How did the Ketchel-Langford fight go ?

In all honesty I can't read too much into any fights below 10 rounds unless they end in knockout.

Seems more like a taster event than anything else and given the give closeness of the 6 round bout it must be concluded that ketchel could indeed hand with Sam.

 

It's generally held that Langford was holding back on Ketchel. I recall reading that there was a bit of sarcastic winking and nudging among the sportswriters after that bout. Like "Suuuuure Ketchel went the distance". I think most knew that in a real fight Langford slaughters Ketchel.

Langford was considered the bane of the division, avoided by all. This has been printed here several times. It was written in 1910:


I.
Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not I,” said Stanley K.,
“Britt has taken me away
And I’m signed to do a play.
Then I’m going to the hay.
I’ll not fight Sam Langford.”

II.
“Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not I,” said Jack the Twin.
“I am careful of my chin
And I’m pretty near all in,
And suicide’s a sin.
I’ll not fight Sam Langford.”

III.
Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not I,” is Papke’s wail,
“I’m a lily white and pale
And my life is not for sale;
Why I’d sooner got to jail.
I’ll not fight Sam Langford.”

IV.
Who’ll fight Sam Langford
“Not I,” said Kid McCoy;
“I’m a pretty game old boy,
But this unrefined employ
I will leave for hoi polloi.
I’ll not fight Sam Langford.”

V.
Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not I,” said poor old Fitz.
“Though I’d fight for just six bits,
Still I haven’t lost my wits;
I’ll preserve my speckled mitts.
I’ll not fight Sam Langford.

VI.
Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not I,” said Hugo Kelly.
“He would pound me to a jelly
And I’d lose some vermicalli.
Not for me. What ta helli?
I’ll not fight Sam Langford.”

VII.
Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not I,” said Joe da Grim.
“I no like to fight with him
Cause he shutta up my glim
And da chances are too slim
I’ll notta fight Sam Langford.”

VIII.
Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not I,” Al Kaufman said.
“You are crazy in the head.
Chase yourself and go to bed.
I ain’t anxious to be dead.
I’ll not fight Sam Langford.”

IX.
“Who’ll fight Sam Langford?
“Not us.” The low brows cried.”
And they turned around to hide.
“Nix: the color line is wide,
And we’re going to stay inside.
We’ll not fight Sam Langford.”

 

Did anybody look up actual next-day reports to figure who got the newspaper decision? The "poll" that is mentioned at boxrec is actually misleading, and what I read about this or that newspaper giving such and such decision was either conflicting (say, one summary said NY Sun voted for Langford, while NY Sun actually voted a draw, or Philadelphia Press voting either for Langford or a draw), or it was actually a wire in one of New York newspapers, instead of them having their own report. So far, the majority decision seems to be in favor of Ketchel, from what I read.

 

A least things 2 guys had the huevos to get in the ring with each other.

(see Pac vs PBF non-fight)

 

Who actually won the 6 rd bout is secondary to the fact that Stanley Ketchel was very likely a "shot' fighter in April, 1910. Soon after this bout Ketchel allegedly on opium
went to a Conway, Missouri ranch to recuperate from his excesses and as we know was shot dead by Walter Dipley , six months after the fight with the 20 pound or so
heavier Sam Langford...As McGrain posted, think a MW Hagler against an Archie Moore...As a MW under 160 pounds, few if any were better than the prime Michigan Assassin...

 

I don't have.the book in front of me but I thought Langford wanted to carry Ketchel but Stanley was like a broken elevator- he only went one way. So Langford ended up actually having to fight him with Ketchel doing fairly well fending him off.

 

I favour ketchel in a 20 round mw title fight.