[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

[legendsport]

Billy Papke II

March 23, 1910 (Pittsburgh, PA): Billy Papke (26-2-4) vs Frank Klaus (33-1-0) for World Middleweight Title. Klaus & Papke, both young and fearless, slug it out for almost 10 rounds. The champ drops Klaus in the sixth, but Frank bounces right back up and resumes battling. Towards the end of the ninth round, Klaus snaps Papke's head back and opens a cut over his right eye. Though Papke comes out for the tenth, the cut is bleeding profusely and the ringside doctor ends the bout. Klaus holds the belt aloft as World Middleweight champ via the TKO.
Historic result: Ketchel over Klaus in non-decision

[Dr.K]

Impressive stuff legend, I too have been inspired by Jeff's work and am doing the Junior Middleweight division. Nice stuff keep going, can't wait to see how you do it when the alphabet boys show up!!!

[legendsport]

The Middleweight division received some horrible news when it was announced that former middleweight champ Stanley Ketchel had been shot and killed on October 15, 1910. The former champ finished with a lifetime record of 52-5-4 and 50 KOs.

Frank Klaus

December 10, 1910 (Boston, MA): Frank Klaus (34-1-0) vs Hugo Kelly for World Middleweight Title. Klaus makes his first title defense against contender Hugo Kelly (12-6-12) who had been KO'd in the third in his first title shot (against Ketchel). The fighters appear fairly evenly matched - and the fight bears that out. No knockdowns occur and this becomes the first title bout since the days of Tommy Ryan to go to the judges. In a very close decision, the nod is given to the champ - Klaus retains his title.
Historic result: Hugo Kelly over Frank Klaus in decision

The next several challengers are unrated. Klaus is given victories over Bill McKinnon, Cyclone Johnny Thompson, Jack Dillon, and Georges Carpentier, running his record to 39-1-0.

March 5, 1913 (Paris, France Cirque de Paris): Frank Klaus (39-1-0) vs Billy Papke (37-8-6). Former champ Papke gets another shot at the belt against the man who took it from him. Like their previous match up this fight is spirited and bloody. A brutal exchange in the sixth extends beyond the bell as both men's blood is up. Unfortunately for Papke, just as in their last fight, he finds eye trouble in the later rounds. Severe swelling begins in the eighth and by the tenth, both eyes are nearly swollen shut. The ref waves an end to hostilities and Klaus retains his belt.
Historic result: Klaus over Papke in decision

October 11, 1913 (Pittsburgh, PA): Frank Klaus (40-1-0) vs George Chip (16-3-0). Chip was next on the hit list for Klaus, who has by now established a chokehold on the title similar to that of the late Stanley Ketchel. Klaus and Chip battle thru a tough fifteen rounds, and both men stand bloodied and weary as the bell ends the fifteenth round. In a unanimous decision, the belt remains with Klaus - though many observers feel that Chip actually won the bout.
Historic result: Chip over Klaus KO 6

Decemeber 23, 1913 (Pittsburgh, PA): Frank Klaus (41-1-0) vs George Chip (16-4-0). The unpopular decision in the previous has led to a rematch just over two months later. The champion, hurt by what he feels has been character assassination by the media, promises a resounding victory over Chip. Chip has been quiet, but looks tough, resolved and fit as the opening bell sounds. Chip quickly scores a knockdown and Klaus staggers to his feet as the count reaches nine. Klaus makes a game comeback, but Chip is in the driver's seat for the remainder of the fight, scoring knockdowns in the sixth and tenth, but is unable to finish off the champ. The damage has not escaped the judges' view however as they announce that the new World Middleweight Champion is George Chip.
Historic result: Chip over Klaus KO 5

[legendsport]

George Chip

April 7, 1914 (Brooklyn, NY): Chip's first defense is against Al McCoy, who isn't in the database, so the fight is awarded to Chip. McCoy won the historic fight, but fought 14 straight Non-decisions before losing (in a non-decision) on a KO.

