Stanley Ketchel fought Langford and Jack Johnson

[$Bullsfam$]

Was reading up on him today. Homeless teenager to middleweight champion of the world to getting murdered over seemingly nothing at 24.

Another thing to point out is he was a middleweight champion who fought Langford and Jack Johnson 2 of the best black fighters ever that were ducked and not given a chance to even compete against top tier white athletes.

I’m not sure if he was racist and just another great white hope, or if he was completely different idk much about him but I do respect him getting in there with guys bigger then him that now that we look back on our are all time greats, and even if love wasn’t in his heart, it was great to see them giving an opportunity.


Funny too with the jack Johnson fight it was supposedly an exhibition and Jack Johnson claims he was sucker punch which led too him knocking out Stanley. But others say the video show it was way more then an exhibition from the start and no sign of a cheap shot.

Would like to hear more stories like or insight about this

[QueensburyRules]

Was reading up on him today. Homeless teenager to middleweight champion of the world to getting murdered over seemingly nothing at 24.

Another thing to point out is he was a middleweight champion who fought Langford and Jack Johnson 2 of the best black fighters ever that were ducked and not given a chance to even compete against top tier white athletes.

I’m not sure if he was racist and just another great white hope, or if he was completely different idk much about him but I do respect him getting in there with guys bigger then him that now that we look back on our are all time greats, and even if love wasn’t in his heart, it was great to see them giving an opportunity.


Funny too with the jack Johnson fight it was supposedly an exhibition and Jack Johnson claims he was sucker punch which led too him knocking out Stanley. But others say the video show it was way more then an exhibition from the start and no sign of a cheap shot.

Would like to hear more stories like or insight about this

- -Plenty of white fighters on Sam and Jack records, but by the end of his championship days, Jack well noted for ducking Sam and Joe Jeannette as big $ title matches in Paris.

[Rusty Tromboni]

Watch the video.

It's clearly a normal fight.

Just another example of Johnson lying through his teeth.

[Willie Pep 229]

Watch the video.

It's clearly a normal fight.

Just another example of Johnson lying through his teeth.

I heard another story FWIW that it wasn't an exhibition or a fix but that they would avoid a knockout and looked to repeat the fight for a second payday. I.e. that Johnson would carry Ketchel.

It is so hard with Jack Johnson he told so many tall tales.

When we read about Langford, McVea, and Jeannette and their multiple fights, some weren't all out efforts, and it's likely Johnson has a few of his own.

[billeau2]

Was reading up on him today. Homeless teenager to middleweight champion of the world to getting murdered over seemingly nothing at 24.

Another thing to point out is he was a middleweight champion who fought Langford and Jack Johnson 2 of the best black fighters ever that were ducked and not given a chance to even compete against top tier white athletes.

I’m not sure if he was racist and just another great white hope, or if he was completely different idk much about him but I do respect him getting in there with guys bigger then him that now that we look back on our are all time greats, and even if love wasn’t in his heart, it was great to see them giving an opportunity.




Funny too with the jack Johnson fight it was supposedly an exhibition and Jack Johnson claims he was sucker punch which led too him knocking out Stanley. But others say the video show it was way more then an exhibition from the start and no sign of a cheap shot.

Would like to hear more stories like or insight about this

Green K! A fantastic fighter, and unlike the obscurity of the month that goes for finding hidden talent, this guy was in fact never mentioned enough in my opinion. Ketchel was part of a generation of fighters that fought in a fishbowl full of talented fighters, all coming up young, fighting, learning the craft... apparently rumor has it that Jack had some of Ketchel's teeth stuck in his glove.

[Rusty Tromboni]

I heard another story FWIW that it wasn't an exhibition or a fix but that they would avoid a knockout and looked to repeat the fight for a second payday. I.e. that Johnson would carry Ketchel.

It is so hard with Jack Johnson he told so many tall tales.

When we read about Langford, McVea, and Jeannette and their multiple fights, some weren't all out efforts, and it's likely Johnson has a few of his own.

Watch the fight. Read the reports of those who were there. Johnson wanted Ketchel out of there. He had to put on the performance of his life not to get dispatched himself.

[HOUDINI563]

Gunboat Smith was a sparring partner for both Johnson and Ketchel for their fight. Smith sat at ringside for this bout. He was interviewed in the early 70’s and stated emphatically that the KD of Johnson by Ketchel was faked and that Johnson could have koed Stanley any time he liked.

Ketchel was rated as the greatest middleweight champion ever for many decades. He was a tremendous puncher with killer instinct akin to Dempsey.

[Rusty Tromboni]

Gunboat Smith was a sparring partner for both Johnson and Ketchel for their fight. Smith sat at ringside for this bout. He was interviewed in the early 70’s and stated emphatically that the KD of Johnson by Ketchel was faked and that Johnson could have koed Stanley any time he liked.

Ketchel was rated as the greatest middleweight champion ever for many decades. He was a tremendous puncher with killer instinct akin to Dempsey.

My Grandfather was a younger, not-too-distant cousin of Gunboat Smyth's. He was also a pretty active amateur Boxer and Football player.

He regularly cited Gunboat Smyth as one of the examples of what happens to guys when they stay around the ring too long.

[HOUDINI563]

Smiths description of the fight was spot on when he gave his interview in the early 70’s.

I found how he was employed at both camps at the same time very interesting. He would finish sparring with Johnson, hitch a ride to Ketchels training camp and then spar with Stanley.

Smiths account of the fight adds credibility to what you see. Johnson starts heading for the canvas before the punch is thrown. The right hand if it landed at all cuffed the side of Johnson’s head as he was dropping to the canvas. Also note both fighters were in perfect position in front of the camera to catch the action.

[ShoulderRoll]

Ketchel would fight anyone. No fear.