Willie Pep
(Guglielmo Papaleo)
(the "Will o' the Wisp")

BORN   September 19 1922; Hartford, Connecticut
DIED November 23 2006; Rocky Hill, Connecticut
HEIGHT 5-5
WEIGHT 123-135 3/4 lbs
MANAGER Lou Viscusi
TRAINER Bill Gore
RECORD 230-11-1 (65 KO, 9 EX)

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


Pep Fight Video Clip

(Press the  button at the top of the screen to return)

*** AMATEUR BOUTS ***
1938
        -Pep won the Amateur Flyweight Championship of Connecticut

1939
        -Pep won the Amateur Bantamweight Championship of Connecticut


*** PROFESSIONAL BOUTS ***
1940
Jul  3 James McGovern             Hartford, Ct                      W  4
Jul 25 Joey Marcus                Hartford, Ct                      W  4
Aug  8 Joey Wasnick               New Haven, Ct                    KO  3
Aug 29 Tommy Burns                Hartford, Ct                     KO  1
Sep  5 Joey Marcus                New Britain, Ct                  KO  1
Sep 19 Jack Moore                 Hartford, Ct                      W  6
Oct  3 Jimmy Riche                Waterbury, Ct                    KO  3
Nov 22 Carlo Duponde              New Britain, Ct                  KO  6
Nov 29 Frank Topazio              New Britain, Ct                  KO  6
Dec  6 Jim Mutane                 New Britain, Ct                  KO  2

1941
Jan 28 Augie Almeda               New Haven, Ct                    KO  6
Feb  3 Joe Echevarria             Holyoke, Ma                       W  6
Feb 10 Don Lyons                  Holyoke, Ma                      KO  2
Feb 17 Ruby Garcia                Holyoke, Ma                       W  6
Mar  3 Ruby Garcia                Holyoke, Ma                       W  6
Mar 25 Marty Shapiro              Hartford, Ct                      W  6
Mar 31 Joey Gatto                 Holyoke, Ma                      KO  2
Apr 14 Henry Vasquez              Holyoke, Ma                       W  6
Apr 22 "Mexican" Joey Silva       Hartford, Ct                      W  6
May  6 Lou Puglose                Hartford, Ct                     KO  2
May 12 John Cockfield             Holyoke, Ma                       W  6
Jun 24 Eddie DeAngelis            Hartford, Ct                     KO  3
Jul 16 Jimmy Gilligan             Hartford, Ct                      W  8
Aug  1 Harry Hitlian              Manchester, Ct                    W  6
Aug  5 Paul Frechette             Hartford, Ct                     KO  3
Aug 12 Eddie Flores               Thompsonville, Mi                KO  1
Sep 26 Jackie Harris              New Haven, Ct                    KO  1
Oct 10 Carlos Manzana             New Haven, Ct                     W  8
Oct 22 Connie Savoie              Hartford, Ct                     KO  2
Nov  7 Billy Spencer              Los Angeles, Ca                   W  4
Nov 24 Dave Crawford              Holyoke, Ma                       W  8
Dec 12 Ruby Garcia                New York, NY                      W  4

