The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-03
Battle in Which KetcheH De-
feated Thomas Was a Clipper.
Both Men Fought From the
Start to the Knockout.
FAST AND FURIOUS.
The Montana Man Did Best
Work Most of the Way.
Frisco Labor Day Bout Makes
New WelterWeight Champion.

San Francisco, Sept. 3.-Labor day
gave to the world a new welter-weight
champion and supplied one OF the
greatest fights in the ring annals of
California. In the thirty-second round
of a scheduled forty-f1ve round contest
at Croffroth's arena Monday afternoon
young KetchelI OF Butte, Mont, knock
ed out Champion Joe Thomas of San
Francisco in the presence of 5000 peo-
pie. Not until the champion mad gone
cession did his seconds throw up the
sponge. Thomas was so badly pun
ished that he had to be carried to mis-
corner and it was several minutes be-
fore he recovered.
THE best man won" was Thomas
frank acknowledgement when the
breath that had been pounded out of
him came back. 1t was the superior
boxer against the superior fighter
with no advantage of gameness on
either side. Ketchell showed the great
er endurance.
The fight up to the thirteenth round
was Ketchelfs. The fourteenth was
even.
Round Is KetcheIl smashed
Thomas with left sand rights to the
face. Thomas was tired and bleeding
profusely.
Round 16-KetcheIl went after his
man and soon got him groggy and
tired. Thomas went down for the
count of eight, but was saved by the
gong. He went to his corner blind and
groggy.
Round 17-Thomas came I'D strong
and landed lefts and rights to the face
and body but was punished in return
by KetchelI.
Round 1s-Thomas came up strong
and others to the head and mouth and
Ketchell retaliated by sending Thorn
as head back twice.
Round 19-Thomas landed a right
to the jaw and left to the face and
followed this up with an uppercut that
opened KetchelI's sore eye.
Round 2O-The round was slow
with honors even.
Round 21-Ketchell began forcing
again but slowed up and Thomas had
a shade the better of the round.
Round 22-Thomas rushed and they
clinched. The men fought fast and
exhanged blows in the middle Of the
ring.
Round 2S-Ketchell rushed Thomas
to the ropes. They exchanged numer-
GUS blows with even results.
Round 24-There was a series of
advantage during the round.
Round 25 Ketchell staggered
Thomas with stiff left. Ketchell's
round. III E 9r ~ r.
In the twenty-sixth round Ketchell
landed a right and a left swing on the
body and jaw that stretched Thomas
fat on his back. But the Californian
was on his feet at the count of -four
and succeeded in keeping away until
the gong gave him respite.
In the twenty-seventh round a right
cross to the jaw as they came out of
a clinch took Ketchell off his feet and
sat him down with bump.
For the last half dozen rounds
Thomas showed signs of returning
strength. The suddenness with which
the end came in the thirty-second
round took many by surprise. They
clinched and broke away, Thomas TAX
ing a left the jaw that staggered
him backward. Ketchell then rushed
in and drove Thomas to the floor from
vicious left in the stomach followed
by a terrific right cross on the jaw.
Thomas took all the count the rules
allowed and when he got up it was
plain the end was at hand. He was
no longer able to protect face or body
and three times went down under a
rain of right and left swings, the force
of which put him out so effectually
that his seconds mercifully tossed up
the sponge. Both men were badly
punished.