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Big storyline in the MW Division from 1910 was, as previously chronicled here, the return of Stanley Ketchel as the WBA champ but then there was the emergence of a surprise new champ by year's end.

WBA Title Bouts

Papke vs Ketchel -- see post #62 above for a description of the bout -- Ketchel by UD 15 to regain Title

Stanley Ketchel CH (31-2) vs Hugo Kelly #7 (23-12)

Ketchel defends against the Italian, Kelly, against whom (like almost everyone else) he holds a KO win. Ketchel, ever the aggressor, comes out strong but slick defense by the challenger wins round 1. The Michigan Assassin takes round 2 and then lauches an all-out assault for a KO win. Despite a strong uppercut by the Champ near the end of round 3, Kelly remains standing. Kelly is forced to give ground again in round 4 but holds his own. Ketchel shifts tactics to fight outside in the 5th and it works, as a powerful hook floors Kelly just 30 seconds into the round. Ketchel by KO 5.

Stanley Ketchel CH (32-2) vs Cyclone Johnny Thompson #3 (26-9)

Ketchel enters into this defense with confidence, having thrashed Thompson with KO wins in the first and second in two prior meetings, but Thompson has won six in a row since the last loss and Ketchel of course has hit the Post-Prime career stage. Thompson makes a good start, holding off Ketchel's opening surge in round 1 and winning the 2nd. Bout turns into a classic slugger versus boxer matchup: Ketchel presses forward, stunning Thompson with a strong right near the end of round 4. Ketchel is able to land but not put Thompson away like he did in the earlier two bouts. A key moment occurs in round 7 when Ketchel sustains a cut over his left eye, and Thompson thens targets the cut for much of the rest of the bout. Ketchel, behind on the scorecards as well, digs deep and lands a huge right cross to score the bout's first KD near the end of the 10th. Thompson, battered, shows some swelling developing around his right eye as the bout enters the late rounds. In round 14, the cut above Ketchel's eye is reopened and the bout is stopped. It's a controversial call, as it turns out Ketchel was ahead on 2 of the 3 scorecards after 13. Cyclone Johnny Thompson is the surprise new champion by a TKO 14 (cuts).

Cyclone Johnny Thomson CH (27-9) vs Paddy Levin #5 (23-6-1)

Despite the loss of his EBU crown, Levin gets a WBA title shot as other higher rated contenders are unavailable. Levin likes his chances, though, having defeated Cyclone Johnny (UD 10) in a previous matchup in 1906. Lots of action in round 1 but neither man takes control. Both work outside in the second, where the action favors the champ. Round three sees Levin move more to the inside, and more good action. In round 5 Levin's blows cause some swelling around the left eye of the champ. Thompson then moves inside in round 6 but Levin is consistenly getting off first. Round 7 also goes the way of the Irish challenger. In round 8, Cyclone Johnny bulls his way forward, Levin's knees are buckled, and the challenger is forced to retreat. A roundhouse punch in round 9 floors Levin for a 7-count, and Paddy must cover up to survive. In round 10, both men are looking for the KO punch and Thompson gets there first, scoring a second KD of Levin, who is pummeled for the rest of the round and sustains a cut above the right eye. Levin is patched up for the 11th but the cut is reopened a round later. A great effort by both men results in a stoppage on cuts win by the champ with just one minute left in the bout. Thompson by TKO 15 (cuts).

NABF: Frank Klaus who has held the belt since 1906 starts off with a defense versus Eddie McGoorty (Klaus comes into the bout with 7 wins and a draw since his most recent loss to Ketchel in 1908). Klaus is nailed by a McGoorty hook in round 3 for the bout's first KD, but Klaus recovers to hammer the challenger in the 5th, and swelling about the eye of McGoorty bothers him as Klaus registers a SD 12 win, securing the victory with a strong 12th round effort. Klaus then defends versus Walter Coffey, establishing control early and dominating in later rounds after the challenger was cut above the left eye and visibly tired. Easy UD 12 win for Klaus in his 12th defensive of the NA crown. Then, in a memorable bout, Klaus defended versus ex-WBA champ Billy Papke, who had recovered from his loss to Ketchel earlier in the year. Papke dropped Klaus for a 8-count in the 5th, then Klaus came back to stun Papke in the 7th with a hook, then floored him with a late round barrage of punches. The bout was close and tense into the final rounds when Papke came on strong in the 11th with a second KD of Klaus and finished him near the end of the round. Papke by KO 11.

USBA: Title was vacated by Ketchel (who won WBA crown) going into the year and Cyclone Johnny Thompson fought "Wild Bill" Fleming, a relative newcomer, for the vacant crown. Fleming was the early aggressor and looked sharp, stunning Thompson in round 6 and also causing some swelling to occur. But Cyclone Johnny clawed his way back, registered a big round 9 that resulted in a stoppage but there were no KDs. Like Ketchel before him, Thompson went on to claim the WBA belt and another bout for the vacant title was arranged. This time it was Walter Coffey against Joe Thomas, both competing for their first title of any kind. Coffey, who had won the only previous bout, was aggressive early, nailing Thomas with a huge shot in the 3rd and generally dominating until a TKO 8 stoppage to claim the vacant crown.