1942
Jan  8 Joey Rivers                Fall River, Ma                   KO  4
Jan 16 Sammy Parrota              New York, NY                      W  4
Jan 27 Abie Kaufman               Hartford, Ct                      W  8
Feb 10 Angelo Callura             Hartford, Ct                      W  8
Feb 24 Willie Roach               Hartford, Ct                      W  8
Mar 18 Johnny Compo               New Haven, Ct                     W  8
Apr 14 Spider Armstrong           Hartford, Ct                     KO  4
May  4 Curley Nichols             New Haven, Ct                     W  8
May 12 Aaron Seltzer              Hartford, Ct                      W  8
May 26 Joey Iannotti              Hartford, Ct                      W  8
Jun 23 Joey Archibald             Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Jul 21 Abe Denner                 Hartford, Ct                      W 12
          -Featherweight Championship of New England
Aug  1 "Mexican" Joey Silva       Waterbury, Ct                    TK  7
Aug 10 Pedro Hernandez            Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Aug 20 Nat Litfin                 West Haven, Ct                    W 10
Sep  1 Bobby "Poison" Ivy         Hartford, Ct                     TK 10
Sep 10 Frank Franconeri           New York, NY                     TK  1
Sep 22 Vince Dell'Orto            Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Oct  5 Bobby McIntire             Holyoke, Ma                       W 10
Oct 16 Joey Archibald             Providence, RI                    W 10
Oct 27 George Zengaras            Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Nov 20 Albert "Chalky" Wright     New York, NY                      W 15
          -Featherweight Championship of the World
Dec 14 Joe Aponte Torres          Washington DC                    KO  7
Dec 21 "Mexican" Joey Silva       Jacksonville, Fl                 TK  9

1943
Jan  4 Vince Dell'Orto            New Orleans, La                   W 10
Jan 19 Bill Speary                Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Jan 29 Allie Stolz                New York, NY                      W 10
Feb 11 Davey Crawford             Boston, Ma                        W 10
Feb 15 Bill Speary                Baltimore, Ma                     W 10
Mar  2 Lou Transparenti           Hartford, Ct                     KO  6
Mar 19 Sammy Angott               New York, NY                      L 10
Mar 29 Bobby McIntire             Detroit, Mi                       W 10
Apr  9 Sal Bartolo                Boston, Ma                        W 10
Apr 19 Angel Aviles               Tampa, Fl                         W 10
Apr 26 Jackie Wilson              Pittsburgh, Pa                    W 12
Jun  8 Sal Bartolo                Boston, Ma                        W 15
          -Featherweight Championship of the World

1944
Apr  4 Leo Francis                Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Apr 20 Harold "Snooks" Lacey      New Haven, Ct                     W 10
May  1 Jackie Leamus              Philadelphia, Pa                  W 10
May 19 Frankie Rubino             Chicago, Il                       W 10
May 23 Joey Bagnato               Buffalo, NY                      KO  2
Jun  6 Julie Kogan                Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Jul  7 Willie Joyce               Chicago, Il                       W 10
Jul 17 Manuel Ortiz               Boston, Ma                        W 10
Aug  4 Lulu Constantino           Waterbury, Ct                     W 10
Aug 29 Joey Peralta               Springfield, Ma                   W 10
Sep 19 Charley "Cabey" Lewis      Hartford, Ct                     TK  8
Sep 29 Albert "Chalky" Wright     New York, NY                      W 15
          -Featherweight Championship of the World
Oct 25 Jackie Leamus              Montreal, Que, Can                W 10
Nov 14 Charley "Cabey" Lewis      Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Nov 27 Pedro Hernandez            Washington, DC                    W 10
Dec  5 Albert "Chalky" Wright     Cleveland, Oh                     W 10

1945
Jan 23 Ralph Walton               Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Feb  5 Willie Roache              New Haven, Ct                     W 10
Feb 19 Phil Terranova             New York, NY                      W 15
          -Featherweight Championship of the World
Oct 30 Paulie Jackson             Hartford, Ct                      W  8
Nov  5 Mike Martyk                Buffalo, NY                      TK  5
Nov 26 Eddie Giosa                Boston, Ma                        W 10
Dec  5 Harold Gibson              Lewiston, Me                      W 10
Dec 13 Jimmy McAllister           Baltimore, Md                     D 10

