The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1935-10-11
JACK SULLIVAN VS..
STANLEY KETCHEL

O4kS Va VAN
kayoed IS opponents and fought one
draw. All of the bouts were staged
in Montana. Seven kayoes, n eXhibi-
ton match and a 2O-round draw was
Ketchel's 1906 record. 1t is this 90
round draw-fought in Butte-with
Montana Jack Sullivan, that this article
| will deal with. The match occurred
on the night of Feb. II. 1906.
Ketchel had resided in Butte for sew
eral years. The match had inter-city
flavor as the Polish boy. Ketchel. was
| billed from Butte. while Montana Jack,
| still alive, kicking and argumentative,
resided in Anaconda. For many years
Jack has been a resident of Butte. but
in his early boxing days he was the
pride of Anaconda.
Any opponent in those days. no mat
ter how good. usually turned out as a
/ set up for Ketchel. The Poles rushing
tactics. ring style and mannerism. how
ever. failed to BATTLE Sullivan. who was
able to earn a draw after 20 rounds
of fast mitt singing. During his career
Ketchel had only six bouts that were
prolonged to 20 rounds or more.
Only two bouts went beyond that
distance-one Of them at "a rounds.
hetC1ltl NOIl Nv u hlloIhOuI dStlllSI IN
Lafontise. another Butte boy who was
handy with his dukes: the other was
against Joe Thomas. held in San Fran
cisco in 1907. Ketchel kayoing his OPP
ponent in 80 rounds.
Both Were Kid Corners
The Sullivan-Ketchel match was held
at the Broadway theatre. Ketchel was
the favorite. despite a siX-pound weight
advantage held by Jack. The verdict
was popular. Dune Mcdonald was the
referee. and while Dune admitted that
Ketchel had a slight edge IN points.
it was not sufficient to earn him more
than a draw.
The Standard sports writer. in sum-
ming up the bout. declared. 1T vas a
hummer" 1t was give and take. ham,
mer and tongs. from start to finish.
The crowd of two thousands or more
felt that they were we'll repaid. Wagers
we're many and heavy. Thousands of
dollars might have changed hands. as
no previous match held in Montana
| created as much two-ply interest
namely. attendance and betting, Both
youngsters were climbing the puglistic
ladder at a fast pace. n conner was
the label applied to each.
Sportsmen travelled from all parts of
the state to see the bout. 1t was con-
sidered so big an attraction that the
promoters scheduled only INT prelimi-
nary. which was Disappointing. The
main event. however. made up for this.
Speed Saved KetcheI
Ketchel never showed to better adj
vantage. His speed was a surprise and
he used both hands we'll. Repeatedly
he was able to get out of the way of
many a havmaker thrown by the kid
from Anaconda. He always rushed
his opponent. but Sullivan was canny
in his blocking.
Montana Jacks tactics we're to lead
with his left and Jump back. u. If he
saw an opening. follow with a right
to the body. Ketchnl tried left and
right uppercut freely. and planted
many a right Jolt on Sullivan's head.
The rain of blows failed to bother Jack,
who ducked constantly. and provided
a shield with both hands. The hard
smashes were blocked. but Jack would
permit the light blows to slip through
his defense. Ketchel poured out many
a vicious uppercut. but none of these
dynamic blows reached home or button,
Started Cautiously.
The first round was slightly Ket-
chefs. Sullivan led awkwardly with
his left a number of times. attempting
cautiousness. The only blows Of con-
sequence in the first round were hard
rights to the face landed by Ketchel
Ketchel took a decided lead in the
second. He repeatedly landed lefts to
his opponents face. tapping Jacks
claret fount. It was in this round that
Sullivan caught Ketchel off balance
with a straight right that sent Stanley
to the floor. Like a flash he was up
and Sullivan was caught with a straight
left that sent him sprawling. The
spectators rose to their seats and yelled
loud and long. The excitement was
intense as the gong sounded. MANY be-
lieved that. had the round gone a min
ute longer. Ketchel would have scored
a knockout.
Sullivan Rallied Stoutly
Montana Jack staged a great come
back in the third and landed as often
rs his opponent. He held Ketche1 even
in the fourth. The fifth was also even.
Sullivan. in this round. landing a hard
right to the face. his best blow up to
that point. Ketchel indicated that it
hurt plenty. The sixth was a round
of fierce fighting in the clinches, both
showing effects Of the fast pace. In
this round Sullivan tapped Stanley's
schnozzle and the red fluid poured
freely. Sullivan COPIED his first round
here. The next two went to Ketchel
A fierce exchange of rights, at close
range, sent both their heads back. The
ninth and tenth were even, with the
boxers showing letup signs Of the fast
pace. In the eleventh Sullivan took re-
peated rights on the head and was
punished severely, but he always came
back for more. Sullivan won the
twelfth. once jolting his opponents
head back with a fierce left straight
from the shoulder. The thirteenth was
even. and Ketchel had a slight edge in
the fourteenth. Sullivan kept a set grin
on his face.
The next rounds we're rated as even
Sullivan's showing in the seventeenth
was a surprise. He was SO strong 1t ap-
peared he had been playing possum
Sullivan also captured the next stanza