Name: Career Record: click Alias: The Michigan Assassin Birth Name: Stanislaus Kiecal Nationality: US American Birthplace: Grand Rapids, MI Born: 1886-09-14 Died: 1910-10-15 Age at Death: 24 Height: 5' 9 Managers: Joe O'Conner, Willus Britt

Career Overview

One of the real “characters” of , Ketchel was a fearless man whose personality was perfectly reflected by his in-the-ring savagery and dramatic life. The first two-time champ of the gloved era, he is also considered to be possibly the hardest hitting of all middleweight champions. An unpolished brawler who loved to test an opponent’s will to fight, the “Michigan Assassin” faced four hall of famers during his career, some of history’s best , light , and heavyweights included among them. , the late ring historian and founding editor of The Ring magazine, considered Stanley to be the greatest middleweight in history.

Early Years

Born Stanislaus Kiecal to Polish immigrants in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Ketchel was a rough, tough brawler even as a youth. He avoided school, instead falling in with a gang of street kids and often getting into fist fights. At twelve years old, he ran away from home, becoming a child hobo. As a teenager he lived in Butte, , where he found employment first as a hotel bellhop and then as a bouncer. This profession obviously led to many scraps that established his reputation as the best fist fighter in town. Soon enough sixteen-year-old Stanley was performing in backroom boxing matches with older locals for twenty dollars a week. He began traveling throughout Montana, offering to take on any man brave enough to face him. Between 1903 and 1906, he lost just twice in thirty-nine contests and, in 1907, moved to , where he knew most of boxing’s big names and big fights waited for him.

World Champion

Stanley continued to win in California against an ever-increasing quality of opposition. On February 22, 1908, he took on his most dangerous opponent yet, Mike (Twin) Sullivan, one of the leading and middleweights of the era. Ketchel flattened him in less than a round and then fought Mike’s brother, Jack Sullivan, for the vacant world middleweight championship. Jack lasted twenty rounds but was eventually knocked out and Ketchel was named the new titleholder. Less than a month later he made his first defense, beginning his three-

fight rivalry with , the determined and rugged “ Thunderbolt.” On June 4, 1908, in , , Ketchel won a ten round decision over future hall of famer Papke. He then went on to knock out contenders Hugo Kelly and Joe Thomas before facing Papke again in a rematch on September 7, 1908. Papke dominated the fight and badly hurt Ketchel in the twelfth round, forcing the referee to stop the fight. Determined to regain the championship, Ketchel went immediately into a third fight with Papke on November 26, 1908 in Colma, California. In the eleventh round of a terrific brawl, Ketchel knocked his man out and became the first two-time middleweight champ.

After three hard fights with one hall of famer, Ketchel went directly into a fight with yet another, Jack O’Brien, who was the reigning light champion of the world at the time. In a much anticipated non-title fight held at ’s National Athletic Club on March 26, 1909, Ketchel survived a terrible beating at the hand of the slick, quick O’Brien in the early rounds only to mount a terrific comeback and score four knockdowns in the ninth and tenth rounds. When the final bell rang at the end of the tenth round, O’Brien was lying unconscious on the mat, his head in a resin box in his corner. Under New York rules at the time, though, O’Brien had been saved by the bell and because official decisions were outlawed in New York boxing the fight was declared a “No Decision.” The rematch, held on June 9, was a different story. Ketchel demolished O’Brien inside of three rounds. A fourth fight with Billy Papke followed, with Ketchel again winning out in a tumultuous slugfest to defend his championship. This fight took place in the outdoor Mission Street Arena in Colma, California, during a terrible thunderstorm, yet neither fighter relented in his pursuit of victory until Stanley took the twenty-round decision.

