Willie Pep


Guglielmo Papaleo was an American professional boxer who held the World Featherweight Championship twice between the years of 1942 and 1950.
Papaleo was born in Middletown, Connecticut to an Italian family: his father, Salvatore, was from Rosolini, Sicily, Italy, and his mother, Maria Marchese, was from nearby Melilli, Sicily, Italy.
Pep boxed a total of 1,956 rounds in the 241 bouts during his 26-year career, a considerable number of rounds and bouts even for a fighter of his era. His final record was 229–11–1 with 65 knockouts. Pep, known for his speed, finesse and elusiveness, is considered to be one of the best fighters of the 20th century; after his 199th win, Kid Campeche described his experience by saying, "Fighting Willie Pep is like trying to stomp out a grass fire." Pep is widely considered one of the greatest defensive boxers of all time.
Pep was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. Pep was voted as the No. 1 featherweight of the 20th century by the Associated Press and ranked the No. 1 featherweight of all time by the International Boxing Research Organization in 2005. He is currently ranked by BoxRec as the greatest featherweight boxer of all time.

Boxing career

Amateur career

Pep first fought as an amateur in 1937. At the time, amateur boxers from Connecticut were allowed to fight for money. It was during the Great Depression and Pep's father was earning $15 per week at the Works Progress Administration. Pep worked as a shoeshine boy in downtown Hartford alongside Johnny Duke. Both boys joined a gym together and became sparring partners. Willie was soon earning more in one night of fighting each week. When his parents found out he was boxing, his mother was worried for him, but his father said that if he was making so much fighting on Fridays, maybe he should see about fighting on Tuesdays as well. "My old man, he was a sports fan" Pep later quipped.
In 1938 Pep fought Sugar Ray Robinson in the attic of a feed store in Norwich, Connecticut. According to Pep's later telling, Robinson was an amateur champion in the state of New York, where amateurs were not paid, so he took a pseudonym to get bouts for money in Connecticut. Because of this, Pep did not know who he was fighting at the time. Before the fight he was told his unknown opponent was not good, but he recalls quickly learning otherwise once the bout began and Robinson was "all over me".

