If Stanley Ketchel had not been shot

Correct. Ketchel was a bit like Tyson. On film, I think Ketchel is perhaps the crudest of the old tim greats.

 

Langford spoke out of both sides of his mouth in regards to Ketchell. He hinted at taking it easy in the fight to secure a later west coast date while also admitting that Stanley had the opportunity to finish him in one of the rounds and that he was the most determined fighter he had fought. Take from that what you may. As stated above, Ketchell was on a steep decline even at the time of the Langford affair. As far as middleweight championship, I believe I read that Langford was already 180 when he fought Ketchell, who scaled 158. If that was the case, I don't know if Sam could have made the limit.

 

You may well be right.Langford was recognized as the Coloured Hreavyweight Champ in 1910,[Johnson must have done a Michael Jackson,and got bleached when he won the title ].Langford was probably around the 180 mark by then ,I have no weights for the Ketchel fight ,both were probably well obver the 160 mark.

 

I have read that Langford was hanging on for his life at the end of that fight. And that Langford won the early rounds while Ketchell the later rounds. It was only a ten rounder.
Also Ketchell trained tremendously when he wanted to.

 

it was 6 rds