Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-05
IS CHAMP
Michigan MiddIeweight De-
feats Billy Papke in Slash !
ing lO-Round Go.
FAIRLY EARNS THE TITLE
Forces kewanee Boy to Break Ground
and Lands Two Blows to His One
Each Gets kneckdoWn.

night was crowned king of the middle
weights after defeating Billy Papke,
the Illinois thunderbolt, in battle
which, for slashing vim, never has
been equaled in the west. The award
to Ketchel given by Referee Jack Nc
Guigan of Philadelphia was received
with tremendous cheers and not dis
senting voice was raised, as the blonde
haired Kewanee lad had been beaten
and beaten decisively at his own game
/ of furious smuggling.
| Two clean knockdowns were scored,
one by Ketchel at the opening of the
battle and the other by Papke in the
middle of the fourth round. Ketchel
however, landed two blows to Papke's
one and every one was sent with the
force of pile driver. So wicked were
the punches that Papke, though fight
ing back with great gameness at every
stage of the struggle, was forced TO
break ground with regularity. He SIM
/ ply could not withstand the fury of
=, his opponents relentless attacks.
ketcheI Rests for Finish.
| In three rounds he held his own, but
later developments proved Ketchel
was only resting in preparation for
still more hurricane attacks
Papke never lost that famous smile
and at the end of his uphill battle he
followed Ketchel across the ring and
patted him admiringly on the back.
The Michigan boy turned and seized
Billy's hand, the whole crowd cheering
the generous act.
Ketchel's best blow was a shift blow,
which had the appearance of a swing.
Though he missed with it many times,
he Jared Papke to the heels when he
did connect. 1t was punch with
knockout force and Papke seemed to
dread it after the knockdown in the
first round, as he covered like turtle
whenever Stanley unlocked the blow.
To illustrate the) force of this blow
lit is only necessary to say at least 60
times during the battle it tore through
p, Papke's guard and made the blonde
haired boy reel. When Ketchel landed
| flush with the shift the impact of the
glove on Papke's iron jaw could be
heard all over the big hippodrome.
Another blow that aided the cyclone
in bringing home the honors was a
swift left uppercut to the jaw. Innum-
cradle times he landed this in clinches
and the effect was easily apparent on
Papke. who fought back wildly after
each volley.
The Fight by Rounds.
Eirct Pound Daul-h d,poaI Il
and Ketchel rushed, planting slash
ing right to the jaw which put Papke
to the floor, but the pride of Kewanee
was up like a flash. Ketchel uppercut
to the stomach and Papke replied in
kind. Papke put vicious left swing
i 10 the stomach and Ketchel came back
with a volley of iefts and rights over
the heart. Ketchels blows showed ter
/ rifle force. Stanley rushed Billy to
the ropes and landed left and right
uppercuts to the jaw. Papke held his
own in a whirlwind mixup in the CEN
ter of the ring. Ketchel landed a
straight left and the round ended in
favor of Stanley.
Second Round-The men met like a
pair of locomotives in a head-on col
! lision in the center of the ring. Ketchel
put in two terrific swings TO the kid.
neys and Papke Strengthened him UP
with a lightning left. Ketchel rushed
again, and the Illinois thunderbolt met
him with right swing that staggered
him. Papke followed with rapid right
and left uppercrts. hut Ketchel never
faitered. ketchel put right jolt to
jaw and Papke slid inside of another,
but the westerner landed light right
uppercut. Papke rushed as the gong
rang and Slipped TO his knees when
ketchel landed glancing left.
Third Round-Papke met Ketchel in
the center of the ring. but Ketchel fore.
ed him to break ground In mixup
that followed Papke put in a straight
Nett to the jaw, and Ketchel swung on
the kewanee lads head and followed
1t up with a left to the stomach. The
men then stood head to head and mix
ed with ferocity. Papke stopped Ketch-
els next rush with left uppercut, but
Stanley replied with terrific blow
which Papke received on his neck.
Puts KetcheI to the Floor.
1 Fourth Round - Papke jumped at
ketchel like a panther when the gong
rang. The Kewanee boy forced Ketch-
ell into his own corner and in the rush
threw Ketchel to his knees. Ketchel
recovered and danced away. In fierce
4 mixup in the center of the ring Papke
Scored the first knockdown, mailing
ketchel over the heart and bringing a
panied look on his face. The round
ended with Papke all to the good and
his admirers yelling like wild Apaches.
4 Fifth Round-The men again raced
to the center, and Papke beat Ketchel
ITO it with right uppercut to the jaw.
ketchel missed his right swing. but
Papke broke ground. Ketchel follow
ed Papke around the ring with volleys
of right and left swings, all of which
Papke lodged. Papke landed left
|,uppereut to the heart. and Stanley
'ceuntered with right swing to the
jaw. Ketchel eornered Papke, but the