Professional career

Pep started boxing professionally on July 10, 1940, beating James McGovern by a decision in four rounds in Hartford, Connecticut. Like many boxers of the first half of the 20th century, Pep concentrated his early fighting career on boxing in New England, and he split his first 25 contests between Connecticut and Massachusetts. He was undefeated during that span and for fight number 26, he finally headed west, beating Eddie Flores by a knockout in the first round at Thompsonville, Michigan. A couple of fights later, he travelled further west and made his California debut, beating Billy Spencer by a decision in four rounds at Los Angeles.
By the time Pep stepped up his quality of opposition he was undefeated at 41–0, and he met former world champion Joey Archibald in 1942. He beat Archibald by a decision in ten rounds and, in his next bout, challenged Abe Denner for the New England-area featherweight title. He won the fight by a decision in 12, and his status among the world's top featherweights continued to climb. He won ten more bouts to reach 52–0, including a rematch win over Archibald, before he was given his first world championship try, in October. He became the World Featherweight Champion by outpointing the defending world champ Chalky Wright over the 15 round distance. He fought twice more to finish the year, winning both by knockout.
Pep began 1943 by winning six bouts in a row to find himself with a record of 62–0. But in his seventh bout of 1943, he suffered his first defeat, at the hands of Sammy Angott, another world champion boxer. Angott beat Pep over the ten round distance, by decision. Ten days later, Pep was back in the ring, beating Bobby McIntyre by a decision. He closed 1943 winning five fights in a row, including two over future world champion Sal Bartolo and one over Jackie Wilson. The second win over Bartolo was in a defense of the world title.
1944 was a very good year for Pep. He won all 16 of his bouts that year, including wins over bantamweight champions Willie Joyce and Manuel Ortiz. He fought and beat Wright two more times, with Pep's featherweight title on the line once. He also made his first fight abroad, beating fringe contender Jackie Lemus in Canada.
On June 6, 1944, he fought near featherweight contender, and rated lightweight Julie Kogon before a record crowd of 7,751 in an extraordinary bout in Hartford, Connecticut, and won soundly in an eight-round decision. Pep was given eight rounds by one of the judges. One fascinating fact about this fight that is not well known, is that Kogon was threatened before the fight by two armed men. They stated that the Kogon would not win the fight and it would be thrown or else him and his family would not survive.
He had eight fights in 1945, winning seven and drawing one. He beat former world champion Phil Terranova to retain the title, and had a ten-round draw with Jimmy McAllister.
In 1946, Pep had 18 fights, and won all of them, including a 12-round knockout of Bartolo and a three-round knockout of Wright. He had a six-fight knockout win streak during a span that year.
Despite being severely injured in a plane crash on January 5, Pep fought 10 bouts in 1947, again going undefeated. Many thought he had lost something as a fighter, especially after unexpectedly struggling in fights against Archie Wilmer and Pedro Biesca. He defended the world featherweight belt once that year, knocking out Jock Leslie in twelve rounds at Flint, Michigan.
Nineteen forty-eight was a year that would become important in Pep's life: He won 15 bouts before going into what would be the first fight of his four-fight series with Sandy Saddler. He retained the title by beating Humberto Sierra by a knockout in 10 and he beat former world champion Paddy DeMarco, also in ten, but by decision. Then, on October 29, he lost the world featherweight title to Saddler in a fourth-round knockout.
After two wins, he and Saddler met in 1949. On their rivalry's second installment, Pep recovered the World Featherweight Championship by beating Saddler in a 15-round decision, and then he engaged in a series of exhibition and ten round bouts before defending the crown against Eddie Campo, winning by a knockout in the seventh. He finished that year beating former bantamweight champion Harold Dade by a decision in ten at St. Louis.
In 1950, he won nine fights before meeting Saddler for a third time. Those nine bouts included defenses against Charlie Riley, knocked out in five, and France's Ray Famechon, beaten by decision in 15. Then came the third fight with Saddler. Pep once again lost his World Featherweight Championship to Saddler, being unable to come out for the eighth round due to a separated shoulder suffered at the end of the seventh round. Pep was ahead on all scorecards.
Nineteen fifty-one brought a hint of controversy to Pep's life. He won eight bouts in a row to start the year, but his ninth bout, the last chapter of the rivalry with Saddler, was his most important bout that year. Pep quit because blood from his right eye was bothering him. According to Nat Fleischer in The Ring, December 1951, this was an extremely dirty fight, with "wrestling, heeling, eye gouging, tripping, thumbing- in fact every dirty trick known to the old timers..." Referee Ray Miller "let the bout get out of hand..." "The pattern of the 'contest' never varied. Pep wouldn't make a fight of it and Sandy couldn't. Pep too frequently backed around the ring and Saddler just as often missed as he kept boring in trying to corner his man. Then when he did, the rowdy tactics got under way and ended only when either both were sprawled on the canvas still wrestling each other, or the referee was outside the ring trying pull the boys apart or both fighters and official were entangled in a pretzel formation on the ring floor." Pep was ahead on the scorecards of the officials after eight rounds, but he quit after nine rounds, "declaring he no longer could continue because of severe pains caused by a deep cut over the right eye."
In 1952, Pep had 12 fights, winning 11. He was knocked out in six by Tommy Collins, but also held two wins over Billy Lima that year.
Pep won all 11 fights in 1953, and entered 1954 on a 17-fight winning streak. After beating David Seabrooke by a decision, he lost to fringe contender Lulu Perez by TKO after a delayed reaction to a punch. Pep ended up winning three more bouts before the end of the year.
Pep went on boxing for five more years, retiring in 1960, and then he came back in 1964 and boxed for two more years. During that last period of his boxing career, he won 43 bouts and lost only five, but his only opponent of note during that time was Hogan Kid Bassey, a future World Featherweight Champion who knocked Pep out in nine rounds. Pep boxed in Caracas, Venezuela, losing to Sonny Leon by a decision in 10, and in his last fight, in 1966, he lost to Calvin Woodland by a decision in six.
Pep had a record of 229 wins, 11 losses and one draw, with 65 wins by knockout.

Boxing style

Willie Pep was renowned for his elusive, near-untouchable style. His fighting approach was built on impeccable reflexes, lightning-fast footwork, and an uncanny ability to evade punches with minimal effort. Unlike traditional fighters, who relied on blocking or trading blows, Pep used lateral movement, subtle upper-body slips shoulder rolls, and precise pivots to make opponents miss entirely. His footwork allowed him to circle the ring effortlessly, frustrating aggressors by staying just out of reach. This allowed him to counter with sharp, accurate strikes when openings appeared.
By constantly evading punches, he drained opponents’ confidence and energy, forcing them into mistakes. His lack of knockout power was offset by his ability to outscore foes with rapid, precise combinations after dodging their attacks. Though his career spanned over two decades, his reliance on defense over brawling kept him remarkably fresh, cementing his legacy as one of the sport’s purest boxers. Fighters like Floyd Mayweather Jr. later emulated elements of his elusive, cerebral approach.

