Willie Pep, the former world featherweight champion has died at the age of 84.

The one of the greatest defensive boxers in history died Thursday at the West Hill nursing home, where he had been treated for Alzheimer's disease since 2001, according to reports from Rocky Hill, Connecticut Friday.

Born Guiglermo Papaleo on September 19, 1922 in Middletown, Connecticut, Pep won 230 of his 242 professional bouts and held the world featherweight title over two periods between 1942-1950.

Pep won more than 50 fights in two years before beating Chalky Wright in 1942 to win the title. He then held the belt for six years.

Inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990, Pep began boxing in 1940 and fought professionally for 26 years. He compiled a 230-11-1 (65 KOs) record that included wins over Hall of Famers Manuel Ortiz, Wright and Saddler.

(Xinhua News Agency November 25, 2006)