad shape here. Such a shame. Both of these men were warriors, they fought for pride and the love of a fight, not for fame and the love of money.

[@matthewhamilton6098]

He was special. His nephew is Grandmaster Flash.

[@frankstidham1439]

Genius Skills. Many great boxers have learned from this Legend.

[@JakeTheMuss10454]

true champion, true and legendary they don't make them like that no more.

[@markyncole]

He'd be the most hated fighter alive if he were fighting today. People who don't know boxing but think they do would say "He only runs!"

[@MrPerry97]

markyncole he was then, we can only imagine now lol. Hopefully someone good comes along soon.

[@a.j.rusinek8856]

Yep and Willie would've most likely had mild brain damage and CTE if he fought like that, but his amazing defensive style kept him mentally and physically sharp in later years.

[@jonbathurst953]

He was a mover in his day. In his day. He still fought a lot more than the guys today do lol

[@donovanchilton5817]

@@a.j.rusinek8856 He had Alzheimer's.

[@MrErnieHanks]

@@donovanchilton5817 many elderly folks end up getting alzheimers, yes.

[@Caalifrna]

God bless this man.

[@Mr.Wonderful731]

Underrated big time. One of the best to ever get in the ring. 229 fights, straight nose and still had all his wit at an old age.

[@jsr7183]

240 fights *

[@retroman1019]

I am so very happy you posted this!! I always wanted to hear Sandy Saddler talk and I fnally did. This is indeed quite rare and thanks again for sharing it.

[@dandan9134]

He seems like such a honest person

[@longtalltexan63]

Pep and Sadler, two great champions!

[@truezealwebsite]

Thank you for this video!

[@mickmack8999]

Thank you for the vid ,great to see

[@jesusneverexisted300]

These fools forgot to mention Willie Pep who is another all time great. Thanks for this video of the legend.

[@SalemHeatingandCooling]

I had the honor to meet him in person a long time ago he was a great one... And he had a picture of him with Rocky Marciano in his garage...🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@sgtwarden5020]

One of the greatest fighter who ever lived. He is intelligent and respectful and humble. I salute you my friend.

[@b.f.skinner4383]

Once a fighter always a fighter - Pep is secure enough to be a friendly guy to everyone but once he feels you disrespect him like when he was asked that fixed fight question he tells you to your face. He reminds me Chris Weidman

[@DanWotanBarrett]

CLASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@tago12349]

Willie Pep...the true King of boxing footwork truly he was the Master of the most beautiful footwork in the history of boxing. Salute to you Mr.Willie Pep R.I.P ✔️✔️✔️

[@algorithm6291]

It amazes me these great fighters 200+ fights x 15 rounds and Willie Pep, Sugar Ray, Joe Louis, Tony Galento are still lucid and articulate. Amazed.

[@surfghost9121]

Harry Greb. Three hundred fights. Wins his title after being blinded in one eye, has a hundred more fights. Hard to wrap one's head around those guys.

[@ibhof2]

very precious interview

[@TheGOATof909]

love this video..thank you

[@KingsleePurcell]

Made a new fan today :)

[@jamesart9]

242 fights. 242 15 Round Fights ! ! ! And, as Edward Rickets commented, "That's what a defensive genius sounds like when they retire from boxing." Wonderful to see.

[@fubarin8896]

Fantastic person and a great fighter he was.

[@Andy-kw5nw]

All these guys are just wonderful classy men.......awesome clip.

[@Nicolas__-js1jm]

Thank you :)

[@boxingfantastic2555]

Greatest boxer of all time

[@Rapid8Fire]

Mad respect TRUE legend

[@johngotti3487]

The interviewer killed the vibe once he asked if Willie threw a fight 🤦🏾‍♂️ let’s be serious. A champions champion will NEVER compromise his integrity in the ring for a few bucks…

[@bebillious]

Great interview with boxing immortal Willie Pep of Connecticut !

[@PsalmsPoetic]

what a great moment in boxing history...

[@petyrkowalski9887]

Utter legend and the GOAT.

[@NLT31]

Awesome, they don't have characters like that these days. Class act.

[@JHinsonMusic]

My idol if I ever became a boxer, by far

[@bojackson4554]

Smooooth operator in this interview and in the ring wow legend

[@LordNuDTru141]

WHAT CAN U SAY...WHAT A WARRIOR AND A GUY!

[@MotorcityBart]

Willie Pep still had his wits after all those fights...He never really got hit...a defensive wizard.

[@zachsawyer2067]

That Sandy Saddler interview was so sad

[@GChris-ny8fp]

I wish YT would let me like this video 1000x

[@DouglasEdwards1981]

Amazing interview... surprisingly the character from Boardwalk Empire, Chalky White, is loosely based on the boxer Chalky Wright who Pep mentions at the beginning of the interview.

[@khorse69]

The big difference from todays fighters and the old school fighters is money!!old school fighters got money but they always put the sport and there pride before money, but todays boxers money first then its pride.

[@jonathancherry5354]

Pure class

[@grimeyb0i]

Class act

[@toxiknao8826]

I hope to fight as much as he can, but I'm a flyweight by my current weight standards. I wish more fighters went past 50. I hope to achieve that win or lose. It's worth a shot at 21

[@Adam-ui3ot]

Moon Child just don't forget to duck and you could do it.

[@peacefulbliss1]

My dad's choice for the number one, pound-for-pound, greatest fighter of all-time! What a fighter.

