Willie Pep vs. Sal Bartolo (1st meeting)

Willie Pep 128 lbs beat Sal Bartolo 128 lbs by SD in round 10 of 10

• Date: 1943-04-09
• Location: Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
• Referee: Johnny Martin
• Judge: Jimmy McCarron
• Judge: Jack Watson

Notes

• Pep entered this non-title fight as the reigning NYSAC World Featherweight Champion.
• There was a crowd of 15,949.
• The gross gate was $39,939, and the net was $34,407.
• The United Press reported:

Pep came out fast in the opening round to score to Bartlolo's left eye. Before the round was over, Bartolo's face was reddening and a eye cut bled profusely. Blood continued to flow throughout the remaining rounds. Late in the round Bartolo was dropped to one knee but he was up before the count. The crowd, largest here since Lou Brouillard won the welterweight crown from Young Jack Thompson in 1931, roared as Bartolo then set the champion back against the ropes with body hammering. Pep held a slight advantage until the fifth round when Bartolo began an attack that kept Pep backing away. The Bostonian was on the march until near the closing seconds of this round, when Pep staggered him with a long right to the ribs. Bartolo refused to slow down and drove the champion back and forth across the ring. The champion fell back and lost his footing. As he quickly regained his feet, Bartolo staggered him with a right hand to the jaw. Pep backed away but Bartolo came in fast and the champion was in a bad way as the sixth round ended. It was a cautious Pep who returned and kept Bartolo at a distance, concentrating at his opponent's injured left eye at long range. Pep was fresher as the fight drew to a close, but Bartolo continued to bore in and was carrying the battle to the champion at the end.

• Like the UP, the Boston Herald reported that Pep dropped Bartolo in the first round, but the Boston Globe and the Associated Press did not report the knockdown. Also, the AP reported that Bartolo suffered a gash over his left eye in the third round, whereas the UP said it occurred in the first.
• The Boston Globe scored the bout 5-4-1 in rounds for Pep.

Newspaper Article

• "Pep Wins Over Sal Bartolo on Split Decision" Associated Press, April 9, 1943
• "Pep Squeezes By Bartolo" United Press, April 10, 1943

See Also

• Willie Pep vs. Sal Bartolo (2nd meeting)
• Willie Pep vs. Sal Bartolo (3rd meeting)