Stanley Ketchel cleaned house in 1908

Just imagine if he hadn't died how much more he COULD have accomplished at middleweight. His resume at age 24 is one of the more impressive ones, if he had a full career his resume may have been up there with Langford and Grebs.

 

He was already on the verge of retirement.

 

Ketchel is very underrated in my opinion. One of the best middleweights of all time without question.

Awesome power.

 

I ain't kind -I'm a natural critic. It was a big project that you did and I'm glad that you saw it through -and felt my pain. Try taking on Bert Lytell's whole life, especially considering that no one knows jack about him over the last 35 years of his life. I'm calling gyms and bars in California and trying to convince his kin on facebook to gimme the time of day.

Listen, Ketchel is smiling wherever he is (I hope it ain't "the furnace" though he'd probably feel right at home). You brought him back and identified not only his peak, but also what may have been the beginning of his end after that debilitating beating from Papke.

Bravo.

 

Badass new installment. Gave me some appreciation for papke.

 

An outstanding piece of work, done the way it should be done. I think your piece may have been the first ever written that challenges the "sucker punch" myth as well. Kudos for that. For the record, primary sources agree that the first damaging punch Papke landed occured after at least one minute of fighting, ample time for Ketchel to recover from any surprise and adjust to Papke. It was simply Papke's day.

You really brought the "Illinois Thunderbolt" to life. He falls through the cracks a bit when top middleweights are discussed and I think it's important that people realize what a certified badass this guy was when at his best.

 

(High praise from one of the fight racket's top archaelogists.)

 

Hi McGrain. You sure a sucker punch landed? Because every single primary source I've read agreed with you that yes, Papke "sailed into" Ketchel when he offered his hand, but that the real damaging punch didn't happen until after about "a minute and 20 seconds of fighting".

That would sort of disqualify it as a "sucker-punch", I would think. If Papke is guilty of anything it would be a sneak attack, which Ketchel had had plenty of time to adjust to (a minute-plus of fighting is a long time when one is in the ring! And more than enough time for a pro like Ketch to get his wits about him).

 

Ti ringrazio

 

You would think that his kin would be enthusiastic to help a project that would give overdue acclaim to their famous relative. What gives??

I live out here in Los Angeles, so don't hesitate to let me know if there is anything I can do to be of assistance.

 

:lama