[@ZoongoZang]

Ali Ali Ali 😂

[@regkray9872]

top ten atg no doubt!

[@garytaylor6406]

1 of the great ones Willie Pep...

[@cet0708]

Yunno, it's funny, I heard that Willie was afflicted by Dementia Pugilistica later in his life, but he sounds pretty clear here. A great fighter, and the best technical boxers I have ever seen. Most guys would be glad to have his post-crash footwork!

[@greglarry11]

One of the greats ... Willie Pep!

[@YOYO-mx6ie]

Gentleman. God bless u warriors 👍🏿

[@johnosandra]

this is our thing, those mma guys will never have the legends we have in this amazing sport, we have to defend the art of boxing every opportunity we get, these guys are the salt of sports

[@alexasilveira4101]

johnosandra guys like you are hilarious, Dominick Cruz (one of the best MMA fighters in the world) took things Willie pep used to do and adapted them to his own style for MMA

[@alexasilveira4101]

johnosandra guys like you are hilarious, Dominick Cruz (one of the best MMA fighters in the world) took things Willie pep used to do and adapted them to his own style for MMA

[@joesheridan9451]

Of course they will you dunce, it’s a much younger sport so obviously it will take time. They all ready have their own legends. I love both sports, there’s no denying mma is more exciting but boxing is great aswell. One thing guys like you don’t understand is that mma is far more technical than boxing. There’s so many more variables and things to worry about and the grappling is way more technical than any striking art. So don’t be so quick to look down your nose. Mma will replace boxing as the main combat sport, mostly just because people are more and more desensitised and seek more and more exhilarating stimulation, but also because mma and particularly the ufc constantly have the best fighting the best and spoiling the fans...which sadly doesn’t happen in boxing much anymore

[@Damlja]

@@joesheridan9451 well said!

[@khonyeleaglefergumedov9175]

Mma fighter beats a boxer 99 out of 100 times and mma progresses 1000% faster than boxing and i like boxing too but bitches like you say mma fans dont like boxing

[@gratitude62]

wow, amazing guy...

[@lee1990lee]

look at his face 229 fights and his defence was that great that he doesnt look like hes been in 10

[@Paul-ek5lu]

"The good Lord took care of me, He really did" All praise to the Almighty.

[@Mike-kn1ik]

Legend

[@Dempsey1873]

Willie was hilarious. P4P one of the absolute best ever

[@1shadowfang8]

different time different game!

[@fargomoorhead-fightclub8983]

Respect to the champ

[@superdavit]

What year did this interview take place?

[@doomeddisciple]

Hey Bob, 229 wins is pretty hard to over rate pal.

[@kountvalik7997]

Probably the greatest little fighter of all time , to win a round without throwing a punch lol, what a legend its funny old timers say you couldnt hit him in the ass with a handful of rice , thats such a crazy thing to say for a compliment

[@americanIDOLfan11111]

True... because back then the best fighters fought each other... but nowadays they all duck each other.

[@EyeTunz]

Legend! Hartford should have a statue erected immediately.

[@marvelousmarvin5480]

somebody needs to show this to floyd (forgive me for bringing his name up fans) if he had the class he'd be remembered as one of the best ever. It's simply because of his attitude. attitude is everything.

[@kennytalabi3964]

+marvelousmarvin dont you worry now.When Floyd is the sdame age and doing interviews you will be dead.lol.And by then he will have class.

[@demoneyin9390]

What about Ali’s attitude? It’s more about Floyd not finishing fights and fighting safe after talking a lot of shit.

[@PunchPerfectPlayer]

innovator

[@ngonzoak]

Tell em how tough I was lol never knew Pep was so damn charismatic

[@feteboo]

Incredible fighter....Mike Tyson was talking about Mr. pep...and Bruce lee would study film on Willie pep it's a known fact!!!

[@lendrury2771]

From my home city of Bridgeport Connecticut

[@dlogan1616]

Very few boxers today would have made it back in the 50's; some Champions today would not even be contenders in the 50's I think. Willie Pep would be great today but with all the promoting time needed, he'd probably would win 80 or 100 fights today.

[@MrMLD1972]

♥ .

[@MrBumboclart]

@boloboxing That's because in Pep's time boxing was a fighting sport, now it is a career. Money ruins everything to a certain extent, now fighters (if you can call them that) fight purely for money, not for pride or because on an inner desire to fight. The closest you'll get to an oldschool fighter today is Shane Moseley, Miguel Cotto or Michael Katsidis. I could name a few solid guys who'd love to fight as much as Pep if only it were possible, those names I mentioned would apply.

[@tobysimpson2773]

You can tell he didn't like that interviewer 😂 Willie Pep is my all time favourite boxer, greatest featherweight of all time 👑🥊

[@johnosandra]

no one will ever do what willie pep did in the ring again

[@GottliebGoltz]

Willy rules.

[@normangautreau1135]

WOW" Can you Beleave 230 Wins"" Like The Great "Ray Robinson Said" WE' Where the Greatest"" Take a Bow" Our B.C. Tony-Pep .You where in there Too"" I Box With Pep in the 50s when he fought Sadler & Im sure he was the Best Featherweight EVER" Norman Gautreau

[@lizardman77]

Maybe the best p4p fighter ever.

[@michaeltruthson6262]

🏅🏅🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇❤❤❤❤

[@benssnanderson5866]

Boxing on expert with zero damage