Boxing

Willie Pep and how to win the round without throwing a blow

Published

1 year ago

February 26, 2025

Willie Pep is my favorite senior -school warrior. Two hundred and twenty -nine wins compared to 11 losses and one draw, won and regained the title of a featherweight, competed in three decades, and this is my favorite, he defended his title six months after the accident accident and told him that he never boxed again.

His defense and movement were legendary. He wore the nickname “Will about ‘The Wisp” because he slipped and left the ring, stopping to counteract and cause damage. He was stunning for watching and worth a deep diving on YouTube to recognize his championship.

As with many figures larger than life, the legend is surrounded by PEP. Perhaps the most strong legend is that PEP promised writers that he would win the round without throwing a blow. Before fighting Jackie Graves, a very solid opponent, he reportedly announced in the third round that he would win, having a zero crime. He often reports as truth in documentary films about PEP, and even wore two of three results cards in the third night.

The answer is definitely, probably not.

We know that PEP won the fight, but there is no movie. It was before reporters and filmmakers reported official results cards, so we can’t rely on it. In fact, reporting was so inconsistent in this era that AP and UPI did not agree to how many times Graves fell in the fight – one information service said twice and the other reported four charm.

Pep liked to talk about the round and said that he even wore an article about a fight that allegedly verified that he won the round without throwing a blow. Some even claimed that Willie wrote the article himself. At the end of his life, Graves said that he did not remember if he lost the round without throwing a blow, but he said that it was possible because it is hard to hit him.

“I believe he did it. The man was a legend and a star outside of boxing. He spent time spent with men such as Jackie Gleason and Frank Sinatra – why would he have to come up with something to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to seem to see “James Madio says. Madio played Featherweight, Bio-PIC 2024 PEP. Modern Yorker He said in his release of the academy that Madio should have been nominated for the best actor.

Regardless of whether the myth is true, he remains the fact that Willie Pep was one of the most elusive boxers who have ever entered the ring. His defense skills were really something that could be seen and you could see his influence on fighters such as Ali, Camacho and Whitaker. His leg work and lateral movement, his feelings and incorrect management and movement of the head made opponents stunned and often frozen. He slipped, hit, waited and paired with absurd balance.

Or is it all without throwing a blow to win the round?

“While the second boxer did not throw any blows, you can’t win a round without a blow,” says Joe Cusano. Cusano is for many years Pro Ref and a judge who appeared in the film-playing, of course, a judge. “He would have to throw something.” (Cusano’s book, MountainsIN will be released later this year.)

Could charisma Pepa facilitate him win a round without a blow? One part of the legend is that he told the judges what he was going to do.

“Hey, if Willie leaned over the ropes and talked to the judges who could have in their head and maybe influenced them,” says Madio. It would not be the first or last time the fighter influenced the judges.

To justify shooting a round for a warrior who did not throw a single blow, would require quite abstract thinking. After applying four scoring criteria, this would mean that there will be no pure impact and zero aggression, not to mention effective aggression. It seems to me that you can get points for general defense and ring, but usually these two supporting criteria count when they lead to a pure blow. If the warrior simply avoids without counteracting, this is not really worthy of points.

The opponent, as Joe Cusano emphasizes, would have to be complicit in his passivity, losing all his blows, and maybe even throwing. I think that if one warrior does not throw any blows at all, and the other boxer threw the blows that did not land, it is probably enough to give this warrior a round.

“I spent the whole day with Willie in Hall of Fame and we talked a lot about it,” says Mark Baker, a biographer of PEP. “It has always sounded shaky, and the more I caused, the more the story fell apart. In the end, Willie said that he probably stabbed or threw blows, but did not land. “

Ripping and throwing blows that may not land is completely different than not throwing everyone strikes. You can certainly win the round by doing these things.

“Willie was quite a figure and he had some stories of high stories,” says Baker.

Baker also has an insight into how the article was written and how the legend developed.

“At that time, reporters and writers sent their accounts through the wire,” he explains. “Their relations with the fighting were often quite faulty. On the Night of the Pep-Graves fight there was a lot of sun activity that would interrupt the broadcast. It would leave many holes in the relationship with the fight. The guy who wrote the article that Willa was carrying with him was a rather unclear reporter and could take this opportunity to write something sensational. “

Featherweight It will have a wide version in May at various stream points. Marek Baker’s book Willie Pep: Biography 20th The greatest feather knowledge of the century It is available at Amazon and the same applies to the upcoming boxing book Joe Cusano Mountains.

Boxing

IBF gives Moses Itauma a shot at the world title – fighting Hrgovic no longer makes sense

Published

23 hours ago

July 2, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Moses Itauma was given a direct path to the IBF heavyweight title, leaving Queensberry with one obvious question: Why risk it all against Filip Hrgovic?

In a statement sent to World Boxing News, the International Boxing Federation confirmed that it had received official notice on June 26 of Oleksandr Usyk’s resignation as IBF heavyweight champion.

Under championship rules, the governing body ordered top-ranked Frank Sanchez to negotiate with number three contender Moses Itauma for the vacant title. Both have until July 29 to reach an agreement.

Immediately, Hrgovic became an unnecessary obstacle to Itauma’s path to the world title.

When Itauma agreed to face Hrgovic on August 29 at The O2 in London, it was the perfect step for one of boxing’s brightest adolescent heavyweights.

This equation has completely changed.

IBF pays tribute to Usyk

In a statement provided to WBN, the IBF also confirmed Usyk’s reign before confirming the order.

“Over the course of his distinguished career, Usyk has established himself as one of the sport’s elite competitors, and the IBF is honored to recognize him as one of its world champions.

