It is interesting how different styles make fights; before Willie Pep first fought Sandy Sadler, Mr. Pep thought he would have no trouble with Mr. Sadler because he had already beaten several fighters like Humberto Sierra and Phil Terranova who had previously beaten Sandy Sadler. On Oct. 10,1948 Willie Pep was KO'ed by Sandy Sadler in the 4th round, the first time in his up till then 137 fight career that Willie Pep had been stopped. It was only the second loss in Willie Pep's career, and it came at the end of a 72-0-1 streak.

What an entertaining fight! Saddler too big, strong and rough for magnificent Willie. But the "Wisp" put on a show that makes him a winner in my eyes. We miss you, Pep.

This was a dirty fight but these dudes became friends after their careers...

Beautiful movement by Willie Pep. Saddler great fighter! Two of the the greatest Feathers of all time!

pep learned judo espeically for saddler. he knew that saddler was going to clinch and punch, and was looking for a way to minimize that quality. thus, judo.

this is fucking hilarious. these guys are pretty desparate. saddler actually shoves the ref out of the way, and then they all get tangled together and the ref goes down. dude this is classic. i really like peps style. satisfying to watch

I agree, one has to actually watch the magnificent footwork and exceptional defense--plus excellent punching technique--to understand just how great Pep was as a boxer. His footwork is amazing, just absolutely flawless and a pleasure to watch. A pure stylist; indeed, the greatest boxing stylist ever.

Even while losing, Pep was still beautiful to watch.

Hahaha, Pep learned JUDO to learn how to better fight Saddler. This was basically an MMA fight with the amount of clincwork involved.

Back in the day when you needed 150 fights to be known

Ahahaha the end of the 5th round. I love W. Pep. Saddler was Foreman boxing coach I think.

Saddler look like he's at least a weight class above Pep tho.

I'm looking at this and saying WOW!!! Pep was real smooth!! Sandler was Huge. As far as dirty they BOTH were. Pep tripping, healing, thumbs, etc. Sandler hitting behind the head, plus the above. So they both were dirty. Willie was just trying to beat Sandler off him.That body shot paralyzed willie's left leg. look at the replay. Much, much respect for these legends.

my father told me about this fight , he said it was the dirtiest fight ever, now that i see it, i think he was right..... willie pep and sandy saddler two all time great fighters makes this a must see , thanks for the post.

people talk like they really watch willie pep fights

Damn willie pep was nice with it slick for sn old school boxer now i know all them stories were true

thanks for the uploiad this was a dirty fight i wanna see the 2nd fight between the two

No, its hard to find the whole fight. I don't even think there is footage of their first meeting.

how did you get this fight ive always wanted to see pep fights but no one ever uploads em anywhere

thank you

It also bears mentioning that in even the first fight against Saddler, Pep had well over 100 professional fights under his belt. Nowadays, a fighter is considered shopworn at around 40 fights usually, and totally shot at 60+ (even as evasive as Pep was). I'm not trying to strip Saddler of the credit he deserves for beating a great fighter like Pep, but it is something to consider.

Sad to learn that he is gone. The book "The Sweet Science" written by A.J. Liebling has alot about Sandy. It would be fascinating to hear Sandy's daughter's recollections about her dad.

The only complete Robinson fight I've seen is Robinson-La Motta 6. The rest are all heavily edited. You've specifically seen other fights in total?

Saddler had Pep's number. Thats about it!! Thats boxing

It's kinda strange to see a guy with such a reach and height advantage play the aggressor in a fight, but I guess that's what made Sandy special. Relentless thinman

Do you know if Sandy Saddler is still alive? There is alot about Sandy in the classic book "The Sweet Science" by A.J. Lieberling.

From Hartford Connecticut..

I've spoken to some of the most learned and educated traders in the world, and aside from clips of it, the entire fight does not exist in its entirety.

Robinson isn't overrated. Robinson moved up in weight many times, while Pep, I am not sure if he ever did. Robinson also knocked people out.

RIP Willie Pep

how tall was willie pep does anybody know?????

You see Saddler trying to hyperextend Pep's elbow. The fights of the fifties are where modern day fighters learn the dirty tricks of the boxing game. Also both these fighters are the prototypes that the boxers are today with the lateral movement and the boxing on the move.

Say what you will about his tactics, but Saddler owned Pep. Nobody was able to hit him as often or beat him up as badly as Saddler did--multiple times.

