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(continuation)
***
While the main event was an entertaining affair it was preceded by perhaps the most brilliant performance seen to date in either the HBF or IBL. Fighting in the Co-Feature Connecticut's Willie Pep defeated Toronto native Keith Nance by unanimous decision (60-54, 59-53, 60-52). Pep's victory was built on an extraordinary opening four rounds, during which he landed 228 punches and had the crowd in awe of his aggression and skill. By the time the bout was over Pep had connected with 291 shots, a new record across all weight divisions in the sport.
Back in June at the league's Atlantic City selection trials IBL scout Harry Redgrave had called Pep "an incredible fighter", lauding his "defensive mastery and elusiveness". Those talents were also on display tonight but they weren't the highlight. It was his accuracy and precision that stood out as he found the mark with 58.8% of his blows (291/495). In way over his head, Nance did well to stay on his feet throughout the contest. Against an opponent with more pop than Pep possesses there's no way he would have lasted the distance. Nance landed 53 of 201 punches (.264).
Pep was in a talkative mood after the verdict was revealed, the 19 year-old wearing an excited countenance as numerous reporters surrounded him in the ring. His trainer Bill Gore was by his side smiling in an "I told you so" fashion. Pep was asked how he was able to come up with such an incredible effort and if he thought he could win the World Championship.
"I trained so hard to be ready for this fight," was his reply to the opening question. "To be more than ready, really. We treated it like I was going to have to go twelve rounds so even when that final bell rang I still had plenty left. It's also why I was able to go out so hard in those early rounds. Uh, as for the World Championship, there's still a helluva long way to go before I can start thinking about that. It would be absolutely fantastic and, of course, it's my ultimate goal but I just want to take it one fight at a time. Tonight was a good one for us but if I can't back it up in five weeks ... it won't mean much, I guess."
At a slight 5'5" Pep is not much bigger than a pretzel but if he can reproduce the form he showed tonight throughout the rest of the tournament he'll be regarded as a giant of the sport before long. He's guaranteed that his next outing (scheduled for October 31) will be eagerly anticipated and must-watch event.
***
Earlier on the card Olympic Bantamweight bronze medallist Freddie Miller was a comprehensive winner against Mississippi's Kennedy McKinney (60-55, 59-56, 60-55). Miller put on a clinic, cutting McKinney twice and outlanding him by more than one-hundred punches (189-86).
Meanwhile, Cleveland's Johnny Kilbane suffered a surprising split decision defeat at the hands of unfancied Nova Scotia native Art Hafey (59-55, 57-58, 59-56). The Canadian made a fast start and Kilbane struggled to get into the contest. He had some success in the final two rounds but the horse had already bolted by then.
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