1946
Jan 15 Johnny Virgo               Buffalo, NY                      KO  2
Feb 13 Jimmy Joyce                Buffalo, NY                       W 10
Mar  1 Jimmy McAllister           New York, NY                     KO  2
Mar 26 Jackie Wilson              Kansas City, Mo                   W 10
Apr  8 George Knox                Providence, RI                   KO  3
May  6 Ernie Petrone              New Haven, Ct                     W 10
May 13 Joey Angelo                Providence, RI                    W 10
May 22 Aponte Torres              St. Louis, Mo                     W 10
May 27 Jimmy Joyce                Minneapolis, Mn                   W  8
Jun  7 Sal Bartolo                New York, NY                     KO 12
          -Featherweight Championship of the World
Jul 10 Harold Gibson              Buffalo, NY                      TK  5
Jul 25 Jackie Graves              Minneapolis, Mn                  TK  8
Aug 26 Doll Rafferty              Milwaukee, Wi                    KO  6
Sep  4 Walter Kolby               Buffalo, NY                      KO  5
Sep 17 Lefty LaChance             Hartford, Ct                     TK  3
Nov  1 Paulie Jackson             Minneapolis, Mn                   W 10
Nov 15 Tomas Beato                Waterbury, Ct                    KO  2
Nov 27 Albert "Chalky" Wright     Milwaukee, Wi                    KO  3

1947
Jun 17 Victor Flores              Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Jul  1 Joey Fortuna               Albany, NY                       KO  5
Jul  8 Leo LeBrun                 Norwalk, Ct                       W  8
Jul 11 Jean Barriere              North Adams, Ma                  KO  4
Jul 15 Paulie Jackson             New Bedford, Ct                   W 10
Jul 23 Humberto Sierra            Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Aug 22 Jock Leslie                Flint, Mi                        KO 12
          -Featherweight Championship of the World
Oct 21 Jean Barriere              Portland, Me                     KO  1
Oct 27 Archie Wilmer              Philadelphia, Pa                  W 10
Dec 22 Alvara Estrada             Lewiston, Me                      W 10
Dec 30 Lefty LaChance             Manchester, Ct                   TK  8

1948
Jan  6 Pedro Biesca               Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Jan 12 Jimmy McAllister           St. Louis, Mo                     W 10
Jan 19 Joey Angelo                Boston, Ma                        W 10
Feb 24 Humberto Sierra            Miami, Fl                        TK 10
          -Featherweight Championship of the World
May  7 Leroy Willis               Detroit, Mi                       W 10
May 19 Charley "Cabey" Lewis      Milwaukee, Wi                     W 10
Jun 17 Miguel Acevedo             Minneapolis, Mn                   W 10
Jun 25 Luther Burgess             Flint, Mi                         W 10
Jul 28 Young Junior               Utica, NY                        KO  1
Aug  3 Teddy "Red Top" Davis      Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Aug 17 Teddy "Red Top" Davis      Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Sep  2 Johnny Dell                Waterbury, Ct                    TK  8
Sep 10 Paddy DeMarco              New York, NY                      W 10
Oct 12 Chuck Burton               Jersey City, NJ                   W  8
Oct 19 John LaRusso               Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Oct 29 Sandy Saddler              New York, NY                     LK  4
          -Featherweight Championship of the World
Dec 20 Hermie Freeman             Boston, Ma                        W 10

1949
Jan 17 Teddy "Red Top" Davis      St. Louis, Mo                     W 10
Feb 11 Sandy Saddler              New York, NY                      W 15
          -Featherweight Championship of the World
Apr 27 Ellis Ask                  Detroit, Mi                      EX  4
May 25 Mel Hammond                St. Paul, Mn                     EX  4
Jun  6 Luis Ramos                 New Haven, Ct                     W 10
Jun 14 Al Pennino                 Pittsfield, Ma                    W 10
Jun 20 John LaRusso               Springfield, Ma                   W 10
Jul 12 Jean Mougin                Syracuse, NY                      W 10
Sep  2 Miguel Acevedo             Chicago, Il                      EX  4
Sep 20 Eddie Campo                Waterbury, Ct                    TK  7
          -Featherweight Championship of the World
Dec 12 Harold Dade                St. Louis, Mo                     W 10

