Joseph "Sandy" Saddler (June 23, 1926 – September 18, 2001) was an American professional boxer. He was a two-time featherweight world champion, having also held the super featherweight title. Over his twelve-year career (1944–56), Saddler scored 104 knockouts and was stopped only once himself, in his second professional fight, by Jock Leslie. Considered to be one of the hardest hitting featherweights, Saddler was ranked number five on The Ring magazine's list of "100 Greatest Punchers of All Time". His nephew is Grandmaster Flash.

Professional career

Saddler is best known for his four-bout series with Willie Pep. However, he had 93 fights prior to facing Pep.

Early career Saddler turned Pro at Bantamweight winning his pro-debut & losing his second fight, he fought 10 more times at Bantamweight & had a record of 85-6-2 prior to facing Willie Pep, Saddler record included a loss to Phil Terranova & a Draw with Jimmy Carter

Facing Willie Pep The two first faced off on October 29, 1948. Pep was the reigning featherweight champion of the world, and coming into the fight boasted a record of 134-1-1 (43 KO). Saddler was the underdog & captured the title by knocking Pep down four times en route to a four-round knockout victory. This was only the second time that Pep was beaten, Sammy Angott beat him in 1943, and first time he was ever stopped in 137 bouts.

Pep then recaptured the crown on February 11, 1949, by outpointing Saddler over 15 rounds. Saddler regained the crown on September 8, 1950, by a TKO in the eighth round. Pep quit after dislocating his shoulder. The pair fought their last fight on September 26, 1951. In one of the dirtiest championship fights ever fought, Saddler won when the fight was stopped in the tenth round.

Saddler fought several other notable opponents during his career. He knocked out future lightweight champion Joe Brown, as well as lightweight champions Lauro Salas and Paddy DeMarco. Saddler beat lightweight champion Jimmy Carter, knocked out future junior lightweight champion Gabriel "Flash" Elorde, and lost to Larry Boardman.

