THE LATE STANLEY KETCHELL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 907, 20 October 1910, Page 4

THE LATE STANLEY KETCHELL.

Stanley Ketchell (who was shot last week) was a couple of years ago expected to defeat Jack Johnson such wonderful form had he shown up till then. However, success apparently spoiled him, as according to accounts published in American papers be had sadly neglected his training of late, and it was due to this probably that he did not fulfil the expectations of his admirers. The way that he defeated Jack O’Brien some two years ago, caused one writer to say : “Ketchell seems like Ulysses; ‘Apart of all that I have met.' He has assimilated ideas and actions ot others, and placed them in a mental store-house, from whence he can call them quick as lightning and use them to his own advantage along his own lines." At that time Ketchell was voted as one who would wade in for the sheer love of lighting, and he was said to be taster than Fitzsimmons was in his best day, but he could not stop them as did Bob. Stanley fought equally well with either hand, or either loot, forward, it seemed impossible to catch him olf his poise. He could “shift" like lightning, and seldom twice alike. He would go irt with both hands poised for starling a hook ; say it proved a left to the chin, up would come the guard, and, if it stopped the blow, Ketchell would shift like a flash, his right foot go forward, his right hand hook for the jaw, arrd his opponent’s left arm would go up to guard. Thus his opponent would have both arms fairly “up,” either jaw or body is uncovered, and another lightning shilt again would throw the left to the target. The three blows were as closely connected as if delivered, “one, two, three," at a punching bag. Though he was constantly exposed, he moved so quickly that he was difficult to hit, and he took hard punishment as if it was something he. must expect. He was one of the gamest men who ever stepped into the ring, and his supreme indifference and confidence generally non-phtssed his opponent. Had he taken care of himself of late, he might have been champion of the world now, but he started to go the “pace,” with the sad result cabled above, he has passed in his cheeks, while still a young man, in aquarrell, a bullet doing the trick. Up till some r 8 months ago Ketchell's record was a most brilliant one, and clean, but latterly the same could not be said ot it. Whereas at one time he was always keen and ready to fight, latterly he preferred to have a “good time," and more often than not was quite unfit to step into the ring, even when he could be persuaded to do so. He met Jack Johnsou some 12 months ago, but was in no shape, and, though he was credited with putting up a great fight against the champion, who was over two and a half stone heavier, he was knocked out at the end of 12 rounds. Some doubts are expressed as to the genuineness of the contest, however, many considering- it was a “fake.”