Ketchel could win at 160, but not above that weight. Conn really came into his own at 168-175, and certainly performed better against Louis than Ketchel against Johnson.
At 160, no contest...Ketchel a big favorite over Conn.Young Billy had trouble with Krieger, Apostoli etc.Ketchel, who we today ,only know by his two films available...With Billy Papke in 1909 where Ketchel supposedly broke a hand in his 20 rd decision, and against Jack Johnson,40 pounds heavier,and a great master boxer...What would we think of Stanley Ketchel today if we had films of him koing 49 out of 69 opponents..We might then think ,what all who saw the Michigan Assassin, concluded that Ketchel was King of the middleweights...Ketchel also knocked out Phil. Jack O'Brien , the great 175 pound light heavyweight...
There is one striking similarity between their careers, in that they both built incredible resumes early on in their careers, but got taken out of the game with much of their work yet to be done.