Billy Papke, the son of German immigrants to the USA, was an abnormally hard man. He had 4 fights with Stanley Ketchel and won the second, and the World Middleweight title, largely by the expedient of punching Ketchel in the throat when he stepped forward to shake hands. He lost the other 3 of which the 4th was a particularly savage encounter. After Ketchel's death Papke was one of several middleweights contesting the right to be called World Middleweight Champ. He travelled to Paris where he thrashed future champion Georges Carpentier but was beaten by another American, & Ketchel victim, Frank Klaus, ending his title hopes. Papke's life ended unhappily. He killed his wife & committed suicide.