Post-career

After retiring, he and Saddler were involved in a series of exhibition bouts, and in 1980, Pep sued Sports Illustrated for running a story suggesting that he threw his fight with Perez. Pep lost the lawsuit, the jury deliberating just 15 minutes.
Pep remained active in boxing after hanging up the gloves, serving as an inspector and referee.
In 1977, Pep was elected to the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.
In March 2006, Pep resided at a nursing home in Connecticut, diagnosed with dementia pugilistica, before his death on November 23, 2006. He is buried in Rocky Hill, CT. He left four children, William "Billy" Papaleo, Mary Papaleo, Michael Papaleo and Melissa Papaleo, and three stepchildren, April, L.J., Holly Miller.

Honors

In 1945, Pep was voted Fighter of the Year by The Ring magazine.
The Sporting News recognized Pep as the Fighter of the Decade for the 1940s.
He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in its inaugural year of 1990.
In 1994, Pep was honored with the Barney Nagler Award by the Boxing Writers Association of America in recognition of his long and meritorious service.
Pep was ranked sixth on Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years in 2002. Pep was also named the third greatest fighter of all time by Bert Sugar.
Pep was ranked 5th on ESPN's 50 Greatest Boxers Of All Time list in 2007.
In 2009, BoxingScene ranked him the greatest featherweight boxer of all time.
Willie Pep was voted as the Greatest Featherweight Ever by the Houston Boxing Hall Of Fame in 2014. The HBHOF is a voting body composed totally of current and former fighters.
In 2011, the city of Middletown, Connecticut constructed the Willie Pep Skatepark named in honor of Pep.

Film

In 2023, The Featherweight, a feature film based on Pep's life, premiered at the 80th Venice International Film Festival. Directed by Robert Kolodny, the biographical film stars James Madio as Willie Pep and focuses primarily on the period before Pep's 1965 comeback. Lawrence Gilliard Jr. portrays Sandy Saddler, Stephen Lang plays Pep's trainer Bill Gore, Keir Gilchrist is Pep's son Billy, Ron Livingston is Pep's manager Bob Kaplan and Ruby Wolf portrays Pep's young wife Linda.

"No-punch" round

There are claims that Pep won the third round in his fight against Jackie Graves in a fight on July 25, 1946, without throwing a punch. The "no-punch" winning round is disputed; several contemporary newspaper articles make no mention of it, and an account in The Minneapolis Star describes the third round as "toe to toe slugging with Pep inflicting his best punishment with a right to the body". Pep supposedly tipped off a few ringside reporters before the bout and told them he would win the third round without throwing "a punch of anger."