The Johnson Fight

Ketchel was by now possibly the most universally admired active prizefighter in America. Meanwhile the reigning heavyweight champion at this time, , the first black man to win that title, had stirred up a cauldron of controversy and was very likely the most universally despised man in the country, regardless of profession. Though Ketchel and Johnson were good friends, many called for a fight between the two with hopes that Stanley would return the heavyweight crown to the white race. On October 16, 1909, at the Mission Street Arena, Ketchel proved himself one of the pound-for-pound hardest punchers in the history of the sport. Though Johnson got the better of the action by using his greater size (Ketchel was at a twenty-five pound weight disadvantage and nearly a four inch height disadvantage), Stanley caught Jack with a hard right hand in the twelfth that put the champion on the floor. All hopes of glory for Ketchel were squashed however, when Johnson immediately rose to his feet and dispatched the challenger with a left-right combination to the jaw. Ketchel went completely unconscious and was counted out on his back.

Later Career and Death

Inspired by his knockdown of Johnson, Ketchel began almost immediately campaigning for a rematch. On March 23, 1910 and overconfident Ketchel, still the world’s middleweight champ, fought up-and-coming middleweight Frank Klaus in , . Stanley had failed to train properly and was lucky the fight was scheduled for just six rounds. Pennsylvania law outlawed boxing decisions but the newspaper reporters who witnessed the fight declared it a draw, with Klaus dominating the early rounds and Ketchel narrowly taking the second half of the fight. It was a similar story just over a month later in Philadelphia when Stanley fought one of cleverest and hardest-hitting boxers of his generation, . Again the fight lasted the six round distance and resulted in an official “No Decision.” Langford was said to take the early rounds and Ketchel the later ones. Most at ringside felt that both men gave a good account of themselves in the brief, but hard-fought, contest.

On October 15, 1910, while still trying to secure a rematch with heavyweight champion Johnson, Stanley Ketchel was in training at a cattle ranch in Conway, . That morning he was shot in the chest by ranch hand Walter Dipley, who was allegedly jealous of his girlfriend’s attraction to Ketchel, though some suspect the murder was a robbery on the part of Dipley and his girlfriend. A bullet in his lung, Ketchel was dead at age twenty-four. At Stanley’s funeral one mourner said, “Start counting over the dear boy. He’ll get up.” In 1990 the legendary fighter was part of the inaugural class of inductees into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.

Factoids

 Also known as the "Michigan Marvel"  Inventor of the "triple shift" punch  Managed by Joe O'Conner[1]. Also managed, at least by 1909, by Willie Britt (older brother of Jimmy), who died suddenly Nov. 1, 1909.  Ketchel was the first boxer to regain the World Middleweight Title after losing it, followed by and Tony Zale.

 In October 1910, Ketchel--eating breakfast obliviously at Col. R.P. Dickinson's Two Bar Ranch farm at Conway, Missouri--was killed by a double-barrelled shotgun blast fired by Walter Dipley, who was jealous over the attention his girlfriend had paid to the middleweight boxing great. Ketchel was only 24-years-old. Dipley got a life sentence.  A little over 17 years later, on Feb. 16, 1928, Ketchell's father, Thomas Kiccal, 74, was found in the barn loft of the family farm near Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his throat slashed. His son, John Kiccal, the younger brother of Stanley, was discovered in possession of a blood-stained knife and arrested for the murder. It was thought the motive was a dispute over land that Stanley had left to the family, purchased from his ring earnings, and which had recently multiplied in value. 

The Indianapolis Star

28 April 1910

Ketchel Strong In Six Round Battle

Bell saved Langford When Michigan Fighter lands left In Sixth Round

CALL DRAW FAIR DECISION

Spectators agree colored pugilist Sam Langford of and Stanley Ketchel of Michigan met tonight in the arena of the National*Athletic Club in a six round bout, and at the end there was little to choose between the men, If anything, Langford had a slight advantage, but a draw would have been a fair decision.

After the first round both men fought viciously, Ketchel playing for the colored man’s body, while the Boston fighter used a straight left, varied occasionally with a right uppercut It was one of these damaging blows which caught Ketchel flush on the nose near the close of the third round and started the blood flowing in a stream. Langford thereafter played for the damaged organ, driving his long felt straight to the face repeatedly. This attack seemed to unnerve Ketchel and he swung wildly at times, while Langford was always cool.

As the men rushed to a clinch Just as the bell sounded for the close of the fourth round, Ketchel drove a vicious left into Langford's body and the colored- fighter's eyes closed and his mouth opened. He was plainly hurt, but what might have proved a dangerous situation for him was averted by the bell.

Ketchel Forces Fighting

Ketchel pursued his usual tactics of forcing the fighting. There was not a moment during the battle that he was not right on top of Langford, never allowing him to get set, This was the part of Wisdom, for Langford easily outboxed Ketchel.

There was not a mark on either man As they emerged from the ring, but Langford appeared to be the fresher. The National Athletic Club, where the Sam Langford-Stanley Ketchel fight took place, was packed to the doors long before the first bout, which was scheduled for 8:30, was put on, Not In the history of the club has there been such a representative assemblage of sporting men as that which surrounded the ring, Every large city from Chicago to Boston was represented. It was estimated that there was a gate of nearly $30,000, From New York there came a special train of six cars while Pittsburg Baltimore, Washington, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Boston and other large cities contributed their quota The principals were early on the scene. Ketchel, who came over from Woodlawn yesterday, spent the greater part of the day quietly in his room. In the early afternoon he took an automobile ride through Fairmount Park, and after a light supper retired to his room for a short nap, He came to the clubhouse a few minutes after 9 o'clock, looking in the pink of condition.

Langford remained at his training quarters at Merchantville , N. J., until late in the afternoon when, accompanied by George Cole and a retinue of seconds, he was whisked across the country to Philadelphia, The colored man too looked to be in perfect trim, and he sad as much; George Cole, who had watched after Langford’s training since the Boston man's arrival here, fresh from his victory over Barry In California, said that Langford's condition was perfect.

Jim Flynn, who came all the way from the coast to challenge the winner of tonight's bout, sat close to the ringside, Before the main event he appeared in the ring and formally challenged the winner.

Round 1

The men advanced cautiously, Ketchel was the first to lead with a light left for the wind. Langford missed leftand right and Ketchel tapped the colored man on the head, The clinched and in the break Langford landed a left on wind, Langford missed repeatedly, Ketchel was forcing the fighting. He landed a left on the wind and a right to the same place as the bell rang. Not a solid bow was struck,

Round 2.

Both advanced quickly to the center. Langford tried a left for the head, In A mixup Langford sent two good lefts to the wind as Ketchel drove right to head and again to wind. Langford sent a left to head. Each landed lefts to head and Ketchel sent right to wind, Another mixup and clinch and the referee had to pull the men apart. Ketchel landed left to wind as the bell rang, As In round Ketchel did the forcing

Round 3

Ketchel started the round with a left lead to the head but was blocked, Langford jabbed two lefts to the To the face. Then sent Ketchel's head back with a straight rlght. Both landed lefts on the wind Langford jabbed left to the mouth and drove a hard right to the wind, and Ketchel sent a left to face and, then Clinched. Ketchel sent Langford's head back with a hard left and repeated the blow a second later. Langford missed a left uppercut and Ketchel drove a hard left to the face. They were clinched at the bell.

Round 4.

Up to this time Ketchel was doing all the forcing. He did not let the colored man get set. Ketchel led left to the wind and they clinched Langford sent two hard lefts to the jaw, and Ketchel was more careful. Ketchel drove a, hard right to wind. Langford brought the blood from Ketchel’s nose with a stiff left. Langford chopped a hard left to the nose and the blood came from the injured member in a stream. Ketchel sent a hard right to the wind and Langford uppercut a hard one to the chin, This was Langford's round by a good margin.

