Jack Johnson vs Stanley Ketchel // 25th greatest title fight all-time // HIGHLIGHTS

Jack Johnson 205 lbs beat Stanley Ketchel 170 lbs by KO in round 12 of 20 Date: 1909-10-16 Location: Mission Street Arena, Colma, California, USA World Heavyweight Championship (4th defense by Johnson) Ketchel wanted the fight to be scheduled for 45 rounds, but Johnson insisted on a 20-round bout. Johnson was a 10 to 4 favorite to win and even money to stop Ketchel in less than 15 rounds. The Ring ranked Johnson vs. Ketchel as the 25th greatest title fight all-time in the Holiday 1996 issue. The Associated Press reported on October 17, 1909: The climax of the fight was crowded into 34 seconds. At the beginning of the last round there was little to judge from in preceding rounds to pick the winner. The men met in the center of the ring, clinched and wrestled to Johnson’s corner. The negro broke way, and, poising himself, dashed at Ketchel, who sprang to meet him. Ketchel drove his right at the black’s lowered head. Johnson ducked and the blow landed behind the ear. He stumbled, fell and stretched out on the floor, landing heavily. Ketchel backed toward the ropes with a smile glimmering on his battered, blood-streamed face. Johnson rose slowly, as though dazed. As he straightened to his knees his eyes encountered Ketchel’s, and with the fury of a wild beast he leaped across the ten feet that separated them. His right fist shot to the white man’s jaw. The left crashed to the stomach and the right swung again with the speed of lightning, catching Ketchel’s head as he reeled back from the onslaught. Ketchel dropped in a heap, and Johnson, unable to stop his rush, sprawled across his beaten rival’s legs and fell full length himself. The negro sprang to his feet with a bound, but Ketchel was out. Once, as the seconds were counted over him, he feebly moved his arms and rolled his head. He gave not another sign of life, and his seconds picked him from the floor, barely conscious. Johnson was still dazed. He clung to the ropes and looked about him in a bewildered way. The crowd broke into murmurings and seemed unable to realize that the fight was over. Legend has it that the two fighters agreed to extend the fight the full 20 rounds for the sake of the motion picture exhibitors. However, Ketchel saw an opening in the 12th round and went for the knockout, flooring Johnson with a right. When Johnson got up, Ketchel moved in for the kill and was knocked out by a massive right from the champion. As Ketchel was counted out, Johnson brushed off a pair of Ketchel’s teeth that had embedded in his glove. Johnson allegedly said, “He crossed me and I made him pay for it.“