American boxers Stanley Ketchell (1886-1910) (L) and Jack Johnson (1878-1946) touch gloves while squaring off in the boxing ring before their fight in San Francisco, Calif. Oct. 10, 1909.

Ketchel also played the role of “white knight” — figuratively, but also somewhat literally. In 1909, he agreed to fight heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, arguably the biggest fight of the year.