Round 5

Ketchel led with a light left to the face and then sent a hard right to jaw. Langford again punched the damaged nose, starting the blood afresh. Langford sent left to face and Ketchel’s right to the body. Both drove lefts to the face and Ketchel sent a hard right to the nose. Ketchel missed a terrific uppercut and they clinched. Ketchel landed right on wind and Langford uppercut to chin- Langford swung a right as the bell rang, but fell to the floor.

Round 6

Langford lifted Ketchel off the floor with an uppercut. Both drove hard lefts to the head and in a clinch Ketchel pounded Langford's stomach and Langford again started the blood flowing and he slugged Ketchel with a right to the wind, Ketchel was weak and Langford sent his head back repeatedly, Ketchel was weak on his legs and they clinched repeatedly. Langford played for the damaged nose and had Ketchel covered with blood when the bell rang.

The Syracuse Herald 20 August 1911

Inside The Ring With The great Fighters By Charlie White

A few days before the last Papke Ketchel fight an enterprising reporter interviewed the champion's mother out In Grand Rapids. In the course of his conversation with her the subject of her telegrams to her soon before each of his ring battles was discussed. In connection with the fight Ketchel was to have a only a few days away, Mrs. Ketchel expressed the hope that her son would not win. In great astonishment the reporter asked: "Why do you hope he will not win?" "I don't mean that I hope he will lose," replied Stanley's mother. "I hope It will be a draw. This is the first time I have ever felt this way about it, but Billy Papke has a mother also. and I want her to be spared the sorrow of having her son defeated. Thai's the reason I want the fight to be a draw."

With the advantage of two victories to one defeat In his favor. Ketchel a favorite in the betting, the odds as high as 10 to 4 that he would win. Plenty of even money was wagered that Papke would be knocked out Inside of eighteen rounds. Ketchel himself was so supremely confident of his ability to defeat the sturdy Illinois boy that he bet several thousand dollars that he would knock Papke out inside of twelve rounds.

The arena at Colma was packed so tight on that afternoon of July 5th that even a New York subway guard couldn't have put another man In.Papke and Ketchel weighed in at 10 o'clock that morning at Corbett's cafe. Both were under the 158-pound mark by a, comfortable margin. A big crowd attended the weighing-in ceremony, and as soon as that was over started for the arena at Colma. The crowd came so early that Coffroth was obliged to open the doors of the place nearly three hours before the time scheduled for the battle.

.Odds on Ketchel Dropped.

The men entered the ring at about 2:30 P. M. As they faced each other In the ring Papke appeared to be in the better condition. He was well tanned and hadn't an ounce of superfluous flesh on him. Ketchel's skin was dead white by comparison with the color of Papke. and some of the spectators thought he looked soft Stanley said, however . that he was in fine condition and the only thing he was afraid of was that his hands might not hold out. The odds on Ketchel were affected a little by his apparent lack of condition, dropping from.10 to 4 to 2 to 1. Billy Roche was the referee.

Ketchel strted things with a hard right to the stomach and a moment later put another one in the same place. In a breakaway Stanley put his left to Papke’s jaw. There was a lot of clinching and Roche had his own troubles In making the men break. Stanley ended the round with a volley of hard swings to the head and body. It was Stanley's round.

The second round was infighting almost from beginning to end. This was . supposed to be Papke’s strong suit, but Ketchel outfought him most of the time. His blows were more frequent, although not any harder.

Nip and Tuck In early Rounds.

In the third Papke took a brace and. backed up against the ropes, stood Ketchel off with vicious swings to the Jaw and stomach. He drew blood from Ketchel’s mouth with a right hander. The Illinois boy had the advantage In this round.

The next inning found Stanley in the lead again by a slight margin. Both men were-fighting viciously but neither one was able to put as much force Into his blows as in their previous battles. The men clinched and hugged all over the ring during a good part of each round. It was very hot and the referee was dripping perspiration from his violent efforts to break the frequent clinches .After being pushed through the ropes by Ketchel in the fifth round. Papke rallied and fought the Michigan boy to a standstill.