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateAgeLocationNotes
241LossCalvin WoodlandUD6Mar 16, 1966City Arena, Richmond, Virginia, US
240Win229–10–1Ray ColemanKO5 Oct 25, 1965Sports Center, Tucson, Arizona, US
239Win228–10–1Sergio MusquizTKO5 Oct 14, 1965Sportatorium, Phoenix, Arizona, US
238Win227–10–1Tommy HadenTKO3, 1:33Oct 4, 1965Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Pennsylvania, US
237Win226–10–1Willie LittleTKO3 Oct 1, 1965War Memorial Arena, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, US
236Win225–10–1Johnny GilmorePTS6Sep 28, 1965Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
235Win224–10–1Benny 'Red' RandallUD10Jul 21, 1965Old Coliseum, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
234Win223–10–1Johnny GilmoreUD6May 21, 1965Crystal Arena, Norwalk, Connecticut, US
233Win222–10–1Jackie LennonUD6Apr 26, 1965Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
232Win221–10–1Harold McKeeverUD8Mar 11, 1959Little River Auditorium, Miami, Florida, US
231Loss220–10–1Sonny LeonUD10Jan 26, 1959Nuevo Circo, Caracas, Venezuela
230Loss220–9–1Hogan 'Kid' BasseyTKO9 Sep 20, 1958Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, US
229Win220–8–1Al DuarteUD10Aug 26, 1958Glovers Bowl, North Adams, Massachusetts, US
228Win219–8–1Jesse RodriguezUD10Aug 9, 1958Lake County Fairgrounds, Painesville, Ohio, US
227Win218–8–1Luis CarmonaUD10Aug 4, 1958Northern Maine Fairgrounds, Presque Isle, Maine, US
226Win217–8–1Bobby BellUD10Jul 17, 1958Arena, Norwood, Massachusetts, US
225Win216–8–1Bobby SoaresUD10Jul 1, 1958Memorial Hall, Athol, Massachusetts, US
224Win215–8–1Pat McCoyUD10Jun 23, 1958Sargent Field, New Bedford, Massachusetts, US
223Win214–8–1Bobby SingletonUD10May 20, 1958Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, US
222Win213–8–1Jimmy KellyUD10Apr 29, 1958Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, US
221Win212–8–1Cleo OrtizUD10Apr 14, 1958Arcadia Ballroom, Providence, Rhode Island, US
220Win211–8–1George StephanyPTS10Apr 8, 1958Arena, Bristol, Connecticut, US
219Win210–8–1Prince JohnsonUD10Mar 31, 1958Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, US
218Loss209–8–1Tommy TibbsSD10Jan 14, 1958Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, US
217Win209–7–1Jimmy ConnorsUD10Dec 17, 1957Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, US
216Win208–7–1Russell TagueUD10Jul 23, 1957Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas, US
215Win207–7–1Manny CastroUD10Jul 16, 1957County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas, US
214Win206–7–1Manny CastroUD10May 10, 1957Memorial Stadium, Florence, South Carolina, US
213Win205–7–1Cesar MoralesUD10Apr 23, 1957War Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US
212Win204–7–1Hector BacquettesTKO5 Jul 4, 1956Roosevelt Stadium, Lawton, Oklahoma, US
211Win203–7–1Russell TagueRTD6, 3:00Jun 19, 1956Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US
210Win202–7–1Manuel ArmenterosRTD6, 3:00May 22, 1956Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas, US
209Win201–7–1Jackie BlairPTS10Apr 17, 1956State Theatre, Hartford, Connecticut, US
208Win200–7–1Buddy BaggettUD10Mar 27, 1956Sportatorium, Beaumont, Texas, US
207Win199–7–1Kid CampecheUD10Mar 16, 1956Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US
206Win198–7–1Andy ArelUD10Dec 28, 1955Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US
205Win197–7–1Leo CarterTKO4, 1:13Dec 13, 1955Auditorium, Houston, Texas, US
204Win196–7–1Henry 'Pappy' GaultUD10Nov 29, 1955Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US
203Win195–7–1Charley TitoneUD10Oct 10, 1955Maple Arena, Brockton, Massachusetts, US
202Win194–7–1Henry 'Pappy' GaultUD10Sep 27, 1955Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, US
201Win193–7–1Jimmy IthiaTKO6, 1:54Sep 13, 1955State Theatre, Hartford, Connecticut, US
200Win192–7–1Hector RodriguezPTS10Jul 12, 1955Hedges Stadium, Bridgeport, Connecticut, US
199Win191–7–1Mickey MarsTKO7, 0:52Jun 14, 1955Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US
198Win190–7–1Joey CamTKO3, 3:00Jun 1, 1955Arena, Boston, Massachusetts, US
197Win189–7–1Gil CadilliUD10May 18, 1955Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, US
196Loss188–7–1Gil CadilliSD10Mar 30, 1955Parks Air Force Base, California, US
195Win188–6–1Charley TitoneUD10Mar 22, 1955Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, US
194Win187–6–1Myrel OlmsteadUD10Mar 11, 1955State Armory, Bennington, Vermont, US
193Win186–6–1Mario 'Eladio' ColonPTS10Nov 1, 1954Beach Arena, Daytona Beach, Florida, US
192Win185–6–1Til LeBlancUD10Aug 18, 1954Moncton Arena, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada
