Can Stanley Ketchel be considered one of the most durable fighters of all time?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Maxmomer, Jan 30, 2010.


  1. Maxmomer

    Maxmomer Boxing Addict Full Member

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    In his career he was stopped twice. Once by a great MW puncher in Billy Papke, who, from most accounts I read, only won that fight because he sucker-punched Ketchel in the throat when Ketchel went to touch-gloves. And the other time by 205 pound Jack Johnson, an ATG HW with good HW power. Could any natural middleweight, weighing in at 170 pounds, have taken the punch that Johnson put Ketchel out with? And he was stirring at the count of ten. He stopped the excellent MW contender Joe Thomas in the 32nd round, which speaks volumes for his stamina and general toughness. He reportedly took some big punches from Sam Langford, arguably the greatest puncher of all time and who outweighed Stanley by upward toward 15 pounds or more when they fought, and while hurt on a couple of occasions, never went down, and even came on strong in the final round. And all of this in the first decade of the century, with small gloves.

    So, can Ketchel be ranked up there with guys like LaMotta, Hagler, Jeffires and Chuvalo as one of the most durable fighters of all time?
     
  2. mcvey

    mcvey VIP Member Full Member

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    Its hard to get a true handle on Stan ,he had all time power,and carried it late, but he died so early ,how do we evaluate what he might have been?
    I think the Langford fight is" questionable", there are strong rumours Sam took it easy ,with a view to securing a title shot,down the line.
    Ketchel is an atg,imo,`but he was a "work in progress " when he died imo.

    A modern parallell ,might be Salvador Sanchez .
     
  3. McGrain

    McGrain Diamond Dog Staff Member

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    He can be considered one of the most badass fighters of all time.
     
  4. burt bienstock

    burt bienstock Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Boxing fans, to put Stanley Ketchell, in a proper perspective, picture a Gerald Mclellan,with superior durability chin, and stamina, able to fight 20 to 40 round bouts against some larger top fighters of his time.Tough as rawhide and game as a bulldog was the"Michigan Assassin". Unfortunately,modern fans forget his 49 ko's, but judge him by 2 remaing films surviving .One film was with the great Billy Papke in 1909,when he broke one hand , but still won a 20 round bout...Tough to do,but not at his best..The other film was with the great and powerful Jack Johnson, in 1909,in which he was outclassed but still dropped Johnson with a right to the forehead, in the 12th round....Judging Ketchell by these two remaining films,and not his 49 ko,s in 62 bouts, is a travisty.Picture 100 years from now looking at Ray Robinson with Ralph Tiger Jones, or Ali with leon Spinks or Larry Holmes. We must rate old time boxers bytheir records and by the boxing experts who saw them at their peaks..Same with the great Ketchell
     
  5. Maxmomer

    Maxmomer Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Yes. That's beyond debate. That's fact. I read a cool story about him being ejected from Jim Jeffries camp during training for the Johnson fight. Jeffries didn't like how friendly Ketchel was with Johnson.
     
  6. techks

    techks ATG list Killah! Full Member

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    :good
    It's a shame when there aren't enough surviving films of great fighters. All that footage......gone:-(.
     
  7. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Not even ****ing close.

    I haven't seen James Toney nearly killed by one punch from heavyweights at the age of nearly 40 who punched much harder then Johnson.

    Durable and rugged, but the most durable fighter of all time? :lol::lol:
     
  8. Meast

    Meast New Member Full Member

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    After reading the article you posted on his a few days ago, I agree 100%
     
  9. Maxmomer

    Maxmomer Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Did I call him the most durable fighter of all time? Where? And James Toney matured into a heavyweight, a fat one, but still a legit heavyweight. Ketchel was still just a MW with an extra 10 pounds on when he fought Johnson. How many 170 pound fighters, who fought under 160 pounds for most of their career, could take that punch from Johnson?
     
  10. techks

    techks ATG list Killah! Full Member

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    (crickets chirping)
     
  11. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Duuuuur.

    Thats where, asking if he belongs in a group among the very most elite fighters of all time durability wise.
     
  12. Maxmomer

    Maxmomer Boxing Addict Full Member

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    So asking if a fighter deserves to be considered one of the most durable fighters of all time is exactly the same as stating that he is themost the most durable fighter of all time?
     
  13. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    Even asking if Ketchel belongs in there with a Chuvalo or McCall is a fairly dumb question in my opinion. Not trying to be a dick, but yeah.
     
  14. techks

    techks ATG list Killah! Full Member

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    No it's ok to be a dick on some occassions. Sometimes you have to stand erect with your opinion:rofl.
     
  15. Russell

    Russell Loyal Member Full Member

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    I guess it depends on the balls you've got. :lol: