Stanley Ketchel and Billy Papke fought each other for the world middleweight championship a total of four times.

Stanley Ketchel won three of the four fights, losing only the second by TKO in the twelfth round. In their first middleweight title bout, Ketchel won on points after ten rounds. In the rematch between the two immediately after Ketchel’s loss by TKO in the second fight, Ketchel once again won by KO in the eleventh round. Ketchel won the fourth and final match by unanimous decision after twenty rounds.

The third bout between the two fighters took place on Thanksgiving, 26 November 1908.

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday in the United States, which is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. It began as a day of giving thanks and as a harvest festival. The theme of the holiday is giving thanks for the blessings of the previous year and the focus of the festivities consists of a Thanksgiving Dinner.

Thanksgiving is considered to be the start of the holiday season.

Many major bouts have been fought on Thanksgiving over the years.

About Stanley Ketchel

Stanisław Kiecal (14 September 1886 – 15 October 1910), better known in the boxing world as Stanley Ketchel, was an American professional boxer who became one of the greatest world middleweight champions in history. He was nicknamed “The Michigan Assassin.” He was murdered at a ranch in Conway, Missouri at the age of 24.

Upon being informed of Ketchel’s death, his manager Wilson Mizner reportedly said, “Tell them to start counting ten over him. He’ll get up.”

Ketchel became world champion in 1907 after defeating Joe Thomas and was able to defend his title many times, as well as regaining it from Papke.

Ketchel faced off against world heavyweight champion Jack Johnson on 16 October 1909. In the 12th round, Ketchel floored Johnson with a right hand but Johnson got up and knocked out Ketchel with a right uppercut. Ketchel didn’t come to until a few minutes later. Some of his teeth were knocked out by the blow, a few of which were still stuck in Johnson’s glove.

Ketchel had a boxing record of 49 wins (including 46 KOs), 5 losses and 3 draws in 63 fights (including several fights with no official decision).

Stanley Ketchel was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990.

About Billy Papke

Billy Papke (born William Papke, and known as “The Illinois Thunderbolt”) (September 17, 1886 – November 26, 1936) was an American boxer who held the world middleweight championship from 7 September to 26 November 1908.

Papke had a boxing record of 37 wins (including 31 KOs), 11 losses and 6 draws in 63 fights (including several fights with no official decision).

Billy Papke was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2001.