191Win184–6–1Mike TourcotteUD10Jul 24, 1954Hartwell Field, Mobile, Alabama, US
190Loss183–6–1Lulu PerezTKO2, 1:53Feb 26, 1954Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
189Win183–5–1Davey SeabrookUD10Jan 19, 1954Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, US
188Win182–5–1Tony LongoUD10Dec 15, 1953Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US
187Win181–5–1Billy LimaTKO2 Dec 8, 1953City Auditorium, Houston, Texas, US
186Win180–5–1Davey AllenPTS10Dec 4, 1953Legion Arena, West Palm Beach, Florida, US
185Win179–5–1Sonny LucianoUD10Nov 21, 1953Armory, Charlotte, North Carolina, US
184Win178–5–1Pat MarcuneTKO10, 0:14Jun 5, 1953Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
183Win177–5–1Jackie BlairUD10May 13, 1953Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas, US
182Win176–5–1Noel PaquetteUD10Apr 7, 1953Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US
181Win175–5–1Joey GambinoUD10Mar 31, 1953Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US
180Win174–5–1Pepe AlvarezPTS10Feb 10, 1953Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas, US
179Win173–5–1Dave MitchellUD10Jan 27, 1953Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US
178Win172–5–1Billy LauderdaleUD10Jan 19, 1953Nassau Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
177Win171–5–1Jorge SanchezPTS10Dec 5, 1952Legion Arena, West Palm Beach, Florida, US
176Win170–5–1Fabela ChavezUD10Nov 19, 1952Arena, Saint Louis, Missouri, US
175Win169–5–1Manny CastroTKO5, 0:55Nov 5, 1952Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US
174Win168–5–1Billy LimaUD10Oct 20, 1952Baseball Park, Jacksonville, Florida, US
173Win167–5–1Armand SavoieUD10Oct 1, 1952Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, US
172Win166–5–1Bobby WoodsUD10Sep 11, 1952Denman Auditorium, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
171Win165–5–1Billy LimaUD10Sep 3, 1952Legion Field, Pensacola, Florida, US
170Loss164–5–1Tommy CollinsTKO6, 0:55Jun 30, 1952Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, US
169Win164–4–1Claude HammondUD10May 21, 1952Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US
168Win163–4–1Buddy BaggettKO5 May 10, 1952Eustis Park, Aiken, South Carolina, US
167Win162–4–1Kenny LeachPTS10May 5, 1952Golden Park, Columbus, Ohio, US
166Win161–4–1Santiago GonzalezUD10Apr 29, 1952Fort Homer Hesterly Armory, Tampa, Florida, US
165Loss160–4–1Sandy SaddlerRTD9, 3:00Sep 26, 1951Polo Grounds, New York City, New York, USFor NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring featherweight titles
164Win160–3–1Rodolfo GonzalesUD10Sep 4, 1951Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana, US
163Win159–3–1Jesus ComposUD10Jun 4, 1951Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, US
162Win158–3–1Eddie ChavezMD10Apr 27, 1951Cow Palace, Daly City, California, US
161Win157–3–1Baby Neff OrtizTKO5, 2:24Apr 17, 1951Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, US
160Win156–3–1Pat IacobucciUD10Mar 26, 1951Auditorium, Miami Beach, Florida, US
159Win155–3–1Carlos ChávezUD10Mar 5, 1951Coliseum Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, US
158Win154–3–1Eddie WebbTKO2, 1:05Feb 26, 1951Legion Coliseum, Sarasota, Florida, US
157Win153–3–1Tommy BakerTKO4, 1:29Jan 30, 1951Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
156Loss152–3–1Sandy SaddlerRTD8, 3:00Sep 8, 1950Yankee Stadium, New York City, New York, USLost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring featherweight titles
155Win152–2–1Proctor HeinholdUD10Aug 2, 1950Catholic Youth Center, Scranton, Pennsylvania, US
154Win151–2–1Bobby BellUD10Jul 25, 1950Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC, US
153Win150–2–1Bobby TimpsonUD10Jun 26, 1950Outdoor Arena, Hartford, Connecticut, US
152Win149–2–1Terry YoungUD10Jun 1, 1950Arena, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
151Win148–2–1Asuncion LlanosKO2, 1:10May 15, 1950Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
150Win147–2–1Ray FamechonUD15Mar 17, 1950Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USRetained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring featherweight titles
149Win146–2–1Jimmy WarrenUD10Feb 22, 1950Dinner Key Auditorium, Coconut Grove, Florida, US
148Win145–2–1Roy AndrewsUD10Feb 6, 1950Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, US
147Win144–2–1Charley RileyKO5, 1:05Jan 16, 1950Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, USRetained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring featherweight titles
146Win143–2–1Harold DadeUD10Dec 12, 1949Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, US