The heat began to tell on both men in the sixth and they both went to the floor together more through exhaustion from their own efforts than from the effect of the blows they received. The champion did most of the forcing.

The seventh, and eighth rounds found The men fighting very hard, but rather ineffectually. Most of their swings whistled harmlessly through the air. A lot more clinching. From the spectators' point of view, the battle was rather a tiresome affair.

The ninth found Ketchel at his best. He waded into Papke and landed hard and often. The Illinois boy bled freely from the nose and mouth all through the round. Stanley tried hard to swing over the dreamland punch, but his blows either did not have the necessary steam In them or he was unable to land on the right spot. He looked much the better.

In the next Papke rallied and, surprised Stanley with hard punches to the head. Ketchel shook them off and Bored into his enemy. Billy was soon in bad condition, and hung on desperately to save himself. A smashing left to the jaw pretty nearly put him down but he managed to weather through. Papke staggered Ketchel in the eleventh round with an awful smash on the Jaw, but had no apparent effect on the champion. The round very much like the proceeding one. Ketchel slipped to the floor once, but was up in an instant.

It seemed that the harder the Michigan boy the harder his enemy came back. After being nearly knocked through the ropes in the twelfth by a wallop on the jaw Papke came back furiously and like flash landed terrific left and right swings to Ketchel's Jaw. Ketchel staggered from the force of the blows, and In an instant nearly even man in the house was on his feet yelling like a mad man. “'Go on. Billy." "Kill him." "Finish him. Papke," and other words of a similar tenor. But Billy couldn't finish him. Only for an Instant did Stanley hesitate and in that instant Papke was unable to reach him again. Then the Michigan boy gritted his teeth, flung back his tow-colored hair and sailed in so furiously that Papke was forced to save himself by clinching. Toward the end of the round Billy evened matters up by landing some hard punches.

Papke Becomes Confidant.

In the thirteenth round Papke grew stronger and became more confident. He opened the round with a hard right swing to Stanley's Jaw. a blow which ordinarily he could deliver hard enough to put the best man away, but It had no perceptible effect on the .champion. The round was slightly in Billy’s favor.

In the fourteenth the two swung valiantly at each other for forty five seconds or more without more than one blow being landed. The rest of the round was clinching and infighting. with honors about even. After the sensational flash in the twelfth the battle settled down into a wearisome affair again. The fifteenth was even tamer. It was nearly all wrestling and clinching. There wasn't thirty seconds of Good fighting in the whole round. The crowd began to manifest its disapproval and yelled loudly for action. Both men wore getting weaker and slower. The sixteenth round was much like the preceding one. Referee Roche was nearly exhausted by his efforts to make the men break.

As the end of the battle approached both men were trying hard for a . but neither one could put any force Into his blows. Just as the bell rang for the end of the seventeenth round Ketchel was staggered a bit by a left on the Jaw. In the next two rounds Billy appeared to be the :stronger, and several times slowed up Ketchel with blows on the Jaw, one In the nineteenth round sending the champion clear across the ring.

Slugged Till the End.

The twentieth and last round found both boys slugging away at each other without much effect. Both were too weak to land a very damaging blow, although Papke had the better of the exchanges. The round ended with the men whaling away at each other in a neutral corner. Referee Roche then grabbed Ketchel's hand and held it up. declaring him the winner. The crowd was divided in Its opinion as to the correctness of the decision. Roche afterward sold that Ketchel had landed cleaner and oftener and was therefore entitled to the decision. There were numerous howls and hisses of disapproval when the verdict was given. The majority of the spectators thought that it should have been a draw.

In comparison with the battle between these two boys at Milwaukee. and the former one at Colma, this battle was a tame and disappointing affair. There wasn't a knockdown in the whole twenty rounds. Only once, when Papke staggered Ketchel in the twelfth round, was there anything approaching the dramatic intensity that fight spectators love. That was only for an instant, and from then on until the finish the crowd had only the spectacle of two men pushing and shoving around the ring , with a few blows being landed now and then.