1950
Jan 16 Charley Riley              St. Louis, Mo                    KO  5
          -Featherweight Championship of the World
Feb  6 Roy Andrews                Boston, Ma                        W 10
Feb 22 Jimmy Warren               Miami, Fl                         W 10
Mar 17 Ray Famechon               New York, NY                      W 15
          -Featherweight Championship of the World
May 15 Art Llanos                 Hartford, Ct                     KO  2
Jun  1 Terry Young                Milwaukee, Wi                     W 10
Jun 26 Bobby Timpson              Hartford, Ct                      W 10
Jul 25 Bobby Bell                 Washington, DC                    W 10
Aug  2 Proctor Heinold            Scranton, Pa                      W 10
Sep  8 Sandy Saddler              Bronx, NY                        LT  8
          -Featherweight Championship of the World

1951
Jan 30 Tommy Baker                Hartford, Ct                     TK  4
Feb 26 Billy Hogan                Sarasota, Fl                     KO  2
Mar  5 Carlos Chavez              New Orleans, La                   W 10
Mar 26 Pat Iacobucci              Miami, Fl                         W 10
Apr 17 Baby Ortiz                 St. Louis, Mo                    TK  5
Apr 27 Eddie Chavez               San Francisco, Ca                 W 10
Jun  4 Jesus Compos               Baltimore, Md                     W 10
Sep  4 Corky Gonzalez             New Orleans, La                   W 10
Sep 26 Sandy Saddler              New York, NY                     LT  9
          -Featherweight Championship of the World

1952
Apr 29 Santiago Gonzalez          Tampa, Fl                         W 10
May  5 Kenny Leach                Colombus, Ga                      W 10
May 10 Buddy Baggett              Aiken, SC                        KO  5
May 21 Claude Hammond             Miami Beach, Fl                   W 10
Jun 30 Tommy Collins              Boston, Ma                       LT  6
Sep  3 Billy Lima                 Pensacola, Fl                     W 10
Sep 11 Bobby Woods                Vancouver, BC, Can                W 10
Oct  1 Armand Savoie              Chicago, Il                       W 10
Oct 20 Billy Lima                 Jacksonville, Fl                  W 10
Nov  5 Manny Castro               Miami Beach, Fl                  TK  5
Nov 19 Fabala Chavez              St. Louis, Mo                     W 10
Dec  5 Jorge Sanchez              West Palm Beach, Fl               W 10

1953
Jan 19 Billy Lauderdale           Nassau, Bahamas                   W 10
Jan 27 Davey Mitchell             Miami Beach, Fl                   W 10
Feb 10 Jose Alvarez               San Antonio, Tx                   W 10
Mar 31 Joey Gambino               Tampa, Fl                         W 10
Apr  7 Noel Paquette              Miami Beach, Fl                   W 10
May 13 Jackie Blair               Dallas, Tx                        W 10
Jun  5 Pat Marcune                New York, NY                     TK 10
Nov 21 Sonny Luciano              Charlotte, NC                     W 10
Dec  4 Davey Allen                West Palm Beach, Fl               W 10
Dec  8 Billy Lima                 Houston, Tx                      KO  2
Dec 15 Tony Longo                 Miami Beach, Fl                   W 10

1954
Jan 19 David Seabrooke            Jacksonville, Fl                  W 10
Feb 26 Lulu Perez                 New York, NY                     LT  2
          -Some sources report that Pep took a "dive"
Jul 24 Mike Turcotte              Mobile, Al                        W 10
Aug 18 Til LeBlanc                Moncton, NB, Can                  W 10
Nov  1 Mario Colon                Dayton Beach, Fl                  W 10