145Win142–2–1Eddie CampoTKO7, 0:41Sep 20, 1949Municipal Stadium, Waterbury, Massachusetts, USRetained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring featherweight titles
144Win141–2–1Jean MouginUD10Jul 12, 1949MacArthur Stadium, Syracuse, New York, US
143Win140–2–1Johnny LaRussoUD10Jun 20, 1949Century Stadium, West Springfield, Massachusetts, US
142Win139–2–1Al PenninoUD10Jun 14, 1949Wahconah Park, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, US
141Win138–2–1Luis RamosPTS10Jun 6, 1949Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, US
140Win137–2–1Sandy SaddlerUD15Feb 11, 1949Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USWon NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring featherweight titles
139Win136–2–1Teddy DavisUD10Jan 17, 1949Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, US
138Win135–2–1Hermie FreemanUD10Dec 20, 1948Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, US
137Loss134–2–1Sandy SaddlerKO4, 2:38Oct 29, 1948Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USLost NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring featherweight titles
136Win134–1–1Johnny LaRussoPTS10Oct 19, 1948Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
135Win133–1–1Chuck BurtonPTS8Oct 12, 1948Jersey City Gardens, Jersey City, New Jersey, US
134Win132–1–1Paddy DeMarcoUD10Sep 10, 1948Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
133Win131–1–1Johnny DellTKO8 Sep 2, 1948Municipal Stadium, Waterbury, Connecticut, US
132Win130–1–1Teddy DavisPTS10Aug 17, 1948Auditorium Outdoor Arena, Hartford, Connecticut, US
131Win129–1–1Teddy DavisPTS10Aug 3, 1948Auditorium Outdoor Arena, Hartford, Connecticut, US
130Win128–1–1Young JuniorKO1 Jul 28, 1948Bennett's Field, Utica, New York, US
129Win127–1–1Luther BurgessUD10Jun 25, 1948Atwood Stadium, Flint, Michigan, US
128Win126–1–1Miguel AcevedoUD10Jun 17, 1948Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
127Win125–1–1Charley LewisUD10May 19, 1948Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
126Win124–1–1Leroy WillisUD10May 7, 1948Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, US
125Win123–1–1Humberto SierraTKO10, 0:22Feb 24, 1948Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida, USRetained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring featherweight titles
124Win122–1–1Joey AngeloUD10Jan 19, 1948Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, US
123Win121–1–1Jimmy McAllisterUD10Jan 12, 1948Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, US
122Win120–1–1Pedro BiescaPTS10Jan 6, 1948Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
121Win119–1–1Lefty LaChanceTKO8 Dec 30, 1947Recreation Center, Manchester, New Hampshire, US
120Win118–1–1Alvaro EstradaUD10Dec 22, 1947City Hall, Lewiston, Maine, US
119Win117–1–1Archie WilmerMD10Oct 27, 1947Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
118Win116–1–1Jean BarriereKO1, 2:07Oct 21, 1947Exposition Building, Portland, Maine, US
117Win115–1–1Jock LeslieKO12, 0:45Aug 22, 1947Atwood Stadium, Flint, Michigan, USRetained NYSAC, NBA, and The Ring featherweight titles
116Win114–1–1Humberto SierraUD10Jul 23, 1947Auditorium Outdoor Arena, Hartford, Connecticut, US
115Win113–1–1Paulie JacksonUD10Jul 15, 1947Sargent Field, New Bedford, Massachusetts, US
114Win112–1–1Jean BarriereKO4, 1:58Jul 11, 1947Meadowbrook Arena, North Adams, Massachusetts, US
113Win111–1–1Leo LeBrunPTS8Jul 8, 1947Crystal Arena, Norwalk, Connecticut, US
112Win110–1–1Joey FontanaKO5, 1:00Jul 1, 1947Hawkins Stadium, Albany, New York, US
111Win109–1–1Victor FloresPTS10Jun 17, 1947Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
110Win108–1–1Chalky WrightKO3, 1:05Nov 27, 1946Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
109Win107–1–1Tomas BeatoKO2 Nov 15, 1946State Armory, Waterbury, Connecticut, US
108Win106–1–1Paulie JacksonPTS10Nov 1, 1946Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
107Win105–1–1Lefty LaChanceTKO3, 1:47Sep 17, 1946Auditorium Outdoor Arena, Hartford, Connecticut, US
106Win104–1–1Walter KolbyTKO5, 2:26Sep 4, 1946Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
105Win103–1–1Doll RaffertyKO6, 1:10Aug 26, 1946Auditorium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
104Win102–1–1Jackie GravesTKO8, 1:52Jul 25, 1946Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
103Win101–1–1Harold GibsonTKO7, 2:21Jul 10, 1946Civic Stadium, Buffalo, New York, US
102Win100–1–1Sal BartoloKO12, 2:41Jun 7, 1946Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USRetained NYSAC and The Ring featherweight titles;
Won NBA featherweight title
101Win99–1–1Jimmy JoycePTS8May 27, 1946Auditorium, Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
