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1909 Jack Johnson v. Stanley Ketchel Fight Program
Oct 16th, 1909, a crowd of 10,000 gathered in Colma, California, to watch a boxing contest between Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson, "the Galveston Giant," and Middleweight Champion Stanley Ketchel, "the Michigan Assassin." In every way it was a mismatch, as Johnson weighed in at 209 to Ketchel's 160 pounds and stood 6'¼" over the 5'9" challenger. But Stanley Ketchel was a born fighter who possessed the power to hurt even heavyweights. It was, despite the size advantage for Johnson, one of those match-ups of Greats that rarely happen. Ketchel is even today considered one of the greatest middleweights of all time, whereas Johnson was easily the best heavyweight in the world at the time and one of the best defensive boxers the division would ever produce. 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. Johnson broke away, and, poising himself, dashed at Ketchel, who sprang to meet him. Ketchel drove his right at Johnson's lowered head. Johnson ducked, and the blow landed behind the ear. He stumbled, fell and stretched out on the floor, landing heavily. 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 Ketchel's jaw. The left smashed 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, fell full length himself. Ketchel was fully unconscious. 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. Johnson was still dazed as he clung to the ropes. The crowd broke into murmurings and seemed unable to realize that the fight was over. This great fight is hailed as the true David vs Goliath battle, one of the most incredible fights in history. Program interestingly reads "This program is not for sale" which adds to the rarity as free things were more easily thrown away. This appears to be the first 1909 Ketchel-Johnson program offered publicly and is unscored. Restoration to the covers, but insides are still EX.
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