The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-07-20
KETCHEL' WORK
Is CAUSING TALK

New York, July 2O.-Stanley Ket-
chefs failure to knock Bill Papke
out inside Of twenty rounds at Colma
recently will probably be discussed for
some time to come. Sporting men, as
q rule, still regard Ketchel as phe-
nofnenal pugilist and predict that il
ne takes proper care OF himself and
is absolutely At when he meets Jack
Johnson in October he will stand an
excellent chance of winning. But
Ketchers showing with Papke will not
be passed over lightly. even though
some critics are inclined to throw the
fight out OF their calculations, just as
horse fiends treat cratic performances
of racing thoroughbreds. The fact
that both of KetcheTs hands were in
Jured is sufficient reason why ne did
not stop Papke. The fight up to the
twelfth round proved that Ketchel was
easily the master. for Papke received
terrific waAoping and was in. much
distress. But with both hands Grip
pied it was not at al strange that
Ketchel's attack gradually became less
dangerous, until Papke did not fear to
take chances, Papke is a tough GUS
toner anyway. Ketchel is the only
man that has ever defeated him. and
yet Papke Is the only pugilist that has
ever put the Michigan lion away. AS
ii lN1rx r.
evenly matched, therefore, with this
important exception Papke can make
15S pounds any time without weaken
ing his physical condition, while Ket-
chel finds this task positive hard
ship.
1t is a matter Of fact that Papke
is always close to the middle weight
and has never been compelled to do
any great amount of hard work to keep
his avoirdupois down to that mark
For this mill Papke was ready for
more than week, his training con-
sisting of light exercise to keep his
wind and limbs in proper condition.
Ketchel, on the other hand after trip
by easy stages from this city to Frisco,
which consumed more than a week,
took on so much weight that he was
forced to- indulge in strenuous road
work right up to weighing in time in
order to scale at 1853. For this reason
ring experts in California say that
Ketchel weakened himself and could
not have been in the same trim which
enabled him to stop Jack O'Brien In
Jig time. They use as proof Of this
statement the fact that Ketchel be-
gan TO show signs of WEAKNESS after
three rounds had been fought, which,
in their opinion, was an indication of
staAeness. Ketchel had been in active
training without letup except during
the trip to California from the first
of Marcia, so that the argument that
he may have been overturned is
worthy Of credence.
If Ketchel is wise he will never at
tempt to reduce TO the middleweight
limit again. BY taking rest until the
first of September 1t is believed that
he can then begin training for the
Johnson fight with the prospect of be-
ing In better physical shape than ever
before. Two months of leisure, 1t is
thought, will put so much weight
upon Ketchel's powerful frame that
he can get into the ring with the big
negro weighing at least ITS pounds,
perhaps more. Ketchel, according to
good judges, should have the physique
and stamina of Tom Sharkey when he
meets Johnson with greater hitting
power than the famous sailor possess
ed when he went twenty-five rounds
with Jeffries at Coney Island. Weight
and strength mean everything in a
pugilist's makeup, and in a fight with
n vNIa sNF
both.
Thunderholt Can Punch.
Profound respect for Papke's terrific
punches probably made Ketchel un-
usually cautious, for the Michigan lion
did not adopt the aggressive rushing
tactics shown In his second bout with
O'Brien. Competent ring judges do not
regard Johnson as in Papke's class as
a puncher. and consequently they see
no reason why Ketchel should adopt
dilatory tactics when he hooks up with
the colored champion. Johnson's un-
willingness to fight more than twenty
rounds with Ketchel, in view of the
latter's mill with Papke, seems to be
wei understood now. The negro be-
cause OF his. superior height and
weight undoubtedly believes that he
can stall with Ketchel and receive a
decision on points. Whether he can or
not it may be said that If Ketchel
weighs ITS or $50 pounds and his
hands do not go back on his, johnson
will be subjected to the most severe
test he has ever experienced. 1t is
difiicult matter to knock out man
whose sole purpose In the ring is to
defend himself against an attack Of
this kind. Papke evidently made UP
his mind that he would take no
chances, for he clinched and covered
up whenever Ketchel reached him
with a staggering punch In the early
rounds That Johnson will adopt sim
liar tactics appears to be foregone
conclusion, for that was his policy In
the fight with Burns In Australia