1955
Mar 11 Myrel Olmstead             Bennington, Vt                    W 10
Mar 22 Charley Titone             Holyoke, Ma                       W 10
Mar 30 Gil Cadilli                Parks Air Force Base, Ca          L 10
May 18 Gil Cadilli                Detroit, Mi                       W 10
Jun  1 Joey Cam                   Boston, Ma                       TK  4
Jun 14 Mickey Mars                Miami Beach, Fl                  TK  7
Jul 12 Hector Rodriguez           Bridgeport, Ct                    W 10
Sep 13 Jimmy Ithia                Hartford, Ct                     TK  6
Sep 27 Henry "Pappy" Gault        Holyoke, Ma                       W 10
Oct 10 Charley Titone             Brockton, Ma                      W 10
Nov 29 Henry "Pappy" Gault        Tampa, Fl                         W 10
Dec 12 Lee Carter                 Houston, Tx                      KO  4
Dec 28 Andy Arel                  Miami Beach, Fl                   W 10

1956
Mar 13 Kid Campeche               Tampa, Fl                         W 10
Mar 27 Buddy Baggett              Beaumont, Tx                      W 10
Apr 17 Jackie Blair               Hartford, Ct                      W 10
May 22 Manuel Armenteros          San Antonio, Tx                  TK  7
Jun 19 Russ Tague                 Miami Beach, Fl                   W 10
Jul  4 Hector Bacquettes          Lawton, Ok                       KO  4

1957
Apr 23 Cesar Morales              Fort Lauderdale, Fl               W 10
May 10 Manny Castro               Florence, SC                      W 10
Jul 16 Manny Castro               El Paso, Tx                       W 10
Jul 23 Russ Tague                 Houston, Tx                       W 10
Dec 17 Jimmy Connors              Boston, Ma                        W 10

1958
Jan 14 Tommy Tibbs                Boston, Ma                        L 10
Mar 31 Prince Johnson             Holyoke, Ma                       W 10
Apr  8 George Stephany            Bristol, Tn                       W 10
Apr 14 Cleo Ortiz                 Providence, RI                    W 10
Apr 29 Jimmy Kelly                Boston, Ma                        W 10
May 20 Bobby Singleton            Boston, Ma                        W 10
Jun 23 Pat McCoy                  New Bedford, Ct                   W 10
Jul  1 Bobby Soares               Athol, Ma                         W 10
Jul 17 Bobby Bell                 Norwood, Ma                       W 10
Aug  4 Luis Ramona                Presque Isle, Me                  W 10
Aug  9 Jesse Rodrigues            Painesville, Oh                   W 10
Aug 26 Al Duarte                  North Adams, Ma                   W 10
Sep 20 Hogan "Kid" Bassey         Boston, Ma                       LT  9

1959
Jan 26 Sonny Leon                 Caracas, Venezuela                L 10
Jan 27  -Pep announced his retirement from the ring
           (only to return later)

1965
Jan 28 Jerry Powers               Miami, Fl                        EX  4
Mar 12 Hal McKeever               Miami, Fl                         W  8
Apr 26 Jackie Lennon              Philadelphia, Pa                  W  6
May 21 Johnny Gilmore             Norwalk, Ct                       W  6
May 28 "Irish" Bob Shaughnessy                                     EX  4
Jul 26 Benny Randell              Quebec City, Que, Can             W 10
Sep 28 Johnny Gilmore             Philadelphia, Pa                  W 10
Oct  1 Willie Little              Johnston, NY                     KO  3
Oct  4 Tommy Haden                Providence, RI                   TK  4
Oct 14 Sergio Musquiz             Phoenix, Az                      KO  5
Oct 25 Ray Coleman                Tucson, Az                       KO  5

1966
Mar 16 Calvin Woodland            Richmond, Va                      L  6

1971
Sep 11 Sandy Saddler              Westchester, NY                 SCH   
          -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known

1973
Mar  8 Sandy Saddler              New York, NY                     EX   

1975
       Bobby Krystopa             Meriden, Ct                      EX   
       Billy Graham               in Connecticut                   EX   
       Billy Graham               Orange, NJ                       EX   



Record Courtesy of Tracy Callis, Historian, International Boxing Research Organization
 
Upcoming Fights Current Champions America Online Newsletter Back to Main Page


[Return To Top]