Date: July 1949

Cover: Willie Pep (illustration by Stanley Weston)

What’s So Important About This Issue? Pep, generally regarded as the greatest featherweight of all-time, had just recaptured the title from Sandy Saddler in the second of the four epic bouts between the two legendary fighters. Though the illustration of “The Will O’ The Wisp” made for an attractive and memorable cover, there was no feature story on Pep in this issue.

Lead Story: Before there was Don King and Bob Arum, there were promotional entities like the International Boxing Club, which was owned by Madison Square Garden and had Joe Louis holding a figurehead position as its leader. Writer Dan Daniel felt the IBC, which took over as the lead promoter in boxing for Mike Jacobs’ defunct Twentieth Century Sporting Club, was going to be good for boxing. Daniel speculated that the IBC would revive interest in big city boxing, cleaning up the unsavory characters and undercover managers that were present in the fight game. The IBC, however, faced a major challenge from the outset: A popular and long-reigning heavyweight champ—Louis—just departed the world stage (or so it seemed), and there wasn’t a heavyweight at the time that appeared ready to fill the void.

Also In This Issue: “Sugar Ray Has His Say” by Ted Carroll … “They Seldom Retire While Still Good” by Art Wilson … Fighter of the Month: Honore Pratesi.

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