Amazing footage of Stanley Ketchel vs Jack Johnson

[CutMeMick]

I often ask myself, "Were these fighters from yesteryear really that great?"
Fighters whom there's videos of that are about 3-5 min. long
Fighters whom there's NO videos on.

How great of a fighter does "text" and "stories" make a fighter?
How do you rate a fighter like that?

Some year's back I remember reading on paper about a SRR fight one of his fights at Welterweight. Then some time past and I happened to come across an article in regards to that same fight and I couldn't help it but notice how different both writers described the fight. It was almost like they were both in 2 different fights it was like the only thing that was similar was the result... and SRR was a Welterweight in the 40's now imagine writers from the 1800's and early 1900's. Fuck knows what they wrote...

So you gotta ask yourself how much weight does text carry?

As for the video between Ketchel-Johnson a few things.

The fight was scheduled for 20 rds. but only went 12 rds.
As far as being the oldest fight on film, it's not. I saw a documentary years ago and I believe the 1st fight/film ever recorder was when Thomas Edison (I'm sure your familiar with him, I know I am. I send his ass a check with his last name on it every month ) payed "Gentleman" Corbett and Peter Corckney to fight for him. Which in part made Jim Corbett the 1st payed actor ever the film was also the 1st film to make profit. I remember this well because Corbett is wearing a thong. or little short shorts...

The 1st HW title fight ever to be on film is Fitzsimmons vs. Corbett the year was 1897. Fitzsimmons won via KO.

Crazy little story that I learned from the documentary.

Leading up the fight between Fitzsimmons and Corbett. Fitzsimmons was a Middleweight who like Ketchel did years later moved up to HW to fight for the title. That's where the money was. Anyway, Fitzsimmons faced Tom Sharkey in a fight that was labeled as a fight for the HW title. Well guess who was the ref. for the fight?
None other then Wyatt Earp yes that's right THEE Wyatt Earp...
Well the fight went on as scheduled, Fitzsimmons sparked out Sharkey BUUUUUUUT good 'ol Wyatt Earp DQ'd Fitzsimmons and awarded Sharkey the win. It was later found out that Earp had bet some HEEEEAVY money on Sharkey to win.
The history of boxing so full of great stories...

You'll often read that I don't rate fighters whom my eyes have not seen much of. I can't how do I or for that matter anyone else rate Greb, Langford, Benny etc. etc. with fighters whom there is film of.
I could understand a separate list or rating for fighters like them but to mix in fighters whom I've never seen on film with fighters whom I have does not make sense to me.
But to each it's own, I guess. I'm rambling now so I'll just click the Reply button now.