November 10, 1914 (Brooklyn, NY): George Chip (17-4-0) vs Soldier Bartfield (1-0-0). Chip decides to face an unknown in young Soldier Bartfield, fighting out of his Welterweight class for this bout. Neither man is known for his hitting power, so the two exchange seemingly harmless blows for five rounds before Bartfield is floored by an uppercut from the champ and needs six seconds to get off the canvas. Chip takes the upperhand from there on, scoring a second knockdown in the ninth and cornering Bartfield in the 13th, battering his face until the referee steps in to mercifully put an end to the beating. Chip wins by TKO to retain his crown.
Historic result: McCoy over Bartfield in Non-Decision

May 4, 1915 (Brooklyn, NY): George Chip (18-4-0) vs Jimmy Clabby (67-9-17) for the World Middleweight Title. Chip decides to take on Welterweight contender Clabby, who has built an impressive resume in that weight class. Like his previous bout, Chip finds his formerly welterweight opponent to be a challenge as neither man impresses very much, and the fight is very close as it reaches the fifteenth and final round. Chip seems to shake off the doldrums in the final three minutes, but the outcome remains in doubt as the judges' tally is awaited. In a very close decision (though unanimous) Chip retains his Middleweight title. A visibly relieved Chip struts about the ring after the announcement.
Historic result: McCoy over Clabby in Non-Decision

Chip (following McCoy's historic path) fights several non-decision bouts against mediocre competition before agreeing to a defense against up-and-comer Mike O'Dowd.

November 14, 1917 (Landover, MD): George Chip (19-4-0) vs Mike O'Dowd (29-2-1) for the World Middleweight Title. It becomes apparent early that Chip is fighting out of his element against the younger and strong O'Dowd. O'Dowd floors Chip three times in the fight, with the final knockdown coming in the fourteenth round and although Chip gamely climbs to his feet, running on pure heart and tenacity, the referee has seen enough and awards O'Dowd the title on a TKO. The new champ shows the potential to become one of the greats.

[legendsport]

Mike O'Dowd

February 25, 1918 (St. Paul, MN): Mike O'Dowd (30-2-1 ) vs Harry Greb (28-2-1) in a non-decision bout. If O'Dowd loses within the distance his World Middleweight Title will pass to Greb.
It's not to be for Greb as he battles valiantly but O'Dowd is still just a little better and the fight concludes with O'Dowd still on his feet and still champion.
Historic result: O'Dowb ND Greb

August 22, 1919 (Newark, NJ): Mike O'Dowd (30-2-1) vs Jack Britton (59-11-11) in a non-decision bout. If O'Dowd loses within the distance his World Middleweight Title will pass to Britton, who is stepping up from Welterweight for the fight. Britton, like Greb before him, gives O'Dowd a tough battle, but O'Dowd lands consistently and often and the bout is stopped in the thirteenth round when Britton's left eye swells shut. TKO victory for O'Dowd.
Historic result: O'Dowd ND Britton

September 1, 1919 (Syracuse, NY): Mike O'Dowd (30-2-1) vs Ted (Kid) Lewis (153-15-10) in yet another non-decision bout. Lewis displays the ring savvy of a man with well over a hundred fights under his belt and brings the battle to O'Dowd. The champ relies on his polished boxing skills to hold the smaller challenger bay and after 15 rounds, O'Dowd still holds his championship, although some observers in the audience feel that if the bout had not be a non-decision, Lewis would be holding the belt.
Historic result: O'Down ND Lewis

November 21, 1919 (St. Paul, MN): Mike O'Dowd (30-2-1) vs Mike Gibbons (46-2-4). Once again, in another non-decision bout, O'Dowd dips into the Welterweight ranks to take on one of that division's strongest fighters in Mike Gibbons. In another parallel to his earlier "defenses" O'Dowd goes the distance with his challenger to retain the title, though most observers agree that this time, O'Dowd was clearly the better fighter.
Historic result: O'Dowd ND Gibbons

May 6, 1920 (Boston, MA): Mike O'Dowd (30-2-1) vs Johnny Wilson (51-14-4) for the World Middleweight Title. After several more non-decision bouts (none of the fighters included in the database), O'Dowd puts his title on the line in a traditional championship bout with Johnny Wilson. This turns into a brutal fight, and although no knockdowns occur, both fighters are bruised and bloody when the bell ending round 15 sounds. When the judges' scores are announced, there is a new Middleweight Champion of the World as Johnny Wilson dethrones O'Dowd.
Historic result: Wilson MD O'Dowd

[legendsport]

Johnny Wilson

July 1, 1920 - (Newark, NJ): Johnny Wilson (52-14-4) vs Soldier Bartfield (16-6-1) in a non-decision bout. If Wilson does not go the distance, Bartfield will be the new champion. As George Chip did before him, Wilson fights a non-decision against Bartfield, a journeyman with many ND fights on his resume. Wilson is clearly superior and has his way with Bartfield, knocking him down four times in the fight. It's to Bartfield's credit that he does not get knocked out, but in the fourteenth, the referee stops the fight as Bartfield's right eye has swollen shut.
Historic result: Wilson ND Bartfield


to be continued....