It is with GREAT sadness to inform. you that Guglielmo Papaleo A.K.A. Willie Pep has passed away on Nov. 24th in Connecticut. R.I.P. Sad day for boxing truly one of the best P4P.

Willie Pep knew Judo AND Boxing? Captain America status.

You are correct, Sir!

These guys, for whatever reason, brought out the worst in each other.

In this fight?

Willie knew sandy saddler was gonna tie him up and box him dirty so he learns judo to counter it...its pretty entertaining to watch to say the least

@13seven13, I know all that about Pep. Can you just clear something up for me - why did you post that comment to me? What discussion are you getting in on? Thanks.

Sugar Ray Robinson fought middleweights as a welterweight. Salvador Sanchez was a featherweight. Maybe you meant Saddler or Pep?

7:50 horrible eye gouging from Saddler!! Jamming it right in Pep's eye with the left hand.

@beargrizly67 what about Robinson?

I'm a Sanchez fan but get real. Robinson grew into a middleweight and even fought for the light heavyweight champsionship. Is they fought at welterweight in Robinsons peak,Robinson by KO. Sanchez due to his untimely death had a very shourt career and its difficult to judge his greatness. Robinson was faster and the bigger puncher and just bigger period.

Pep is a scientist of boxing. He used everything to get you and had so much skills

The only real Robinson fight we have to study in depth, and please correct me with a full non-highlight clip if I'm wrong is Robinson-La Motta 6. Ray certainly looks strong and clever in that fight, but many of his punches are winged. He wasn't entirely accurate or straight with those shots. Now, for his time, I'm sure he was as slick as they come, but not as compared to more contemporary boxers.

Whitaker was also something to watch.

Not a bad match. Would be interesting to see this match happening under mma rules.

Sandy was a heck of a fighter but today he'd be disqualified almost every fight. Pep could get dirty too but it is clear Saddler initiates all the dirty stuff. Basically if Saddler isn't allowed to hold the head and hit he'd never beat Pep. The key to Willie is his movement and Saddler stops that by holding that head in place. I'd say Saddler should have been DQ's in 2 of the fights. Pep won one that had a better referee, and then Saddler won the other.

They were both pretty dirty, we can't just pick on Willie here, around the 8 minute mark or it might have been 7:50 Sandy tries to knee Willie in the head, and Sandy clinched and pulled him round a lot trying to wrestle him a bit. However, fuck that Pep is a dirty bastard, he tried so much Judo stuff in that match.

whats with all the cops at the end?

R.I.P My Great Uncle...To Bad I didnt Continue Boxing

@beargrizly67 i agree, I reckon he was a pure genius at hitting and not ( often ) getting hit.

I'm quite sure willie pep is in the top 10 of all time boxers in my book...ring experience (unofficial) total fights meen a lot.

@Doderhultarn89: So would Pep and a bunch of other boxers from that era. The referees let a lot of dirty boxing take place. It was a different era. Plus, when Saddler would hit low, the press called him dirty. When Pep would heel or thumb, he'd be called 'creative.'

@sugarnadf: The only difference between Pep's dirty fighting and Saddler's is that Pep was forgiven for it.

isn't ilegal to hold the head of the opponent and punch?

Look at the size difference people

We do not see this stamina anymore

RIP

Saddler was dirty but he also had Pep's style figured out. I don't think it's fair to say Pep would have won all 4 if he hadn't been in a plane crash.

Is Donaire and Rigondeaux the next coming of a Saddler-Pep? I hope Nonito shoulder heals and he can get back in shape. He's alot better than he looked against Rigo

Guglielmo Papaleo; "Willie Pep" Is The Greatest Featherweight (126lbs.) Of All Time! He's The Father Of The Modern Boxing. Before than The Great Robinson and ALI.

Saddler's style made it very difficult for Pep. A guy four to five inches taller with a longer reach would make it difficult for any fighter, but Saddler, along with being dirty, also had skills and hit hard. I think Saddler dropped him four times in the series.

Great fight when they weren't holding each other. Trouble was they were almost always holding each other.

wow what a dirty fight

Chava fought at Featherweight, Sugar Ray Robinson fought at Welterweight, Middleweight and eventually tried his hand at Light Heavyweight. Sanchez was simply to small.

Willie Pep vs Salvador Sanchez, who ya got?

pep was a fucking beast...defensive beast

Truthfully, I think Floyd and Pernell before him were scientifically more sound defensively. Leonard as well. Robinson, I'm not so sure. I think Robinson lacked a little accuracy compared to later fighters.

