The San Francisco call., 1909-10-09
Michigan Lion
Tips the Beam
At IA Pounds
kefchef Will Be a Full Pledged
Heavy Weight When He
Meets Johnson
BY WILLIAM ]. SLATTERY

TX Stanley ketchel poses as middle
weight fighter any more he can right
Iuily be accused of sailing under false
colors- ketchel stripped and stepped
on the scales at his Colma training
quarters yesterday afternoon and the
scales registered just ia pounds AS
hetehel stands feet II inches in
height he is just as formidable a
neaFy weight as Tom Sharkey Bob
Fltzslmmons and Joe Choynski We're
when they were ranked with the cham
p1ons some 10 years ago.
ketchel is far larger and more
poWerfui VI man today than he ever was
think that this fighter, who three
months ago defended mis- middle weight
title when he beat Billy Papke at 15S
pounds. will climb into the ring against
Johnson at least 20 pounds heavier.
And he looks nearly the same, though
his face does not show that drawn,
the last time he appeared here
ketchel weighs about the same today
as Jim Corbett did when he lost his
heavy weight crown to Bob Fitzsim-
mons at Carson City more than IL
years ago. When Fitzsimmons entered
the ring he tipped the beam at trifie
more than l6O pounds. Strange to say,
Ketchel, who mas never been consid-
cred in the heavy weight class before
outweiShs the mighty E'itz of Il years
ago something like ID or IA pounds.
good, use of his. weight as the mighty
Cornishman did?
The Michigan lion does not show his
weight. To the casual observer he
looks like a man who would balance
the scales at about 155 pounds. For
the last two weeks both Ketche1 and
Manager Willis Britt have been keep
ing quiet about weight, but yesterday
looked to Britt like a good day for
public weighing at the training quar-
ters. He invited a large crowd to
a aff.la CT l1zf< -
jumped on the scales. several of the
interested parties tested them, so that
there is no doubt that they were abb
proved to everybody's satisfaction.
He can even carry 10 or Is pounds"
shouted Britt after ketchel had jumped
him. There's not an ounce of fat on
his body He's got a big frame. He's
bigger man than Fitz or Sharkey or
Choynski were when they fought with
the champions. This will open the
eyes of lot of people who have been
looking upon Ketchei as a compare
weight from now on.
Ketchel was willing 10 admit that
his middle weight days were over for
good and all. He claims TO be filing
tends to make weight in the future for
any of them. He is training this time
to build himself up and put on muscle
and sinew rather than TO take off flesh
remains to be seen if ketchel will
prove a better heavy weight than ne
was a middle weight.
Many of those who. saw the man
from Michigan go through his train
ing work yesterday were quick to ex
press the opinion that Ketch was over
doing ii. Certainly, he cut out fer
rife pace for himself. He had hardly
started ere the sweat began to ooze
through his pores and run down his
face and body in steady Stree ms. The
faster the perspiration came the
swifter became Ketchel's pace, till at
the conclusion of his work he was
wringing wet. Still. his wind appeared
to be perfect. and he was just as
bright and as chipper as when he
started. and apparently not at all
fatigued.
Ketchel is not going after his spar
ring partners in the fierce. tiger like
manner which formerly marked his
work. Though he cuts out stif pace
from the outset, Ketch refrains from
shifts and swings TO the head and
body OF his training mates. He is
content to box with them and allow
them to hit him.
noon consisted of two rounds each
with Steve O'Connor and Charley Mil
ler He did not rest between rounds
at all. but took on one man Just as
soon as he had finished up with the
other. He had them stepping all over
the ring as fast as they could work
the1r legs, ana In InlS way lie man
aged to get plenty OF footwork and
good exercise. Ketchel got into posi-
tion for his shifts many a time, but he
would always pause Just when his
favorite punch was ready to land
Mountain climbing Is forming
good portion of Ketchefs work this
time. Every morning he makes trip
up to the highest peak of the hills in
back of the cemeteries. On his way
along the trail Ketchel playfully
wrestles with all the cows with which
he comes in contact Ketchel seems
to prefer the mountain climbing to
the work on the level roads.
Ketchel is sure that he will gain
three or more pounds before the day
of the fight with Johnson, next Satur-
day afternoon. II he does, he will
climb into the ring weighing about
178 pounds. He believes that the
heavier he is the more formidable
fighter he will be against the big
black champion, especially IL there is
any wrestling or tugging TO be
pulled off.
Big Bob Armstrong was in the har-
ness out at Johnsen's training camp
yesterday afternoon, and the pair put
up very clever two round exhibition.
Armstrong, in his day, was one of the
cleverest of the heavy weights, and he
is still q past master with the gloves.
SO tricky, in fact, that Johnson can not
make him step around and miss like
he does with the ordinary ones.
Besides boxing with Armstrong,
Johnson reeled off four rounds with his
regular standby, Dave Mills. AS usual
the big smoke devoted practically all
boulevards in his racing auto.