GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — More than a century after his death, boxing legend Stanley Ketchel’s legacy is still packing a punch.
On Saturday, family members and fans from as far as Washington state and North Carolina gathered at Holy Cross Cemetery in Grand Rapids to honor Ketchel and celebrate the restoration of his 113-year-old monument.
Known as the “Michigan Assassin,” Ketchel was a middleweight boxing champion in the early 1900s. His career was tragically cut short when he was murdered at the age of 24 in 1910.
The marble statue monument was built in 1912, but over the years, it began to show its age. There were cracks in the foundation and weather damage, which was a disappointment to the many family members who frequently visit…