10 greatest boxers of all time

#5 Willie Pep

Featherweight

career: 1940-66 Record: 229-11-1 (65 KOs)

Willie Pep is, quite simply, the best featherweight of all time. He was born in 1922 in Connecticut. Pep was possibly the most elusive fighter the world has ever known. It has been reportedly said that he once won a round without throwing a punch, such were skills of movement and footwork.

He won his first 63 bouts before losing to Sammy Angott, and then went 72-0-1 before losing again, to Sandy Saddler. He was very tough, very fast and showed a big heart with many of his fights descending into all-out wars. His biggest rivalry was with Sandy Sandler who would box ‘dirty’ and use eye-gouging, thumbing and sometimes wrestling in an effort to stop Pep.

His elusiveness & the fact that he has one of the best Featherweight record in the history of the game make him a worthy candidate for this list.