100Win98–1–1Jose Aponte TorresUD10May 22, 1946Kiel Auditorium, Saint Louis, Missouri, US
99Win97–1–1Joey AngeloUD10May 13, 1946Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, US
98Win96–1–1Ernie PetronePTS10May 6, 1946Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, US
97Win95–1–1Georgie KnoxTKO3, 1:45Apr 8, 1946Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, US
96Win94–1–1Jackie WilsonUD10Mar 26, 1946Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri, US
95Win93–1–1Jimmy McAllisterKO2, 2:44Mar 1, 1946Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
94Win92–1–1Jimmy JoyceUD10Feb 13, 1946Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
93Win91–1–1Johnny VirgoKO2, 1:05Jan 15, 1946Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
92Draw90–1–1Jimmy McAllisterMD10Dec 13, 1945Baltimore Garden, Baltimore, Maryland, US
91Win90–1Harold GibsonPTS10Dec 5, 1945Armory, Lewiston, Maine, US
90Win89–1Eddie GiosaUD10Nov 26, 1945Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, US
89Win88–1Mike MartykTKO5, 2:39Nov 5, 1945Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
88Win87–1Paulie JacksonPTS8Oct 30, 1945Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
87Win86–1Phil TerranovaUD15Feb 19, 1945Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USRetained NYSAC and The Ring featherweight titles
86Win85–1Willie RoachePTS10Feb 5, 1945Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, US
85Win84–1Ralph WaltonPTS10Jan 23, 1945Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
84Win83–1Chalky WrightUD10Dec 5, 1944Arena, Cleveland, Cleveland, US
83Win82–1Pedro HernándezPTS10Nov 27, 1944Uline Arena, Washington, DC, US
82Win81–1Charley LewisUD10Nov 14, 1944Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
81Win80–1Jackie LeamusUD10Oct 25, 1944Forum, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
80Win79–1Chalky WrightUD15Sep 29, 1944Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USRetained NYSAC and The Ring featherweight titles
79Win78–1Charley LewisTKO8, 1:52Sep 19, 1944Auditorium Outdoor Arena, Hartford, Connecticut, US
78Win77–1Joey PeraltaUD10Aug 28, 1944Century Stadium, West Springfield, Massachusetts, US
77Win76–1Lulu CostantinoUD10Aug 4, 1944Municipal Stadium, Waterbury, Connecticut, US
76Win75–1Manuel OrtizUD10Jul 17, 1944Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, US
75Win74–1Willie JoyceUD10Jul 7, 1944Comiskey Park, Chicago, Illinois, US
74Win73–1Julie KogonPTS10Jun 6, 1944Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
73Win72–1Joey BagnatoKO2, 1:03May 23, 1944Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, US
72Win71–1Frankie RubinoPTS10May 19, 1944Coliseum, Chicago, Illinois, US
71Win70–1Jackie LeamusUD10May 1, 1944Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US
70Win69–1Harold 'Snooks' LaceyPTS10Apr 20, 1944Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, US
69Win68–1Leo FrancisPTS10Apr 4, 1944Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
68Win67–1Sal BartoloUD15Jun 8, 1943Braves Field, Boston, Massachusetts, USRetained NYSAC and The Ring featherweight titles
67Win66–1Jackie WilsonUD12Apr 26, 1943Duquesne Gardens, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
66Win65–1Angel AvilesPTS10Apr 19, 1943Municipal Auditorium, Tampa, Florida, US
65Win64–1Sal BartoloSD10Apr 9, 1943Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, US
64Win63–1Bobby McIntireUD10Mar 29, 1943Arena Gardens, Detroit, Michigan, US
63Loss62–1Sammy AngottUD10Mar 19, 1943Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
62Win62–0Lou TransparentiKO6, 1:20Mar 2, 1943Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
61Win61–0Bill SpearyUD10Feb 15, 1943Coliseum, Baltimore, Maryland, US
60Win60–0Davey CrawfordUD10Feb 11, 1943Mechanics Building, Boston, Massachusetts, US
59Win59–0Allie StolzUD10Jan 29, 1943Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
58Win58–0Bill SpearyPTS10Jan 19, 1943Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
57Win57–0Vince Dell'OrtoPTS10Jan 4, 1943Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, New Orleans, US
56Win56–0Joey SilvaRTD9 Dec 21, 1942Washington Hotel Auditorium, Jacksonville, Florida, US
55Win55–0Jose Aponte TorresTKO7 Dec 14, 1942Turner's Arena, Washington, DC, US
54Win54–0Chalky WrightUD15Nov 20, 1942Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, USWon NYSAC and The Ring featherweight titles
53Win53–0George ZengarasPTS10Oct 27, 1942Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
52Win52–0Joey ArchibaldUD10Oct 16, 1942Rhode Island Auditorium, Providence, Rhode Island, US
