When RSR Publisher “Bad” Brad Berkwitt asked me for my thoughts on Manny Pacquiao Vs 50’s legends Sandy Saddler & Willy Pep, I will admit to being a little dubious.
Much as I rate the fiery left-hander from the Philippines, Sandy and Willy are in most top fives when the featherweights are accessed, with some sources having the pair undoubtedly top one and two, depending on preference. Consider Pep’s record at the time of the first of four bouts with Saddler; he tallied at 135-1-1. Then take Saddler, who beat Pep in 3 of those 4 meetings; he stopped or knocked out 108 men in 160 fights and was defeated just once, by Pep, in nine world title bouts.
These statistics are all the more amazing considering the era these two fistic giants fought; the 50’s were a golden age of outstanding champions and great contenders. A quick glance over their respective records and names like Paddy Demarco, Sammy Angott, Orlando Zuleta, Chalky Wright, Joe Brown, Flash Elorde, Sal Bartolo, Hogan Kid Bassey and Ray Famechon, all legitimate great fighters, can be found in the columns.
Pep, the dancing master, was said to have once won a round without throwing a punch, such were his defensive nuances. His style being a cunning mix of speed, footwork, crafty feints, and impeccably timed head and upper-body movement combined with crisp counter punches. At his peak he was nearly impossible to nail with a clean punch.
Saddler, by comparison was a tall, (five feet eight inches) power-punching, rule-bending slugger with a box of tricks comprising of a 70 inch reach, a granite jaw and bone-breaking wallop in either hand. He beat Pep by fourth round knockout in their first bout, was soundly out-pointed in a thrilling rematch, and took injury retirement victories in their final, foul-filled encounters in 1950 and 1951.
Pacquiao is the current terror at 126 and is shortly scheduled to move up the super featherweight division. After winning world titles at both flyweight and super bantamweight, the big-punching southpaw rose to prominence with that shocking 11th round mauling of modern legend, and then non title holder, but universally recognized featherweight ruler Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003. Manny then fought to a draw with another outstanding Mexican, IBF and WBA double title-holder Juan Manuel Marquez in one of 2004’s best fights, flooring the usually iron-jawed craftsmen three times in the first round. Those performances not withstanding, it remains to be seen whether he can join the likes of Pep and Saddler in the annals of the greats; an up-and-coming bout with another outstanding Mexican, Erik Morales should give us a clearer picture.
As to how this current model of Pacquiao would compare when matched with Saddler, I have taken several things into account. If Sandy had a weakness, it was non-title bouts. While only ever defeated by Pep for a belt, Saddler made a habit of losing in non-title bouts, at one point losing three back-to-back. One of the more notable defeats came to Flash Elorde, who, like Pacquiao was an outstanding southpaw from the Philippines. Saddler would later avenge the defeat in his final title defense via 13 round cuts stoppage while ahead on the cards. It seems Saddler’s main motivation was ensuring the defense of his belts. It would be almost unthinkable today for a world champion to lose so regularly in non-title encounters, but back in the 50’s, non-title bout meant just that.
When assessing Pacquiao’s chances, we also need to take into account his vulnerabilities, his defense (he was counter-punched black and blue by Marquez), and his chin, (stopped twice at flyweight and floored twice in non-world title bouts at super bantamweight). His strengths are his speed, his unorthodox style of jack-in-the-box southpaw blasting and his seemingly endless stamina. Weighing it all up, and taking into account his current form, I think he could have given an unmotivated Saddler problems, maybe even shake him up once or twice on the way to a non-title upset points victory. Over the 15 rounds, with a world title at stake, I only see one winner – Saddler. I see the Philippines man again having the edge in speed, maybe even out-boxing Saddler early with his awkward attacks. By the middle- rounds, the precision jabbing, right hand punching and remorseless body attack of Saddler will have taken a toll. Saddler, maybe the biggest-punching featherweight of all time turns up the volume late and begins to walk through Pacquaio’s desperate left crosses and right hooks. A left hook drops the battered challenger in round ten; an uppercut to the body does the damage again seconds later before a thumping right hand sends the brave southpaw down in a semi-conscious fog for the full count. 10th round KO by Saddler
Pep was able to outbox Saddler for spells even in his final two losing encounters, but I suspect he would surely have had some problems early with Manny Pacquaio. Saddler generally came at Pep in straight-lines, the Philippino, would present a whole new set of problems. Bouncing in and out with unpredictable attacks I see an early success for Manny and an early shock for Pep; a straight left hand sees Pep hit the deck for an eight count at the end of the first. He shakes his head and grins at his opponent, but is clearly dazed.
Pep would be fighting an opponent almost as unorthodox as himself and spends rounds two and three on his bike, dancing way from the stalking, bouncing challenger. He finds himself three rounds down going into the fourth. Finally, like Marquez, he begins to solve the puzzle. Timing the rushes and attacks, Pep employs a neat countering right hand and begins to land lighting combinations towards the end of the fourth. Pep wins everything up to the 7th when another left sneaks through and sees a wobble from the champion. Buoyed by his success, Pacquaio takes rounds eight and nine, scoring with the odd jab and outworking a rather flustered looking Pep.
Pep gets his act together down the stretch, showing plan A, B & C, out-boxing the ever more predictable southpaw and making his man miss time after time. The 14th is one-sided enough to justify a two-point round, Pep is masterful, feinting and suckering Manny on to many crisp combinations. A thumping right hand floors Pacquaio in round 15 and punctuates an excellent performance from Pep who triumphs by a clear, hard-fought unanimous decision.
So in retrospect, maybe “Bad” Brad wasn’t so far off the mark when asking for a comparison between the modern mauler and the fifties legends. The exercise served to remind me that when remembering the greats of yesteryear, I shouldn’t be too quick to allow sentiment to cloud the vision on some of the amazing talent that exists in the game today.
**This article is dedicated to the memory of my close friend, confidante, and big bro in all, but blood, Glenn Barry Watson, the most big-hearted guy I ever met and an avid fan of Manny Pacquiao. We love you and still miss you, brother.
