The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-07-13
KETCHEL is NOT
A fITZSIMMONS
He Has but Little Show to Defeat
Johnson, the Champion.
(By Harry B. Smith.)

On all sides you hear the question
esked, "Will the Ketchel-Jack Johnson
fight be carried out as originally plan
ned in view of the showing that Ket-
chel made against Billy Papke last
Monday"
1t is a question somewhat hard to
answer. Promoter Coffroth and Man
ager Willis Britt, representing Ket-
chel, declare omphatically that the
fight will take place In October as or
iginally planned and go so far as 10
state that even had the fight of Mon
day ended In Ketcbel being knocked
out, the heavyweight match would in
no way have been interfered with.
Public opinion. however, counts for
something when the box Office receipts
are to be considered and the 1ndlca-
tions are that neither Coffroth nor the
fighters Will rush headlong into the
matter. without first having given the
middle-weight champion another test
to prove mis- right to meet Jack John"
son.
Before the fight OF July 5th there
werc many who gave Ketchel mighty
good chance of beating Johnson They
figured him a good ring general and
a man with so remarkable punch
that Johnson would not be able to
stand against him. Those same fight
fans. however, when they looked at
Papke and Ketchel, shook their heads
when It was suggested TO them that
Ketchel would stand n good chance
against the negro.
Even admitting that he injured niS
hands. he would as likely hurt those
same hands against Johnson, Stan
/lev didn't have the punch to stow
away Battling Nelson last Monday let
alone Billy Papke or Jonnson. The
exercise of moving around the ring
In the first three rounds, before Papke
had marked him, tired the Michigan
boy, so that 1t must either be admit
ted that he was woefully out Of condi-
tion or gone back IN the boxing game.
There are few boxers who can give
away forty pounds and still be con-
sidered possible winner. Bob Fitz-
simmons did this, 1t Is true. but that
one exception proved the rule. In the
days OF John l.. Sullivan, James j.
Corbett and even TO the later period
of James ] JeftHes, there was no
talk of matching middle-weights
against heavy-weights. While Fit2-
simmons was middlewelght by
weight, he was so remarkable q man
in many ways and had proved his
worth so thoroughly that there was no
questioning his Hgnt
In the lighter classes, such as Joe
Walcott among the welters and Joe
Cans among the llghtweights, there
are instances Of men going out Of their
classes and sustaining their reputa-
tons. 1t Is more difficult, however,
among the heavier fighters.
Ketchel has accomplished littlo OF
the FitZsimmons sort. He looks to
be q genuine middle-welght, and gives
no signs Of putting on weight much
above the 165-pound mark He Is
Giiddle-weisht champion beyond a
doubt. but Papko cast shadow on the
title last week. not so much because
Of his superior work as because Ket-
Chel failed miserably.
Under such conditions as exist,
Johnson would go in the ring 10-to-4
fayorite over Ketchel and the odds no
lower because there would be no bet
ting He would figure a certainty to
whip Ketchel and the fight would lose
the charm that goes with the big con-
tests OF the ring.
If Ketchel fights Langford, the re-
suit might put different aspect on
AFFAIRS. The writer is one of those who
believe that Ketchel's showing was
due to his lack of training He will
find no easy opponent In Langford
and should he beat the negro middle
weight, Ketchel will once more be
ranked with the leading fighters. I'm
I'll he has done this. or redeemed him
self by spectacular defeat OF Papke,
the Michlgander will be laughed at
when the name OF Jack Johnson is
mentioned.