Willie Pep with "The Sultan of Swat" Babe Ruth. It's fascinating because Willie Pep's story about winning a round without throwing a single punch is boxing's version of the Babe Ruth called shot.
Willie Pep and Albert "Chalky" Wright, another murderous puncher. One thing's for sure, Pep fought some heavy hitters, Sandy Saddler knocked out 104 opponents and Chalky Wright knocked out 87 opponents, those two combined put 191 men to sleep.
Willie Pep and Chalky Wright fought two times in their professional boxing careers. The first fight was on November 20, 1942, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Willie Pep won by a 15-round unanimous decision to capture the world featherweight title from Chalky Wright. The second fight was on September 29, 1944, also at Madison Square Garden. Willie Pep won again by a 15-round unanimous decision to successfully defend his featherweight title. This is an image of Pep after hitting Wright with a left during their first fight.
Willie Pep catching Chalky Wright with a left jab during their first fight. Pep put on a clinic that night to earn his 54th straight victory. The Associated Press reported: "Pep piled up a big early lead with the use of a left jab that appeared to have a permanent parking place in Chalky's face, and then galloped out of harm's way as the ageing Californian chased him around the ring all the way down the stretch.”
Check this out, this is how rough the fights between Willie Pep and Sandy Saddler got, this is a famous photo that appeared on the cover of The National Police Gazette, it shows Sandy Saddler with Willie Pep in a choke hold.
Willie Pep catching "The Clutch" Sammy Angott with a left to the chin in 1943. Angott actually won this fight by 10-round unanimous decision, handing Pep his first professional loss in 63 fights. Pep would proceed to win 73 straight fights before losing again.
"The Featherweight" is a 2023 biographical sports drama film directed by Robert Kolodny about Willie Pep's improbable comeback in 1964 at the age of 42. Filming took place in Hartford using real locations from Pep's life to blend nonfiction aesthetics with narrative drama.
Up next, Archie Moore, aka "The Old Mongoose", the longest-reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion in history. He adopted his famous nickname because of his highly clever, strategic, and defensive fighting style, mirroring the cunning and reflexes of a real mongoose and his remarkable longevity in the boxing ring as he continued to fight and win well into his late 30s and 40s. Archie Moore had a professional boxing career that lasted 28 years, spanning from 1935 to 1963. His title reign is insane, he held the world light heavyweight title from December 1952 to May 1962. He was a smart tactician who perfected the cross-arm guard, using his forearms and elbows to block shots while setting up sharp counterpunches. He was an absolutely brutal puncher, he holds the record for the most knockouts in boxing history with 132. Yes, he knocked out 132 of his opponents. Archie Moore was around a long time, and in those many years he learned every thing in the book of boxing, even when he was older and smaller than his rivals, his deep knowledge of angles and pacing allowed him to outsmart younger fighters. Legendary fighter. We'll start with the 1967-68 Panini - Campioni Dello Sport - Archie Moore.
2010 Ringside Boxing Round One - Turkey Red - Base - Archie Moore. It's unfortunate that I can't seem to find a clearer scan of this card. It's frustrating, sometimes you can't find the photos that match up with the cards, sometimes you can't find a scan of a certain card, and sometimes you can find a scan but it's not big enough or clear enough.
2010 Ringside Boxing Round One - Gold #/9 - Archie Moore. They picked a great image for this card, Archie Moore knocking down Rocky Marciano. The granite-chinned Marciano only tasted the canvas twice in his career and this was one of those times. Archie Moore was a murderous puncher. The knockdown occurred when Marciano was caught coming in by Archie Moore's straight right in the second round.
Check this photo out, Archie Moore, Joe Louis, and George Foreman. Archie Moore pursued a career in show business while living in San Diego. But he did not drift far from boxing, serving as a trainer and manager. He was George Foreman's advisor and cornerman when he won the heavyweight championship from Joe Frazier in 1973. Three years later, he served as the coach of the Nigerian boxing team at the Olympics. Three of the hardest hitters the sport has ever known, 252 total knockouts between these three.
This is an awesome item, an Archie Moore ABC charity card. He did a lot of work with kids, steering them away from trouble and charity work as well, he was a truly good person.
