6 WILLIE PEP 72-0-1, Hartford, Connecticut

“WILL O’ THE WISP” Pep is surely one of the most talented fighters ever to pull on a pair of gloves. The American had his first pro fight in July 1940 at the age of 17 and opened his career with a run of 62 wins (so could have made this list twice), before losing a very close points decision to former world lightweight champion Sammy Angott in 1943. After that, Pep was unbeaten in his next 73 bouts until losing his world featherweight title to Sandy Saddler in October 1948. At that point he had crammed 136 fights into eight years, and gone 134-1-1. He claimed wins over Joey Archibald, Chalky Wright, Manuel Ortiz, Lulu Costantino, Jackie Wilson, Sal Bartolo and Paddy Demarco, all of whom held a version of a world title in their careers.