If pep could punch he would have been champ until he was 65 years old

that boy pep could box i heard he was up before he quit suicks he got trapped in the corner before that knockdown

Pep was using judo leg trips haha

@Doderhultarn89 Saddler was only dirty when he felt his opponent was fighting dirty. You want to see dirty, check out Harry Greb, Fritizie Zivik, Johnny ( fake a low blow ) Ruiz or Evander ( the headbutt ) Holyfield.

According to youtube boxing 'expert' @iljn1988, George Dixon, Terry McGovern, Abe Attell, Johnny Kilbane, Johnny Dundee, etc. never existed.

I'm definitely not denying that this fight turned ugly, but it usually gets hairy when one fighter wants to get inside and tie up an opponent. Fighting inside and tying up opponent has that danger of headbutts and suspect punches when holding.

i dont agree, but peps definately up there imo. i think whitaker mustve watched pep tapes

Maybe it's too personal between both fighters. I won't go as far as to say that Saddler was intentionally over aggressive/reckless from the start or as a game plan, although I can understand anyone who argues that he was, but definitely after Pep's eye cut Saddler poured it on. I do believe Pep still had every intention of fighting at normal distances, and not have to use some "judo", lol, Saddler wanted to eliminate that advantage. Saddler did too much punching in the clinch. Looks heated.

@marcxopoco, not sure what the hell you're banging on about; I'm fully aware of those fighters, but they simply weren't as great at Featherweight as Pep or Saddler were. Kilbane made only four official title defences in eleven years, McGovern was a better Bantamweight than Featherweight (maybe the best of the lot, that's another story), Attell kept the title on ludicrous 'No Decisions' after having his ears boxed off by Moran and Driscoll, and Dixon, though great, can't match Pep or Saddler.

At 5:56 SS pushes the ref out of the way thats some funny ish.

@marcxopoco, can only assume you're getting me mixed up with someone else, as I've repeatedly said that most of the fighters who I consider to be top 25-30 of all time fought before or during the Second World War. When have I "trashed" old fighters? I don't think that Mayweather, Pacquiao or Roy Jones Jr are fit to lace the boots of Fitzsimmons, Benny Leonard or Barbados Joe Walcott, so once more, whatever you're talking about / accusing me of is anyone's guess.

@temperex true true

Boxing has evolved so much lol.

hmm nice judo moves come to think of it they should allow judo style takedowns would be more fun

They fought 3 times Pep one Sddler won one .They said the 3 fights were the dirtest in Boxing History

how does one measure levels of dirtiness?

u do realize, pep was past his peak when he fought saddler, u all do realise that dont you?, it was after the plane crash that nearly killed him, prime for prime pep would of took all 4 bouts

@marcxopoco, seeing as nobody else has told me this, then no would be my answer to your last question. If you can find a modern media outlet which has made the points I've just made, then by all means post it. Not sure what your problem is, otherwise. I'm talking boxing - can't you do the same instead of following me around?

Lol.. So true mate..

Willie Pep who is that? Any official boxing source has Sugar Ray Robinson as the greatest boxer of all time pound for pound,

Both fighters are very dirty. Man.

This is the dirtiest fight I've ever watched.

Because he didnt like it?!?! dude u r twisted

Look at 5:56 Saddler pushing away the ref !

@sugarnadf that makes no sense what so ever, seriously man just listen to yourself. you're really gonna tell me that willie peps clear as day dirty tactics are acceptable simply because the ref let him get away with it?? what the hell kind of sense does that make? either you're the most naiive person on the planet or your just too much of a pep fan to face facts. i dont care what the refs let him got away with, his tactics were still dirty and unacceptable. you can accept that for some reason.

Sanchez WAS great! RIP, but why rip these boxers - I enjoyed the wrestling ...er, I mean boxing match,,,

Haha they was some monsters haha

@MrPsychopath83 Willie Pep actually fought Sugar Ray Robinson in the amateurs. Sugar ray was 130 lbs at the time while Willie Pep was pushing 105 lbs. Sorry but Willie pep, by statistics, and by evidence in his technique, many boxing historians can agree tthat ol' papaleo could be placed higher then Sugar Ray .

I think racism has something to do with them fighting each other so hard lol.

@sugarnadf "less obvious"??? lmao! willie pep is an ATG and one of my favorite fighters, but get fucking real man! what the hell is so subtle about applying judo tactics in a boxing match? both of these guys were blatantly dirty this fight, and for you to say saddler was dirtier is just plain stupid.