Your thoughts on Stanley Ketchel
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Brutal guy, one of the old champions Tyson was referring to who "didn't care about anything". Went out in the same manner as his lifestyle. -
Top 10 Middleweight, one of the best ever.
Unfortunately he will always be remembered for ******ly flooring Johnson after their agreement to go the distance.Last edited by NChristo; 05-29-2010, 05:22 PM.Comment
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This is Tommy Ryan's breakdown of the Middlweight division at the end of 1907:
"Just look at the array of high grade fighters that could be throwinto a tournie and put up dazzling, even fights that would send the fighting bug into spasms of delight. Here si the way I will have to place them:
1 - Jack Sullivan. One of the greatest fighters that ever lived, and probbaly the hardest man in the ring to whip. I counsel any of them to keep their hands of this bald headed chap.
2 - Hugo Kelly, the Chigao Italian, a particularly good and wiling fighter, but one who will have to fight more aggressively to become a real popular idol.
3 - Bill Papke, the Sping Valley wonder, of whom i have heard so much but know so little. He is a great man.
4 - Young Ketchell, the young Butte man, who sparng into such prominance by drawing with and beating Joe Thomas out on the Pacific Coast, two exceptional performances.
Just think over the possibilities among this quartet of star fighters!"
I have the entire transcript of this interview where Ryan, whom I respct more than any commentator of that era, breaks down the entire fight scene at that time, and he clearly sees the MW division as the #1 division in the sport - and Ketchell beat the other three men on this list, by knockout, the following year. He cleaned up the toughest division in boxing, with impunity.
Ketchell is generally underated. One of the best MW's of all time. Perhaps top 5.Comment
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