“His talent and commitment to excellence have made a lasting impact on boxing and will continue to inspire future generations of fighters.

“The IBF wishes Oleksandr Usyk continued success in his future endeavors.”

Only after paying tribute to the former champion did the IBF officially order Sanchez and Itauma to negotiate for the vacant world title.

This is an opportunity that many contenders have been chasing for years. Itauma immediately received this opportunity.

Hrgović’s fight no longer makes sense

When Queensberry announced the fight with Hrgovic, promoter Frank Warren described it as a “litmus test” that Itauma was ready for, while DAZN described it as a key fight with world title implications.

These consequences have now become a reality.

No one doubts Itauma’s willingness to fight anyone. He signed a contract with Hrgovic before the world title unexpectedly landed on the table. This is a completely different situation.

Hrgovic remains one of the most perilous heavyweight contenders despite suffering only one loss to Daniel Dubois. Since then, the Croatian has regained momentum with victories over Joe Joyce, David Adeleye and Dave Allen, which put him back among the top contenders in the division.

If an agreement can be reached, the obvious solution would be to replace Hrgović with Sanchez on August 29 in exchange for the vacant IBF heavyweight title.

As compensation, Hrgovic could get the first shot at the recent champion if Itauma defeats Sanchez.

Whether this proves possible depends on whether all involved are willing to restructure the contracts already in place.

The heavyweight story still beckons

The change would also support Itauma in its historic mission, which has already missed one goal.

Itauma’s dream of breaking Mike Tyson’s record as the youngest heavyweight champion is gone, but another goal remains within reach.

If the 21-year-old wins the vacant IBF title before October, he will overtake Floyd Patterson to become the second-youngest heavyweight champion in history.

If he waits until the match against Hrgovic, this chance will be gone forever.

Queensberry matched Itauma with Hrgovic because it seemed like the quickest path to a chance at the championship.

The IBF has now given them an even faster fight.

Unless Hrgovic’s contract can no longer be salvaged, Queensberry should exhaust all options to hire Sanchez instead.

The IBF unexpectedly gave Itauma a world title shot and a chance to become the second-youngest heavyweight champion in history.

It would be arduous to justify giving up this opportunity in favor of unnecessary risk.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

Boxing

Lennox Lewis ‘admitted’ he should have had one more defeat to former heavyweight champion on his record: ‘You won’

Published

23 hours ago

July 2, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Lennox Lewis ‘admitted’ he should’ve had one more loss on his record to former heavyweight champion: “You won”

The former world champion claims Lennox Lewis once admitted he should have retired after three defeats in his professional career.

“The Lion” is considered one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. He retired in 2003 after avenging his only two losses to Oliver McCall and Hasim Rahman.

Lewis also had a successful rematch with Evander Holyfield, who somehow managed to do so defended his world titles after a controversial draw in their first meeting.

However, later that year in 1999, Lewis managed to become the undisputed heavyweight champion after winning by unanimous decision, maintaining his lineal status until his retirement following a sixth-round victory over Vitali Klitschko.

However, already in 1996, many believed that the Briton should have suffered another defeat, this time to Ray Mercer, who had briefly held the WBO title in 1991.

The American eventually vacated the belt and was defeated by Larry Holmes the following year before losing a 10-round unanimous decision to Holyfield in 1995.

“Merciless” then faced Lewis in a battle between two Olympic gold medalists, this time suffering a highly controversial defeat by a 10-round majority.

I’m talking to James SlaterMercer insisted that even Lewis doubted he deserved to win their competition.

“Yeah, I won that fight, man. He admitted it to me. He knows, a fighter knows. I won that fight. He told me, ‘I know you’re going to win.’ I told him, ‘Where’s my half of your check!’

“He said OK. Every time I see him, I tell him I’m still waiting! They were preparing him for the fight [Mike] Tyson. That’s what happened and that’s why they gave him the win.

As it happened, Lewis didn’t face Mike Tyson until 2002, when he secured victory after the eighth round.

Instead, after the controversy with Mercer, there was a rematch with McCall, whom he stopped for the WBC title.

Boxing

The Itauma vs Hrgovic fight will take place on August 29 at The O2

Published

1 week ago

June 23, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

As announced by the promoters, Moses Itauma will face Filip Hrgovic at The O2 in London on Saturday, August 29, in a heavyweight fight scheduled to be broadcast live on DAZN on pay-per-view.

Itauma, 21, is undefeated at 14-0, has 12 knockouts and holds the WBO Intercontinental, WBA International and Commonwealth titles. His last fight was in March, when he defeated American Jermaine Franklin in the fifth round at the Co-op Live gala in Manchester. This fight was his longest since 2023; several of his recent wins have come in the opening round, including stoppages of Dillian Whyte and Demsey McKean.

Hrgovic, 34, of Croatia, has a record of 20-1, 15 knockouts and a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics. He previously held first place in the IBF ranking. In May he stopped Dave Allen in the third round at Doncasterand his third victory in a row. The escape came after his defeat to Daniel Dubois in June 2024, the only defeat of his career, which saw him overtake David Adeleye and Joe Joyce.

Hrgovic is the most experienced opponent Itauma has faced as a professional. He was stopped once in 21 fights and faced several world-class heavyweights.

“This has all the hallmarks of a classic heavyweight showdown and we were determined to see it through to the end,” said promoter Frank Warren. “This fight is the litmus test that Moses is ready for and it is the one he wanted. Filip believes it will be too much, too soon for the adolescent star. On August 29 at The O2 we will find out what will be another amazing night for British boxing.”