51Win51–0Bobby McIntireUD10Oct 5, 1942Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, US
50Win50–0Vince Dell'OrtoPTS10Sep 22, 1942Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
49Win49–0Frank FranconeriTKO1, 2:07Sep 10, 1942Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
48Win48–0Bobby IvyTKO10, 1:30Sep 1, 1942White City Stadium, West Haven, Connecticut, US
47Win47–0Nat LitfinPTS10Aug 20, 1942White City Stadium, West Haven, Connecticut, US
46Win46–0Pedro HernandezPTS10Aug 11, 1942Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
45Win45–0Joey SilvaRTD7 Aug 1, 1942Randolph-Clowes Stadium, Waterbury, Connecticut, US
44Win44–0Abe DennerPTS12Jul 21, 1942Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, USWon USA New England featherweight title
43Win43–0Joey ArchibaldPTS10Jun 23, 1942Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
42Win42–0Joey IannottiPTS8May 26, 1942Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
41Win41–0Aaron SeltzerPTS8May 12, 1942Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
40Win40–0Curley NicholsPTS8May 4, 1942Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, US
39Win39–0Spider ArmstrongKO4, 2:40Apr 14, 1942Auditorium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
38Win38–0Johnny CompoPTS8Mar 18, 1942Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, US
37Win37–0Willie RoachePTS8Feb 24, 1942Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, US
36Win36–0Angelo CalluraPTS8Feb 10, 1942Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, US
35Win35–0Abie KaufmanPTS8Jan 27, 1942Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, US
34Win34–0Sammy ParrottaPTS4Jan 16, 1942Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
33Win33–0'Mexican' Joe RiversTKO4 Jan 8, 1942Casino, Fall River, Massachusetts, US
32Win32–0Ruby GarciaUD4Dec 12, 1941Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, US
31Win31–0Davey CrawfordUD8Nov 24, 1941Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, US
30Win30–0Buddy SpencerUD4Nov 7, 1941Legion Stadium, Hollywood, California, US
29Win29–0Connie SavoieTKO2 Oct 21, 1941Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, US
28Win28–0Carlos ManzanoPTS8Oct 9, 1941Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, US
27Win27–0Jackie HarrisTKO1 Sep 25, 1941Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, US
26Win26–0Eddie FloresKO1, 2:30Aug 11, 1941Carpet City Arena, Thompsonville, Connecticut, US
25Win25–0Paul FrechetteTKO3 Aug 5, 1941Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
24Win24–0Jimmy GilliganUD8Jul 15, 1941Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
23Win23–0Eddie DeAngelisTKO3 Jun 24, 1941Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
22Win22–0Harry HintlianUD6Jun 19, 1941Red Men's Arena, Manchester, Connecticut, US
21Win21–0Johnny CockfieldUD6May 12, 1941Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, US
20Win20–0Lou PugleseKO2, 1:30May 6, 1941Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, US
19Win19–0Joey SilvaPTS6Apr 22, 1941Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, US
18Win18–0Henry VasquezUD6Apr 14, 1941Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, US
17Win17–0Joey GattoKO2 Mar 31, 1941Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, US
16Win16–0Marty ShapiroPTS6Mar 25, 1941Foot Guard Hall, Hartford, Connecticut, US
15Win15–0Ruby GarciaUD6Mar 3, 1941Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, US
14Win14–0Ruby GarciaUD6Feb 17, 1941Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, US
13Win13–0Don LyonsKO2 Feb 10, 1941Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, US
12Win12–0Augie AlmeidaTKO6, 2:20Jan 28, 1941Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, US
11Win11–0Joe EchevarriaUD6Jan 13, 1941Valley Arena, Holyoke, Massachusetts, US
10Win10–0Jimmy MutoneKO2 Dec 6, 1940Stanley Arena, New Britain, Connecticut, US
9Win9–0Frank TopazioTKO5 Nov 29, 1940Stanley Arena, New Britain, Connecticut, US
8Win8–0Carlo DapondeTKO6 Nov 22, 1940Stanley Arena, New Britain, Connecticut, US
7Win7–0James McGovernPTS4Oct 24, 1940Arena, New Haven, Connecticut, US
6Win6–0Jimmy RitchieTKO3 Oct 3, 1940Municipal Stadium, Waterbury, Connecticut, US
5Win5–0Jackie MooreUD6Sep 19, 1940Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
4Win4–0Joey MarcusUD4Sep 5, 1940Randolph-Clowes Stadium, Waterbury, Connecticut, US
3Win3–0Tommy BurnsTKO1 Aug 29, 1940Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
2Win2–0Joey WasnickKO3 Aug 8, 1940Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, US
1Win1–0Joey MarcusUD4Jul 25, 1940Bulkeley Stadium, Hartford, Connecticut, US

Titles in boxing

Major world titles