78 years ago

Date: 7th June 1946

Venue: Madison Square Garden, New York, USA

Title: NYSAC & NBA World Featherweight Titles

Promoter: Mike Jacobs

Willie Pep
( 99 - 1 - 1 )
Weight: 126 lbs

Sal Bartolo
( 71 - 17 - 6 )
Weight: 125¼ lbs

On June 7, 1946, Willie Pep, the reigning NYSAC World Featherweight Champion, faced off against NBA World Featherweight Champion Sal Bartolo in a highly anticipated unification bout at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Pep, who entered the fight with a record of 99 wins, one loss, and one draw, emerged victorious by knocking out Bartolo at 2:41 of the 12th round. This was the third meeting between Pep and Bartolo.

According to Lou Schiro, Bartolo's manager, the fight, initially scheduled for March 1, had been postponed due to a cold his boxer had been suffering from. When the two champions finally met in the ring, Pep was the clear favourite, with odds of 12-5 in his favour.

A crowd of 9,881 spectators generated a gate of $53,486 to witness the unification battle promoted by the legendary Mike Jacobs. The early rounds saw Pep and Bartolo fighting on even terms, but the tide turned in the ninth round when Pep unleashed a furious assault on his opponent. Bartolo suffered a severe battering, and his nose bled profusely, leading his handlers to believe it may have been broken. At the end of the ninth, Bartolo even confided to his corner that he thought his jaw was broken, but he bravely continued to fight.

Pep maintained his onslaught in the 10th and 11th rounds, with Bartolo absorbing significant punishment. In the 12th round, Pep delivered the decisive blow, a short right hand to Bartolo's chin that sent him to the canvas for the count. The referee, Frank Fullam, completed the ten-count, officially ending the fight and cementing Pep's status as the undisputed featherweight champion.

After the fight, Bartolo was transported to St. Clare's Hospital, where X-rays confirmed that he had suffered a fracture of the inferior maxillary bone on the lower left side of his jaw. Dr. Vincent Nardiello, a New York Boxing Commission physician, performed surgery on Bartolo's jaw the following day.

This victory marked Pep's fourth successful defence of his NYSAC World Featherweight Championship. The win also improved his impressive record to 100-1-1, further solidifying his position as one of the greatest featherweight boxers ever.

The loss was a devastating setback for Sal Bartolo, but he had displayed tremendous heart and determination in the face of Pep's relentless attack. Despite the defeat, Bartolo's career would continue, and he would remain respected in the featherweight division.

The Pep-Bartolo unification bout showcased the skill, power, and dominance of Willie Pep, who had once again proven himself to be the king of the featherweights. The fight would go down in boxing history as a classic example of Pep's mastery of the sweet science and his ability to overcome even the most formidable of opponents.