凱切爾自救

上週五, 六月 10, 1910, 世界中量級拳擊冠軍史丹利凱切爾與默默無聞的吉姆史密斯進行了最後一場戰鬥. 凱切爾已經出局中量級, 因此拳擊推廣者很難為凱切爾找到合適的比賽.

At only 24 歲, 凱切爾生活艱苦，不斷奮鬥，導致他的身體過早崩潰. 與史密斯戰鬥後, Ketchel intended to stay with his friend R. P. Dickerson at Dickerson’s ranch in Conway, 密蘇里州. Would Ketchel be leaving with his world title?

Ketchel fought Smith at the National Sporting Club in New York City, 紐約. Ketchel was taller than Smith but both men weighed about 160 英鎊.

Newspaper reports and fans expected Ketchel to make short work of Smith. 代替, Smith pushed the action from the beginning.

Smith did not show skill but constantly bulled Ketchel into the ropes. Pushing Ketchel up against the ropes, Smith windmilled blows to Ketchel’s body.

Smith’s herky-jerky style caused Ketchel to miss with his counters. Smith responded by windmilling more blows onto Ketchel’s head and body.

At a distance, Smith could not hit Ketchel. Smith had remarkable success hitting Ketchel when the fighters ended up near the ropes.

Smith continued this treatment of Ketchel for the first four rounds. Ketchel landed few blows in return.

To start the fifth round, Smith had not done any real damage to Ketchel, but fans wondered if Smith could win a decision. Ketchel supplied the answer.

Smith came out of his corner throwing wild left hooks. After Smith hit Ketchel with one of the left hooks, Ketchel stepped back and off to the side. As Smith tried another wild left, Ketchel hit Smith solidly with a right cross.

Smith dropped to the mat unconscious. After the referee counted Smith out, Smith’s corner men drug Smith to his corner. The corner men revived Smith, who came around quickly.

The narrow escape with the unheralded Smith convinced Ketchel that he needed a rest. Ketchel travelled to Dickerson’s ranch to rest for six months. Little did Ketchel know that he would never come back from vacation.

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Sources: The New York Times (紐約, 紐約), 六月 11, 1910, P. 13

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