Did Langford beat Ketchel in spite of his wearing the cuffs?

Stanley Ketchel takes on the # 1 heavyweight contender in the world(typically ranked among top 15 heavyweights in history) in his prime...Takes him 6 near dead even rounds.....That to me is one hell of an accomplishment. He then moves up 3 weight classes to face top 10 heavyweight of all time Jack Johnson at the PEAK of his career(rock solid 210lb) and floors johnson... hurting him in the process.

You think any of the other white fighters of the day had the balls to face Jack Johnson and Sam Langford at there PEAKS? Hell Dempsey wouldn't even fight 40 year old versions of Johnson and Langford.

 

Agreed.

Almost every account I've read says it was a bloody, toe-to-toe battle much of the way. They all seem to agree Langford slowed down in the last round, but that could just as well be because Ketchel's pressure had tired him a bit or he simply overwhelmed him with an all-out rally.

I have a NY Times account that says he only appeared to slow up "in the last part of the last round", which isn't exactly an example of fighting with cuffs. Before that, it says "There was no question as to the willingness of the pair."

 

Great point SQ. Ketchel was a ballsy warrior without question. Huge guts. However, I believe left to his own devices Dempsey would have been the same. He was simply managed by Kearns like a huge commodity.

I believe Langford definately help back on Ketchel to goad him into a big money rematch for the title. As terrific as Ketchel was, Langford was in another league. In addition, Stanley was made for him.