New-York tribune., 1912-11-24
WELSH OUTBOXED WELLS
So Says English Critic in Re-
viewing Title Bout.
PACE FAST THROUGHOUT
Both Men Finished in Fine
Trim-Mehegan Chal-
lenged Winner.
TFrom The Tribune Correspondent


London, Nov. l4-Never In the history
OF the ilstlc theatre at the National Spcrt-.
ing Club has there been such large and
representative gathering as that which
assemt<d for the contest between Matt
Wells, holder, and Fred Welsh. ex-hold--
err, for the lightweight championship OF
Great Britain, and I doubt II opinions
have ever differed more widely on the re-,
suit, not even when "Pscky" McFay-,
land and Welsh fought what was alleged
10 have been a draw.
The referee. J. II. Douglas, one of the
stalwarts OF British boxing, gave Wehh
the verdict and from my elevated want
age point I saw not the slightest reason
to find fault with the decision. There
were those who tried 70 argue that the
fact that Welsh had the corner with his
back to tha referee prevented that Of
fetal seeing all the good work OF Wells.
! was at the other side Of the ring. so that,
on this basis OF reasoning | should have
seen all the good work of Wells and only
a part OF that put in by Welsh. In any
case / saw enough to emphatically In
dorse the verdict givon by Mr.. Douglas.
From the very outset Welsh boxed with
supreme confidence. Wells was excitable
and inclined TO raehnsss and never be-
fore have I seen Welsh display suoh .
measure Of brilliant defence. Only in the
first three rounds did Wells show speed.
From the sound OF the gong he went for
the head for all he was worth and thrios
he reached the face with good straishtS
let's. Then Welsh planted a real "oorli-l
az on the nose, and once having sos
int ciese touch with his man he showed
q gradual Improvement right to the end
Of the bout. -.
Not for q moment was there any,
sieoksnins Of speed, II was lightning
work from beginning to end, and both
men finished rs fresh as paint and lool-s
rounds. This statement alone would sus-
gest to you the excellence Of the De-
tsnsive work Of both men. %
In the NTH round the referee, in ordsY
to check a tendency to clinch, told both
men TO stand away and box, and that Is
just what they did no. There were. OF
course, periods OF close work In each
round, but for the most part II was hns
open contest.
In what in-nghttng there was, Welsh
wss immsasuraoiy superior. Rarely ala
he miss q chance 10 whip In an upperout
or a body jar thas told a tale on Wells
Whenever II landed. And really II was this
oIeverness, this speed when at close grips.
hat gave Welsh tho verdict With vivid
recoiiecttons Of wells's doughty lsfs,
Welsh kept his eye glued on that member
as though ne would hypnotize IT. but 10
Wy.
than not angling for chance to get
homs G new punch that he had heard a
lot about.
We had been told that he had cultivate
ed q perfect "killeT'-a sort OF hHlf hoos
with the right that was calculated to pus
an opponent to sleep with ono application.
Several times he tried IL, but It did not
operate at all on Welsh as IL may have
done on Wsils's sparring partner and the
punch ball, for the simple reason that
not ouos was Welsh "at home TO receive
Il, Fully a dozen times this deadly smash
went through the desert air. what time
Welsh smiled serenely in Acknowledgements
Of his escape. In several Of the rounds
Welsh was particularly happy with his
oId-tlnns hooks and half-arm jsbs. but
any visible effect on the holder.
have never seen two men come through
such a fast contest less fatisued than this
pair. They were trained to the mom1nt.s
and Welsh has certainly never been litter
in his LIE And besides his stratesy. his
general tactics. his restraint and his su-
perb diagnosis OF all the varying fortunes.
Of the contest, evoked a full measure or
admiration. Had Il been fsht TO hnlsh
still think Welsh would have won. Tine
and again his wonderful defence, his e~-l
traordinary intuition, had Wells pounding
away his strength on hard elbows or on
the forshsad or the gloves.
In spite Of this, Wells fought faster.
than ever IN the closing rounds, at times
showing an amount OF recNessness and
abandon IN on attempt 10 floor Welsh
with his deadly right But all this was
wasted effort, and Welsh went right
through, a stratesist and wonderfully
cool and calculating little fellow
And we are waiting FOR the arrival Of
wolgast before we learn by cable from
New York what Is TO take place in Janu-
ary. woIsast can rest assured that there
is business for him here. II Welsh. Weiis
and Michigan are on hand. II Wolgast and
Michigan did tx up anything at the Ma
tional I shudder to think Of what would
happen II they both followed their usual
hugsing tactics.
II il an inexorable rule at headquarters
that the men must back quickly and stand
up 10 their work in so far as Is poSSlhse
but Michigan could not do it, and from
what know OF Welgast, the style would
be new to him. However. the National ID
not the only place where they would se
readily accommodated.
Immediately after the Wells-Welsh con-
test Michigan was out with $4,000 ehal-
lengs to the winner, the lightweight cnam-
nionship conditions to govern the contest.
Rut Welsh evidently has no great desire
10 meet the Australian, for he straightway
.Idestepped the challenge by stipulation
that he would only meet Mehegan at 1873
mounds. ringslde, instead OF 135 pounds, at
o'clock. This put Michigan right out Of
court and the chances arc that Mehesan
will now make tracks to your side. Pub
lie sympathies are with him, Gnd Welshs
doa-in-the-mange attitude in the hour OF
his triumph has made the Nationai
"heads" quite sore with him. Welsh
however. readily agreed 10 meet Wells
again for the rubber" but meanwhile
Wells may possibly get Michigan to agree
TO a second meeting before the Australian
quits these chores.