Professional boxing record

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes163Loss Larry BoardmanUD10Apr 14, 1956162Win145–15–2 George MonroeTKO3 (10), Feb 13, 1956161Win144–15–2 Gabriel 'Flash' ElordeTKO13 (15), Jan 18, 1956160Win143–15–2 Dave GallardoTKO6 (10)Dec 12, 1955159Loss142–15–2 Gabriel 'Flash' ElordeUD10Jul 20, 1955158Win142–14–2 Kaneko ShigejiTKO6 (10)Jul 8, 1955157Loss141–14–2 Joey LopesUD10May 24, 1955156Win141–13–2 Kenny DavisTKO5 (10), Apr 5, 1955155Win140–13–2 Teddy DavisUD15Feb 25, 1955154Win139–13–2 Lulu PerezKO4 (10), Jan 17, 1955153Win138–13–2 Bobby WoodsUD10Dec 10, 1954152Win137–13–2 Ray FamechonRTD5 (10)Oct 25, 1954151Win136–13–2 Baby Neff OrtizKO3 (10), Sep 27, 1954150Win135–13–2 Jackie BlairKO1 (10)Aug 30, 1954149Win134–13–2 Libby ManzoTKO10 (10)Jul 5, 1954148Loss133–13–2 Hoacine KhalfiSD10May 17, 1954147Win133–12–2 Augie SalazarTKO7 (10), Apr 1, 1954146Win132–12–2 Charlie SlaughterTKO4 (10), Mar 4, 1954145Win131–12–2 Bill BossioTKO9 (10), Apr 15, 1954144Win130–12–2 Tommy CollinsTKO5 (10), Mar 17, 1952143Loss129–12–2 Armand SavoieDQ3 (10)Mar 3, 1952142Loss129–11–2 George AraujoUD10Jan 14, 1952141Loss129–10–2 Paddy DeMarcoSD10Dec 7, 1951140Win129–9–2 Willie PepRTD9 (15)Sep 26, 1951139Loss128–9–2 Paddy DeMarcoSD10Aug 27, 1951138Win128–8–2 Hermie FreemanTKO5 (10), Aug 20, 1951137Win127–8–2 Angel OlivieriKO5 (10), Jun 30, 1951136Win126–8–2 Mario SalinasKO5 (10)Jun 22, 1951135Win125–8–2 Oscar FloresKO1 (12)Jun 16, 1951134Win124–8–2 Alfredo PradaKO4 (12)Jun 2, 1951133Win123–8–2 Harry LaSaneUD10May 5, 1951132Win122–8–2 Freddie HermanRTD5 (10)Apr 3, 1951131Win121–8–2 Lauro SalasTKO6 (10), Mar 27, 1951130Win120–8–2 Diego SosaKO2 (10)Feb 28, 1951129Win119–8–2 Jesse UnderwoodUD10Jan 23, 1951128Loss118–8–2 Del FlanaganUD10Dec 6, 1950127Win118–7–2 Charley RileyMD10Nov 1, 1950126Win117–7–2 Harry LaSaneUD10Oct 12, 1950125Win116–7–2 Willie PepRTD8 (15)Sep 8, 1950124Win115–7–2 Leroy WillisRTD2 (10)Jun 30, 1950123Win114–7–2 Johnny ForteKO3 (10), Jun 19, 1950122Win113–7–2 Miguel AcevedoTKO6 (10)May 25, 1950121Win112–7–2 Jesse UnderwoodPTS10Apr 29, 1950120Win111–7–2 Lauro SalasTKO9 (15), Apr 18, 1950119Win110–7–2 Reuben DavisTKO7 (10)Apr 10, 1950118Win109–7–2 Luis RamosTKO3 (10), Feb 20, 1950117Win108–7–2 Chuck BurtonKO1 (10), Feb 6, 1950116Win107–7–2 Pedro FirpoKO1 (10)Jan 22, 1950115Win106–7–2 Paulie JacksonKO1 (10)Jan 16, 1950114Win105–7–2 Orlando ZuluetaSD10Dec 6, 1949113Win104–7–2 Leroy WillisUD10Nov 7, 1949112Win103–7–2 Paddy DeMarcoRTD9 (10)Oct 28, 1949111Win102–7–2 Proctor HeinholdTKO2 (10), Sep 26, 1949110Win101–7–2 Harold DadePTS10Sep 2, 1949109Win100–7–2 Alfredo EscobarTKO9 (10), Aug 23, 1949108Win99–7–2 Johnny RoweTKO8 (10), Aug 8, 1949107Win98–7–2 Chuck BurtonTKO5 (10), Aug 2, 1949106Win97–7–2 Gordon HouseTKO4 (10)Jul 15, 