CBU/GBU: Both titles still the province of TCs, as Canadian Will Carney became the Commonwealth champ and defended twice, and Brit Quinton Wade successfully defended the GBU belt once.

EBU: Paddy Levin began as European champ but ran into a tough challenger in Kid Locke, a former WBA champ. Levin was cut over the left eye in the 8th, as a high punch count took its toll on both men. Levin launched a comeback in the late rounds but when the cut above his eye reopened in round 11 the bout was stopped and Locke was the new EBU champ. Locke defended against German Frank Mantell (the two had fought to a 10-round draw earlier in 1910). A close bout tipped in the challenger's favor as Mantell caused Locke's eye to start swelling after round 5. Mantell continued to dominate despite a cut above his right eye. Mantell by UD 12 to take the EBU crown.

Jan. 1911 Rankings (Perf Pts and Changes from Prior Year in parens):

Champ: Cyclone Johnny Thompson 28-9 (20) (879) (up 5)
1. Billy Papke 20-2 (17) (958) (-1)
2. Frank Klaus 26-4-2 (14) (890) (NC)
3. Stanley Ketchel 32-3 (30) (832) (-2)
4. Eddie McGoorty 21-5 (18) (670) (+2)
5. Frank Mantell 18-3-1 (10) (543) (+3)
6. Paddy Levin 23-7-1 (11) (533) (-3)
7. Kid Locke 24-14-3 (6) (519) (+3)
8. Hugo Kelly 23-13-2 (13) (488) (+7)
9. Walter Coffey 19-7 (11) (487) (+5)
10. Sailor Burke 21-7 (13) (470) (+1)

Comments: Everyone in the Top 10 is at Prime career stage except for Ketchel, who must labor on in Post-Prime condition which may make it difficult for him to retake the title. Thompson has now won 9 in a row, but the top two contenders (Papke and Klaus) sill have higher Perf Pts numbers. McGoorty is still near the top despite a title by virtue of wins over Fields (KO 5) and Mantell (UD 10). Dropping out of the Top 10 were Kid McCoy (#4 in 1909, retired in 1910); Frank Fields (dropped from #7 to #13 with losses to McGoorty and Kelly); and Billy Kramer (down 2 from #9 to #11 after losses to Coffey and Buffalo Iron Man Al Rogers). Kelly moved up after defeating McCoy in the latter's farewell bout and then held his own in draws with Bob Moha and Locke. Coffey defeated Kramer and vet Frank Craig in addition to annexing the USBA belt. Burke was 3-1 on the year, downing Moha and "Kid" Carter. Top-ranked TCs are the CBU champ, Will Carney, who checks in at #18 at 18-13-1 (5) and 216 pps followed at #19 by the GBU champ, Quinton Wade, at 10-8-5 (1) with 32 pps.

Prospects: The MW divison has had perhaps the largest influx of new talent in the past two years compared to any other, so there are prospects-a-plenty. Bill Fleming, who challenged for the USBA crown, is 12-1 (6), with three in a row over Burke, George Chip and Willie "KO" Brennan. Brennan had won his first 11, 10 by KO, before his TKO loss to Fleming. Ditto for Chip, who stands at 11-1 (8). Buffalo Iron Man Al Rogers is now 11-2 (8) after defeating Kramer but losing to Joe Thomas. Mike Gibbons is 11-1 (7), his only loss by MD10 to Kramer but he bounced back with a TKO 1 over previously unbeaten Al McCoy, who now is 10-1 (7). KO Brown was also a perfect 10-0 before losing by TKO to Brennan. Among the more recent crop, Jake Ahearn of UK is 7-0 (5), all versus TCs, as is Jack McCarron, who has a win over Terry Mitchell. Aussie Jeff Smith is 6-0 (5), also versus TCs. Buck Crouse is a perfect 4-0, all by KO. Aussie great Les Darcy has commenced his career with 2-0 KO wins as well.

Looking Ahead: The future looks bright, and expect to see the CBU and GBU crowns to be handed off by the TC incumbents to some of these newer MW prospects in the next few years. Ketchel, dominant a few years back, will have trouble holding his own against such a vibrant, youthful group of talented fighters as he continues to age. There will be another 10 newcomers to the division in 1911, all but one (Gus Platts of the UK) of which are US fighters, including Joe Borrwll, Eddie Revoire, George Robinson and Johnny Wilson.
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Division Profile: 105 total boxers, 50 real-life and 55 TCs
RL by Career Stage: Post-3 (Ketchel, Carter and Craig); Prime-13; Pre-14; Beginner-20 (including 10 New in 1911)
Rated: 21
800+: 4
500+: 7
200+: 19

Retirement:
Charles (Kid) McCoy (USA) 1891-1910 54-17 (46) four-time WBA Champ