Awesome 1959 American Jewelers Christmas Advertisement Card featuring Archie Moore and "The Fighting Fisherman" Yvon Durelle. Their fight on December 10, 1958 at the Montreal Forum is one of the greatest fights ever. Moore was 42 years old at the time and broke Young Stribling's all-time knockout record by knocking out Durelle and scoring his 127th career knockout. But the fight itself was a classic because it featured a brutal, dramatic comeback by a 42-year-old champion against a ferocious challenger. Yvon Durelle was an extremely hard puncher himself, he knocked the aging world champion Archie Moore down three times in the opening round. Durelle dropped Moore for a fourth time in the fifth round. Moore refused to stay down, showing otherworldly recovery powers and sheer grit to survive the early onslaught. Durelle expended massive energy trying to finish the champion, tiring out his arms as Moore used his veteran ring IQ and defense to weather the storm. Moore turned the tables in the middle rounds, showcasing his precise counterpunching. Moore dropped Durelle in the seventh and tenth rounds before finally knocking him out in the eleventh round to retain his light heavyweight crown.
Archie was a highly strategic and defensive boxer, Yvon Durelle said of him after their epic encounter: "I have fought smart men before," Durelle said, "but never anyone as smart as that fellow."
Comments
Willie Pep with "The Sultan of Swat" Babe Ruth. It's fascinating because Willie Pep's story about winning a round without throwing a single punch is boxing's version of the Babe Ruth called shot.
Willie Pep with Joe Louis, Gus Lesnevich, and Rocky Graziano.
Foursome of Featherweights: Johnny Dundee, Louis "Kid" Kaplan, Battling Battalino and Willie Pep all meet up in the early 1940s.
"The Raging Bull" Jake LaMotta and Willie Pep.
Ted Williams and Willie Pep.
Willie Pep with a clergyman and legendary singer Frank Sinatra.
Petey Scalzo, Willie Pep, Tony Zale, Jake LaMotta, Rocky Graziano, and Paddy DeMarco in "Cauliflower Cupids" (1970).
Willie Pep and Albert "Chalky" Wright, another murderous puncher. One thing's for sure, Pep fought some heavy hitters, Sandy Saddler knocked out 104 opponents and Chalky Wright knocked out 87 opponents, those two combined put 191 men to sleep.
Willie Pep and Chalky Wright fought two times in their professional boxing careers. The first fight was on November 20, 1942, at Madison Square Garden in New York. Willie Pep won by a 15-round unanimous decision to capture the world featherweight title from Chalky Wright. The second fight was on September 29, 1944, also at Madison Square Garden. Willie Pep won again by a 15-round unanimous decision to successfully defend his featherweight title. This is an image of Pep after hitting Wright with a left during their first fight.
Willie Pep catching Chalky Wright with a left jab during their first fight. Pep put on a clinic that night to earn his 54th straight victory. The Associated Press reported: "Pep piled up a big early lead with the use of a left jab that appeared to have a permanent parking place in Chalky's face, and then galloped out of harm's way as the ageing Californian chased him around the ring all the way down the stretch.”
As I mentioned before, Willie Pep survived a plane crash in 1946.
Willie Pep recovering in the hospital after the plane crash in 1946.
Willie Pep hitting the speed bag.
Willie Pep hitting the heavy bag.
Check this out, this is how rough the fights between Willie Pep and Sandy Saddler got, this is a famous photo that appeared on the cover of The National Police Gazette, it shows Sandy Saddler with Willie Pep in a choke hold.
Some more photos of the roughhousing between Willie Pep and Sandy Saddler.
My goodness, Pep is literally on Saddler's back here, keep in mind that this is a boxing match.
Down they go.
Willie Pep catching "The Clutch" Sammy Angott with a left to the chin in 1943. Angott actually won this fight by 10-round unanimous decision, handing Pep his first professional loss in 63 fights. Pep would proceed to win 73 straight fights before losing again.
I would love to own the original photo of this image of Willie Pep.
"The Featherweight" is a 2023 biographical sports drama film directed by Robert Kolodny about Willie Pep's improbable comeback in 1964 at the age of 42. Filming took place in Hartford using real locations from Pep's life to blend nonfiction aesthetics with narrative drama.
Willie Pep after regaining the featherweight title from Sandy Saddler in 1949.
The footwork and defensive brilliance of Willie Pep.
I remember my dad once saying, "Trying to hit Willie Pep was like trying to pick up water with a pair of pliers."
Willie Pep, beautiful boxing. I must say, watching Willie Pep box is like staring at a cheat code in human form. An absolute master at his craft.