1949105Win96–7–2 Luis RamosKO5 (10), Jun 23, 1949104Win95–7–2 Jim KeeryKO4 (10)Jun 2, 1949103Win94–7–2 Ermanno BonettiKO2 (10), Apr 18, 1949102Win93–7–2 Felix RamirezPTS10Mar 21, 1949101Loss92–7–2 Willie PepUD15Feb 11, 1949100Win92–6–2 Young FinniganKO5 (10), Jan 16, 194999Win91–6–2 Terry YoungTKO10 (10), Dec 17, 194898Win90–6–2 Eddie GiosaKO2 (10), Dec 7, 194897Win89–6–2 Dennis Pat BradyUD10Nov 29, 194896Win88–6–2 Tomas BeatoTKO2 (10), Nov 19, 194895Win87–6–2 Willie PepKO4 (15), Oct 29, 194894Win86–6–2 Willie RoacheTKO3 (10), Oct 11, 194893Win85–6–2 Aquilino AllenKO2 (10), Aug 22, 194892Win84–6–2 Kid ZefineKO2 (10), Aug 15, 194891Loss83–6–2 Chico RosaSD10Jun 29, 194890Win83–5–2 Harry LaSaneUD10May 24, 194889Win82–5–2 Allan TannerKO5 (10)Apr 24, 194888Win81–5–2 Jose Alberto DiazTKO7 (10)Apr 17, 194887Win80–5–2 Luis MonagasKO3 (10)Apr 10, 194886Win79–5–2 Bobby TimpsonPTS10Mar 23, 194885Win78–5–2 Thompson HarmonTKO8 (10), Mar 8, 194884Win77–5–2 Archie WilmerPTS8Mar 5, 194883Win76–5–2 Joey AngeloUD10Feb 9, 194882Win75–5–2 Charley NoelPTS10Feb 2, 194881Win74–5–2 Orlando ZuluetaPTS10Dec 13, 194780Win73–5–2 Lino GarciaKO3 (10)Dec 5, 194779Win72–5–2 Kid BarqueritoKO5 (10)Nov 9, 194778Win71–5–2 Lino GarciaKO2 (?)Oct 26, 194777Win70–5–2 Al PenninoTKO4 (10), Oct 13, 194776Loss69–5–2 Humberto SierraSD10Oct 3, 194775Win69–4–2 Angelo AmbrosanoKO2 (8), Sep 17, 194774Win68–4–2 Miguel AcevedoTKO7 (8), Aug 29, 194773Win67–4–2 Leslie HarrisTKO5 (10)Aug 14, 194772Win66–4–2 Oscar CallesKO5 (10), Jul 26, 194771Draw65–4–2 Jimmy CarterMD10Jun 3, 194770Win65–4–1 Melvin BartholomewUD10May 9, 194769Win64–4–1 Joe BrownRTD2 (10)May 2, 194768Win63–4–1 Charley 'Cabey' LewisUD10Apr 14, 194767Win62–4–1 Carlos MalacaraPTS10Mar 29, 194766Win61–4–1 Leonardo LopezKO2 (10)Mar 8, 194765Win60–4–1 Larry ThomasTKO2 (6), Feb 7, 194764Win59–4–1 Humberto ZavalaTKO7 (10), Jan 27, 194763Win58–4–1 George 'Dusty' BrownKO4 (10), Jan 20, 194762Win57–4–1 Leonard CaesarKO2 (6)Dec 30, 194661Win56–4–1 Luis MarquezTKO2 (6)Dec 26, 194660Win55–4–1 Clyde EnglishKO3 (6)Dec 9, 194659Win54–4–1 Artie PriceUD10Nov 12, 194658Win53–4–1 Joe RodriguezKO3 (8)Oct 10, 194657Win52–4–1 Pedro FirpoPTS10Aug 22, 194656Win51–4–1 Dom AmorosoKO2 (10), Aug 5, 194655Loss50–4–1 Phil TerranovaUD10Jul 23, 194654Win50–3–1 Georgie CooperTKO7 (10)Jul 10, 194653Win49–3–1 Cedric FlournoyTKO5 (8)Jun 13, 194652Win48–3–1 Pedro FirpoPTS8Apr 25, 194651Win47–3–1 Johnny WolgastPTS8Apr 11, 194650Win46–3–1 Ralph LaSalleKO1 (6)Apr 8, 194649Loss45–3–1 Bobby McQuillarUD10Feb 18, 194648Win45–2–1 Arbrie BowieKO1 (6)Jan 17, 194647Win44–2–1 Filiberto OsarioPTS6Dec 21, 194546Win43–2–1 Joey MonteiroUD8Dec 14, 194545Win42–2–1 Benny DanielsSD6Dec 3, 194544Win41–2–1 Richie MiyashiroPTS6Sep 21, 194543Win40–2–1 Earl MintzKO1 (8)Aug 27, 194542Win39–2–1 Bobby EnglishKO3 (8), Aug 20, 194541Win38–2–1 Lou LangleyKO1 (6)Aug 16, 194540Win37–2–1 Luis RiveraTKO4 (6), Jul 30, 194539Win36–2–1 Joey MonteiroTKO5 (6)Jul 24, 194538Win35–2–1 Herbie JonesTKO3 (6)Jul 23, 194537Win34–2–1 Leo MethotKO1 (6)Jun 29, 194536Win33–2–1 Bobby WashingtonTKO2 (6)Jun 25, 194535Win32–2–1 Caswell HarrisTKO2 (6), Jun 18, 194534Win31–2–1 Chilindrina ValenciaTKO9 (10)Apr 30, 194533Win30–2–1 Willie AndersonTKO4 (8), Apr 20, 194532Win29–2–1 Jimmy AllenKO1 (6)Apr 2, 194531Win28–2–1 Georgie KnoxTKO4 (8), Mar 22, 194530Win27–2–1 Joey MonteiroKO4 (6)Mar 19, 194529Win26–2–1 Harold GibsonPTS6Mar 10, 194528Win25–2–1 Johnny BookerTKO2 (4)Mar 8, 194527Win24–2–1 Joey GattoTKO1 (6)Feb 19, 194526Win23–2–1 Benny MayPTS6Jan 26, 194525Win22–2–1 Joey PuigKO1 (6)Jan 22, 194524Win21–2–1 Lucky JohnsonKO1 (6)Jan 15, 194523Win20–2–1 Tony OshiroPTS6Jan 13, 194522Win19–2–1 Midget MayoKO3 (6)Dec 26, 194421Win18–2–1 Earl MintzKO2 (6)Dec 16, 194420Win17–2–1 Tony OshiroTKO5 (6), Dec 12, 194419Win16–2–1 Percy Cabey LewisKO1 (6)Nov 28, 194418Win15–2–1 Manuel TorresTKO5 (6), Nov 24, 194417Win14–2–1 Ken TompkinsKO1 (6)Nov 13, 194416Win13–2–1 Manuel TorresPTS6Nov 11, 194415Win12–2–1 Cliff SmithPTS6Aug 18, 194414Win11–2–1 Georgie KnoxTKO3 (6)Aug 8, 194413Win10–2–1 Al PenninoPTS6Jul 25, 194412Win9–2–1 Benny SaladinoTKO3 (6)Jul 18, 194411Win8–2–1 Clyde EnglishPTS6Jul 11, 194410Draw7–2–1 Lou AlterPTS4Jun 23, 19449Loss7–2 Lou AlterPTS6Jun 15, 19448Win7–1 Jose Aponte TorresPTS6Jun 13, 19447Win6–1 Domingo DiazPTS6May 23, 19446Win5–1 Jose Aponte TorresPTS6May 15, 19445Win4–1 Jose Aponte TorresPTS6May 8, 19444Win3–1 Joe LandryKO1 (6), Apr 17, 19443Win2–1 Al KingKO2 (6)Mar 27, 19442Loss1–1 Jock LeslieTKO3 (6), Mar 21, 19441Win1–0 Earl RoysPTS8Mar 7, 1944

Titles in boxing Major world titles NYSAC featherweight champion (126 lbs) (2×) NBA (WBA) featherweight champion (126 lbs) (2×) NBA (WBA) super featherweight champion (130 lbs)

The Ring magazine titles The Ring featherweight champion (126 lbs) (2×)

Undisputed titles Undisputed featherweight champion (2×)

After boxing

Saddler retired from boxing in 1956, aged 30, after an eye injury sustained in a traffic accident. He later became a trainer and helped train the young George Foreman in the 1970s, including Foreman's first reign as world heavyweight champion. In 2003, he was ranked #5 on the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time.

In 1990, Saddler was inducted into the prestigious International Boxing Hall of Fame. He is the uncle of Joseph Saddler, better known as Grandmaster Flash. Saddler died on September 18, 2001.

See also List of featherweight boxing champions List of super featherweight boxing champions

References

External links

boxrec.com boxrec.com boxrec.com boxrec.com boxrec.com Sandy Saddler - CBZ Profile