[legendsport]

Inspired by JeffR, I'm doing a similar replay using Middleweights. I'm going to use the same basic setup that Jeff devised (hopefully he won't mind - imitation is a high form of flattery, after all).

I decided to start with Stanley Ketchel's first championship bout (which filled the void left when Tommy Ryan retired).

So, here we go:

Stanley Ketchel

December 12, 1907 (Colma, CA): Stanley Ketchel (40-2-4) vs Joe Thomas (2-1-2) for World Middleweight Title. Ketchel came out firing in the first and rapidly drove Thomas into the corner where he pummeled him mercilessly, opening a gash over Thomas' left eye. The referee stepped in and called for the doctor who put an end to the fight at 2:07 of the first round. Ketchel is the new Middleweight champ.
Historic result: Ketchel over Thomas KO 32

February 22, 1908 (Colma, CA): Stanley Ketchel (41-2-4) vs Mike "Twin" Sullivan (27-4-10) for World Middleweight Title. Ketchel and Sullivan fight a spirited first round, with the scoring even. In the second, Ketchel begins to take over as Sullivan resorts to clinching. It all ends in the third as Ketchel manuevers Sullivan into the corner and lands a jab on the point of the chin to drop Sullivan. The ref counts him out and Ketchel has his first successful title defense.
Historic result: Ketchel over Sullivan KO 1

May 9, 1908 (Colma, CA): Stanley Ketchel (42-2-4) vs Jack "Twin" Sullivan (17-9-17) for World Middleweight Title. Sullivan is the brother of Ketchel's last victim, Mike "Twin" Sullivan. For the third straight bout, Ketchel comes out strong, this time flooring Sullivan, who staggers to his feet as the ref reaches the count of seven. Sullivan rallies and gives Ketchel his most difficult challenge thus far, but Stanley knocks him out in the sixth with a flurry of power punches to retain the belt.
Historic result: Ketchel over Sullivan KO 20

June 4, 1908 (Milwaukee, WI Hippodrome): Stanley Ketchel (43-2-4) vs Billy Papke (22-0-4) for World Middleweight Title. Papke enters the bout undefeated with 17 KOs in 26 fights. Papke takes a page from Ketchel's book, getting off to a fast start with a strong opening round. In the second Papke commits a foul and the round ends with an enraged Ketchel landing a devastating combination. From there on, although Papke is game, Ketchel continues to land solid blows, culminating in the seventh when Papke is cornered and unable to defend himself, causing the referee to put a stop to the fight.
Historic result: Ketchel over Papke W 10

July 31, 1908 (San Francisco, CA Coliseum): Stanley Ketchel (44-2-4) vs Hugo Kelly (10-4-11) for World Middleweight Title. Kelly, whose real name is Ugo Micheli and hails from Italy, is the latest challenger to step up for a shot at Ketchel's belt. Interestingly, Kelly had lost to Billy Papke, Ketchel's latest victim, in his previous fight. Hugo does a good job in the early rounds against Ketchel, holding the champ off before Ketchel's expertise begins to show in the middle rounds. The end comes in the fifth when Ketchel gets Kelly on the ropes and batters him mercilessly until the ref stops the carnage, giving Ketchel his fifth straight victory without needing a judge's decision.
Historic result: Ketchel over Kelly KO 3

August 18, 1908 (San Francisco, CA Coliseum): Stanley Ketchel (45-2-4) vs Joe Thomas (2-2-2) for World Middleweight Title. Ketchel gives Thomas another shot nine months after defeating him for the title. Thomas had fought just once in the intervening time, a non-decision bout with Jack "Twin" Sullivan. Nothing much has changed for either fighter and the outcome seems almost pre-determined. Ketchel hammers Thomas and scores a second round knockout.
Historic result: Ketchel over Thomas KO 2

September 7, 1908 (Vernon, CA Arena): Stanley Ketchel (46-2-4) vs Billy Papke (24-1-4) for World Middleweight Title. Papke earned his rematch by scoring victories in the two fights following his unsuccesful challenge three months earlier. This time around things are different. From the get-go Papke serves notice that he is a man to be reckoned with and wins the first round on the judge's card. In the second, he takes it to another level and flattens Ketchel, scoring the knockout with 2:13 left in round 2 to become the new World Middleweight Champion.
Historic result: Papke over Ketchel TKO 12

Billy Papke

November 26, 1908 (Colma, CA Mission Street Arena): Billy Papke (25-1-4) vs Stanley Ketchel (46-3-4) for World Middleweight Title. Ketchel's impressive resume as champ earns him a rematch with Papke. The two battlers, truly the class of the division, go toe-to-toe for six plus rounds before swelling over Papke's right eye causes the doctor to stop the fight. Ketchel reclaims the belt with the TKO victory.
Historic result: Ketchel over Papke KO 11

Stanley Ketchel II

July 5, 1909 (Colma, CA Mission Street Arena): Stanley Ketchel (47-3-4) vs Billy Papke (25-2-4) for World Middleweight Title. The fans clamored for another match between the two premier pugilists and are rewarded with the fourth title tilt between the duo. This time it's Ketchel who has problems with his eye, as Papke opens a cut over Ketchel's left eye and the fight is stopped in the eighth round, giving the title back to Billy Papke.
Historic result: Ketchel over Papke W 20

I'll pick this up with the ahistorical Papke title defense against Frank Klaus