SK-Portrait

Stanley Ketchel. 1 of 5 Portraits in a Portfolio of 5 Portraits @ $1,200. 8 3/4” x 11 3/4”. Archival Pigment Print on Hahnemuhle Etching Paper. Edition size 20 + 3 A/P




Stanley Ketchel

The Greatest Fighter You Never Heard Of

Listen to Stanley Ketchel’s story

A BRIEF HISTORY of the first 2 time Middleweight Champion of the World
Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on September 14th, 1886 Stanley left home at the age of 13, riding the rails on The Westbound Flyer. He was a tough street fighting kid who dreamt of going out west and becoming a cowboy just like in the books he read. Working his way West in and under freight cars taking jobs in logging camps, ranches and saloons he often had to fight for his life against sadistic railroad bulls and dangerous Hobos. Stopping in Chicago he learned the manly art of glove practice from Saloon owner and former boxer Socker Flanagan and lightweight fighter Sid Lamont. Lamont after a furious sparing session with Ketchel, told him “You’re built to order for this game, because your a natural fighter with a wallop; the sort that don’t need to be pretty to win. The rings your meat kid, and you ought to go out and grab some real coin.”

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Stanley Ketchel knocks out Joe Thomas. 14” x 9 1/2”. Archival Pigment Print on Hahnemuhle Etching Paper. Edition of 20 @ $175.




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Stanley Ketchel and Jack Johnson fight October 16, 1909. 41 1/2” x 27 1/2”. Silk Screen Print on Coventry Rag. Edition of 20 @ $1,500.




Ketchel took Lamont’s advice traveling to Butte, Montana where he had over 250 amateur fights before turning pro and gaining a record of 64 fights 53 wins with 48 knockouts 5 loses 5 draws and 1 no contest.

Notable in his storied life was his 1909 fight with Heavyweight Champion Jack Johnson who was 35 pounds heavier and by 6” the taller man. In the 12th round of that fight Ketchel surprised Johnson by landing a hard right to the Champion’s jaw dropping him to the canvas for a short count. Johnson rose, not amused, and with one powerful punch knocked Ketchel unconscious. Pictures of that fight show Johnson picking Stanley’s teeth out of his glove.

The following year saw Stanley in a downward spiral winning some fights, losing others but personally in physical and emotional decline. Ketchel needing resurrection took friend Pete Dickerson up on his offer to recuperate at his ranch and prepare for a rematch with Johnson.

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Stanley Ketchel and Jack Johnson fight. October 16, 1909. 27 1/2” x 40 1/4” Silk Screen Print on 330 GSM Red Plike Soft Touch Edition size of 9 @ $1,500




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Stanley Ketchel and Jack Johnson fight. October 16, 1909. 27 1/2” x 40 1/4” Silk Screen Print on 330 GSM Graphite Plike Soft Touch Edition size of 9 @ $1,500




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Colonel Rollin P. “Pete” Dickerson – Stanley Ketchel – Outlaw Emmit Dalton – Joe Gorman. 29” x 24”. Silk Screen Print on Coventry Rag. Edition of 22 + 3 A/P @ $1,250.




Settling in at the ranch Ketchel was as happy as he had ever been. In the early morning hours he could be seen smiling while jogging with Dickerson’s two pet Lion cubs, adorned with Diamond studded leashes. Tragically this was all about to take a horrible turn for the worse. After a morning run, seated at the breakfast table, at 24 years of age, Stanley Ketchel was shot from behind and murdered by Walter Dipley, a farm hand, jealous of Stanley’s attentions to Goldie, the ranch’s cook. Wilson Mizner a playwright and friend upon hearing of Stanley’s murder, said “Start counting, he’ll be up before they reach 10.” New York sportswriter Hype Igoe said of Ketchel “He was a many sided individual. He could be tame as a new born babe, as vicious as a Lion trying to protect it’s Cubs, as lovable as a mother and as treacherous as a villain.”

The great Jack Johnson cried when he heard of Ketchel’s killing and said “It’s really too bad about poor Stanley. He was a great fighter. Not a boxer, but a real fighter and there are not many real fighters in the game.”
Stanley Ketchel’s plaintive dying words were “I’m so tired… take me home to mother.”

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Stanley Ketchel, Colonel Rollin P. “Pete Dickerson”, Emmit Dalton (The Dalton Gang ), Joe Gorman @ Democratic Convention. 23 7/8” x 28” Silk Screen Print 0n 330 GSM Red Plike Soft Touch Edition size 0f 9 @ $1,250




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Stanley Ketchel, Colonel Rollin P. “Pete Dickerson”, Emmit Dalton (The Dalton Gang ), Joe Gorman @ Democratic Convention. 23 7/8” x 28” Silk Screen Print 0n 330 GSM Graphite Plike Soft Touch Edition size 0f 9 @ $1,250




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Stanley Ketchel and the Violin. Comic Book. Portfolio of 3 Prints.
16 1/4” x 11”. Set of 3 Archival Pigment Prints on Hahnemuhle Etching Paper. Edition of 19 + 3 A/P @ $1,100