Let’s take a look at former two-time world Featherweight champion fighting from 1940 to 1966 Willie ‘Will o’ the Wisp’ Pep, also winning the world Junior Lightweight title.
From Rocky Hill, Connecticut, Pep once told middleweight world champion Rocky Graziano, “You couldn’t hit me with a fist full of stones!”
Pep made his debut in July of 1940 winning his first sixty-two fights before tasting defeat. In July of 1942 he won his forty-fourth straight fight winning his first title defeating Abe “The Boston String Bean” Denner (33-15-1) over 12 rounds for the USA New England Featherweight title.
Pep won his fifty-fourth straight fight, defeating former world featherweight champion Chalky Wright, 142-34-18, over 15 rounds for the NYSAC Featherweight title.
In March of 1943 Pep suffered his first loss, to Sammy Angott, 69-17-5, at Madison Square Garden, in a non-title bout after sixty-two straight wins.
In April, he defeated future NBA world featherweight champion Sal “Pride of East Boston” Bartolo, 45-14-6, by split decision, and two fights later by decision. Later in April, he defeated Jackie Wilson, 90-24-8, over 12 rounds.
In 1944, Pep defeated former world bantamweight champion Manuel Ortiz, 58-11-2. The following month defeated Lulu Costantino (88-11-6). In September and December, he again defeated Chalky Wright.
In December of 1945 Pep fought a draw with Jimmy McAllister, 39-16. In March of 1946 he knocked out McAllister. In June added the NBA title defeating Bartolo, 71-17-6. In September stopped Lefty LaChance, 123-42-17.
In August of 1947, Pep won the world Featherweight title knocking out Jock Leslie, 58-9-4, in 12 rounds. In October of 1948, he lost his title to Sandy Saddler, 86-6-2, by knockout at Madison Square Garden. Four months later, he defeated Saddler to regain the title in 1949 Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year.
Pep made defenses, stopping Eddie Compo, 57-1-3, knocking out Charley Riley, 57-11-2, and defeating Ray Famechon, 59-5.
In September of 1950, in their third meeting, Pep lost to Saddler by stoppage at Yankee Stadium, dropping to 152-3-1.
In February of 1952, Pep won the World Junior Lightweight title knocking out Diego Sosa, 74-26-8, in Havana, Cuba. In February of 1955, he again won the world Featherweight title, defeating Teddy Davis, 63-50-5, at MSG.
In a title defense Pep stopped Filipino Flash Elorde, 30-9-2. In January of 1959, he retired with a record of 220-9-1 after a pair of defeats. He came back six years later, winning nine straight before losing, ending with a record of 229-11-1, at age 43.
In 1990, Pep was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame and International Boxing Hall of Fame.
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