Ketchel beaten up and KO'd by Papke : does it hurt his ranking ?

I'll say no.
Reason for the beating according to written accounts was when he put his hand out to touch gloves he was sucker punched by a brutal right hand. He wasnt given time to recover at the time of the foul and was pretty much out of it the rest of the fight. The fact that he made it to the 12th or whatever rd it was gives testament to how tough he was IMO.
He proved he was Papke's master who was a great fighter himself.
Where he ranks I'm really not qualified to say. But this doesnt hurt it.

 

There are two known films of Ketchel, and he gets thrashed in both of them showing little defense.

Papke had some ability, training, and dedication to boxing was a problem for him.

I think Ketchel is overrated, with some fluff on his resume and too many draws or losses to lower lever fighters, however, in the context of the times, you could argue he was a middleweight version of John L Sullivan.

 

I see him as a Salvador Sanchez type mythical charactor...died very young and both under circumstances that sound like a blues song. Sanchez of course had better skills inside the ring.

 

I don't think this really happened… nothing but a myth, I believe!

 

I suppose you need to ask yourself the question... In your heart of hearts does Ketchel beat up most middleweights who ever lived?
For me, yes. He frigging batters them with ease.

 

This didnt happen. In fact it was Papke who complained he was struck pn the hamdshake of their first fight. Papke beat Ketchel fair and square. In fact most reports felt he at least earned a draw in their fourth fight and that he could have been awarded the victory outright. Papke was a hell of a fine fighter when motivated. His problem was he didnt like to train. Thats why his record is a little spottier than Ketchels. But both guys were clearly the best middleweights of the era.

 

Ok I stand corrected. I was only repeating what I read in multiple books.
Is there an honest account of what happened?

 

Again only repeating what I read in multiple sources. I'm sure if I read them you did too.

 

I learned that today. One of the reasons I'm on here

 

The newspapers that covered the fight are the best source. They give a detailed description of the opening moments of the fight.

 

The problem with the web is someone can say something, and the false information gets repeated over and over.

Ketchel seems to magnet for this type of stuff. Another myth on him is his teeth were imbedded in Johnson's glove. Not true. And the story of a fix came after his death, not while he was living.

 

This is not true. Suspicion of a fix was contemporaneous.