Ketchel versus Papke IV

On July 5, 1909, Stanley Ketchel defended his World Middleweight Boxing Championship against Billy Papke in their fourth and final meeting. Ketchel won a decision in the first fight. In the second fight, Billy Papke scored the only knockout on Stanley Ketchel in Ketchel’s career during the twelfth round. Papke won the World Middleweight Boxing Championship.

 

In the third bout, Ketchell regained the championship with an eleventh-round knockout. The fourth bout proved to be the final bout between the evenly matched rivals. This film captures ten minutes of the 20-round fight.

 

Ketchell won the brutal rematch where both Ketchell and Papke fought ferociously. The men absorbed repeated power punches shocking the fans that the bout lasted the entire twenty rounds.

 

A farmhand at his friend’s ranch killed Ketchell in October 1910. The 24-year-old champion was resting from his heavy fighting schedule at the time of his death.

 

Billy Papke also died violently. During November 1936, Papke forced his way into the home of his ex-wife. The parents of two adults and one teenager, Edna Papke, divorced Billy Papke in early 1936. After a handful of failed attempts to reconcile, the 50-year-old Billy Papke shot the 46-year-old Edna Papke. Billy Papke shot himself right after killing his wife leaving their three children without a living parent.

 

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