Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-28
BY JAY DAVIDSON

BY JAY DAVIDSON
Comparatively little is known of
Freddie Welsh, the great little Welsh
man who is matched to fight Packy
Mcfarland twenty-five rounds next
Fourth of July at Jeffries' Vernon club
in the elimination semi-finals to the
world championship battle that later Is
considered inevitable between the win
ner and the world champion OF the
lightweight division, whoever he may
be next fall. Yet he is one of the great
est fighters in training in this day, and
he Is self-made as regards his great
success in the ring.
First of all, his name is not Welsh.
His legal cognomen is Fred Thomas,
but he followed the custom of modern
fighters and assumed a ring name, be-
coming Freddie Welsh because he is a
native of Wales, and he considered 1t
appropriate to make the change. He is
past % years old, having been born in
Pontypridd, South Wales, March 5, 1885,
and has been fighting professionally less
than three years. His first professional
experience occurred December Fl, 1905,
and since that date he has engaged in
fifty battles losing only one, the ten
round decision that Mcfarland was
awarded over him recently in M1lWau-
kee, and which has been so severely
criticised by all who witnessed the fight.
Although few credit him with pos
sessing a knockout wallop, he has won
fourteen fights in this way.
Holds Two Championships
For fighter to win two champion
ships in the first two years of his ring
career is something rather out of the
ordinary, yet Welsh holds the titles of
lightweight and welterweight cham
pion of England. He fought only four
teen battles in the tight little isle, yet
he mopped up with all his opponents
and in addition to whipping the Eng
lish lightweight champion he gave
away sixteen pounds to beat the welter
champion out of his title. He has sue
cessfully defended both honors.
He is no stranger in America, having
come to this country six years ago,
running away from home to escape fur
Their service to mechanical engineer
because he could see no opportunity for
a boy in England. He landed in Mont
real in October, 1902, and shortly after
ward went to New York. He secured
position as physical culture instructor
at Maddens school, and later was made
physical director at McFadden's school
in the metropolis.
Friend Chooses Career
1t was while serving in these positions
that he became acquainted with Dan
Hickey, boxing instructor at the New
York Athletic club, and they soon be-
came fast friends Freddie developed
such cleverness that Hickey advised
him to get into the fight game, and
when he learned the possibilities of the
profession he accepted the advice. FIRE.
quently he fought for IS, but after get
ting filled with confidence he tackled
the Philadelphia six-round game and
began to make real money. He accept
ed the position of physical instructor
at Herman's school In that city, and
averaged one fight a week, in all of
which he made good. Then he estab-
lished a physical culture and boxing
school.
After becoming proficient in the art
of fighting ne went to England, and be-
fore he returned he cleaned up the two
divisions. He had fourteen fights on
this tour. On his return to America
last October he found it no difficult
matter to get all the good fights he de-
sired and since that date he has fought
ten battles, winning nine and losing the
only one that mars his otherwise clean
slate. There will be a double interest
for him in the fight with Mcfarland,
as in addition to the financial consider
alton and the right to fight for the
world championship, he will have the
opportunity to wipe out the only defeat
that stands against his record.
Has Whipped Good Boys
That he is of championship caliber is
proved in his American record since his
return from England. In eight months
he has whipped nine prominent light
weights, as follows.
Defeated Cyclone Thompson in six
rounds at Philadelphia.
Defeated Boxer Kelly in six rounds
at Philadelphia.
Defeated Willie Fitzgerald in six
rounds at Philadelphia.
Defeated Kid Locke in six rounds at
Philadelphia.
Defeated Dave Deshler in ten rounds
at Boston.
Defeated Maurice Sayers in ten
rounds at Milwaukee.
Defeated Charlie Neary in ten rounds
at Milwaukee.
Lost to Packy Mcfarland in ten
rounds at Milwaukee.
Defeated Eddie Lenny in ten rounds
at Essington. Pa.
Defeated Phil Brock in twenty-five
rounds at Los Angeles.
The defeat by Packy Mcfarland is
the only one in his career and it has
been widely discussed in the sporting
press of the country, but the general
public that attends fights realizes that
it must have been a decidedly hard
fight to have raised such rumpus as
the decision in favor Of Mcfarland
has caused.
This one losing fight rankles in his
hrsast and he speaks with bitter