Up next, Archie Moore, aka "The Old Mongoose", the longest-reigning World Light Heavyweight Champion in history. He adopted his famous nickname because of his highly clever, strategic, and defensive fighting style, mirroring the cunning and reflexes of a real mongoose and his remarkable longevity in the boxing ring as he continued to fight and win well into his late 30s and 40s. Archie Moore had a professional boxing career that lasted 28 years, spanning from 1935 to 1963. His title reign is insane, he held the world light heavyweight title from December 1952 to May 1962. He was a smart tactician who perfected the cross-arm guard, using his forearms and elbows to block shots while setting up sharp counterpunches. He was an absolutely brutal puncher, he holds the record for the most knockouts in boxing history with 132. Yes, he knocked out 132 of his opponents. Archie Moore was around a long time, and in those many years he learned every thing in the book of boxing, even when he was older and smaller than his rivals, his deep knowledge of angles and pacing allowed him to outsmart younger fighters. Legendary fighter. We'll start with the 1967-68 Panini - Campioni Dello Sport - Archie Moore.
1968 Mira Tuttosport - Regalo Lottery Back - Archie Moore.
1947-66 Exhibits - Archie Moore.
1996 Japan World Boxing - Archie Moore.
2010 Ringside Boxing Round One -Turkey Red - Base - Archie Moore.
2010 Ringside Boxing Round One - Turkey Red - Base - Archie Moore. It's unfortunate that I can't seem to find a clearer scan of this card. It's frustrating, sometimes you can't find the photos that match up with the cards, sometimes you can't find a scan of a certain card, and sometimes you can find a scan but it's not big enough or clear enough.
2010 Ringside Boxing Round One - Gold #/9 - Archie Moore. They picked a great image for this card, Archie Moore knocking down Rocky Marciano. The granite-chinned Marciano only tasted the canvas twice in his career and this was one of those times. Archie Moore was a murderous puncher. The knockdown occurred when Marciano was caught coming in by Archie Moore's straight right in the second round.
2010 Ringside Boxing Round One - Victorious - Base - Archie Moore.
2010 Ringside Boxing Round One - Weigh-in - Base - Archie Moore.
2002 JF Sporting Collectibles - Boxing: America's Greatest #/30 - Archie Moore.
2002 Brown's Boxing - Archie Moore.
2008 Topps Allen & Ginter's - Mini Relics - Archie Moore.
2024 Top Trumps - Boxing Icons - Archie Moore.
Check this photo out, Archie Moore, Joe Louis, and George Foreman. Archie Moore pursued a career in show business while living in San Diego. But he did not drift far from boxing, serving as a trainer and manager. He was George Foreman's advisor and cornerman when he won the heavyweight championship from Joe Frazier in 1973. Three years later, he served as the coach of the Nigerian boxing team at the Olympics. Three of the hardest hitters the sport has ever known, 252 total knockouts between these three.
Helmar Brewing Co. - All Our Heroes - Archie Moore.
This is an awesome item, an Archie Moore ABC charity card. He did a lot of work with kids, steering them away from trouble and charity work as well, he was a truly good person.
ACEO Swedish Boxing Game Card - Archie Moore.
Authenticated Ink - 1952 Lincoln Wheat Cent - Archie Moore.
ACEO Blind Art Cards By: Mary Jane - Archie Moore. I love these cards, I actually own one of Ingemar Johansson.
2018 Edward Vela Art Cards - Archie Moore.
2019 Edward Vela Art Cards - Archie Moore.
2024 David Lee Art Cards - Archie Moore.
2024 RR Parks Cards - The Greatest, Great, And Not So Much #1/1 - Archie Moore.
Awesome 1959 American Jewelers Christmas Advertisement Card featuring Archie Moore and "The Fighting Fisherman" Yvon Durelle. Their fight on December 10, 1958 at the Montreal Forum is one of the greatest fights ever. Moore was 42 years old at the time and broke Young Stribling's all-time knockout record by knocking out Durelle and scoring his 127th career knockout. But the fight itself was a classic because it featured a brutal, dramatic comeback by a 42-year-old champion against a ferocious challenger. Yvon Durelle was an extremely hard puncher himself, he knocked the aging world champion Archie Moore down three times in the opening round. Durelle dropped Moore for a fourth time in the fifth round. Moore refused to stay down, showing otherworldly recovery powers and sheer grit to survive the early onslaught. Durelle expended massive energy trying to finish the champion, tiring out his arms as Moore used his veteran ring IQ and defense to weather the storm. Moore turned the tables in the middle rounds, showcasing his precise counterpunching. Moore dropped Durelle in the seventh and tenth rounds before finally knocking him out in the eleventh round to retain his light heavyweight crown.
Archie was a highly strategic and defensive boxer, Yvon Durelle said of him after their epic encounter: "I have fought smart men before," Durelle said, "but never anyone as smart as that fellow."