Evening star., 1951-09-26
SaddIer and Pep
Face 4th Time in
Feud Of Upsets
Sandy Figures to Win
Tonight in Defense
Of Feather Title
BY the Associated Press

NEW YORK, Sept. 26.-It'S time
for the fourth annual renewal Of
the Sandy Saddler-Willie Pep
series for the featherweight title,
with Saddler defending it. Ring
time is 10 o'clock (EDT) tonight
at the Polo Grounds.
Unless there is a tremendous
Ilast-minute ticket surge - and
there was year ago for chapter
No. 3-the gate won't go over
$75, 900 and about $4,000 fans.
They drew $262,150 last Septem-
ber. with the help of a big delega-
ton from Pep's home town Of
Hartford, Conn.
Home television and radio lose
again in this 15-round match that
will be seen only in II theaters
in 13 cities. The theater TV and
movie rights were sold for $4,000
or more than the fight will draw.
(The fight will be televised at
RKO Keith's Theater as q part
of tonight's regular movie pres
entation)
Rain put the damper on yester-
days sales. Cloudy skies won't
help the last-day drive either. In
the event of a rainout the fight
will be held tomorrow.
A Slugger-Boxer Natural.
Saddler-Pep is a good example
of the classic slugger-boxer match.
Sandy, lean, long-armed Negro,
has one of the best knockout
averages in boxing. In 1873 fights,
he's won 1913 including 88 by
knockouts. He's lost seven. been
stopped once and fought two
draws, with Jimmy Carter, now
the lightweight champ.
The nimble-footed Pep is a fine
boxer with a flicking jab and an
ability to befuddle his opponent.
At his best he's almost surefire to
outlook Saddler if it goes the route.
He's lost only 8 of 164 starts, but
was stopped twice by Saddler.
On the theory that Saddler was
fast catching up to Pep when Willy
Willie retired because of a dislo-
Gated left shoulder last Septem-
ber. a logical choice seems to be
Saddler inside of 10 rounds.
Form Kicked Around.
This has been an interesting
series. marked by form reversals.
With the title changing hands
each time. Pep. now 20, is four
years older than the Harlem
slasher.
| Pep, unbeaten in 73 fights, was
a 3-to-1 favorite the night Sad
dler knocked him down three
times and won the championship
on a fourth-round knockout,
October 20, 1948.
They made Saddler the 7-to-5
choice next out, February II, 1949.
but Willie turned in one of his
best boxing exhibitions to win a
unanimous decision. At the end
Pep was slashed around both eyes
but decisive winner on all three
cards.
That brings us to September 8.
1850, when Pep retired on his ring
stool, unable to answer the bell
for the eighth to the bewilder-
ment of a crowd of 38,781 at YAM
kee Stadium. It was announced
Pep dislocated his shoulder. Sad
dler was the 8-to-5 favorite.
Referee Is Issue.
| Both managers were expected to
kick up a fuss at the weigh-in
about the referee. Ruby Gold
stein handled the first and third
bouts, Eddie Joseph the second.
The Pep camp claimed Saddler's
wrestling tactics in bout No. 3
caused the separation. They want
somebody who will pry apart the
boys at the earliest moment.
Charlie Johnston. Saddler's man
ager. still claims Joseph let Pep
hang on and rough up Sandy in
the clinches in No. while he in
sisted Saddler break clean.
i It's likely to be rough af-
fair. Pep probably will try to
hang on to Sandy's potent left
hand when they get inside, with
Saddler, naturally, trying to
wrestle free. At long range, Pep's
ljabs should add up a lead. But
Saddler has scored all four knock
downs in the series.
i A tendency to cut around the
eyes may handicap Pep. who has
been flashing his old form in
Ituneup bouts. Saddler lost twice
to Del Flanagan, a Pep stable
mate. and Paddy DeMarco since
Hast September. But he had six
straight knockouts before he was
upset by DeMarco at Milwaukee,
August 81, his last start.