Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-12-06
RITeHE dEFT) RUSHING THE FORMER MGHrWEIGHT

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. Willie
Richie, known in private life as
Geary Steffen, brought the light
weight championship of the world
home to San Francisco yesterday
afternoon in the arena at DAILY City
when Ad Wolgast, the title holder.
fouled ehim twice in the sixteenth
round. The champion hit the chal
lenger below the 9eit on two oc-
casions after he had been knocked
down with right swing to the jaw.
He was duly warned by Referee Jim
Griffin, but he cast discretion to the
winds and took desperate chance
and ii cost him his much coveted
crown. The spectacular finish came
after one of the most desperate strug-
giles that San Francisco eyer has
known Both fighters gave an exhi-
bition of everything in the Queens
bury code. They boxed, sluggeds
fouled and roughed it. Richie won
because he had youth and strength.
A few of his we'll placed Punches to
the body took the steam out of the
champion. demonstrating beyond the
question of doubt that AID never re-
covered from his operation for APP
pendicitis.
Hats off to the newly crowned light
weight King for his gameness! Hats
off to his manager, Billy Nolan, who
took the desperate chance of match.
ing him in the face of overwhelming
odds! Hats off to. the city of San
Francisco for landing the king of the
lightweight division for the first time
in her history!
Richie fought battle that ought to
win him undying fame in the prize
ring. He came back and made the
champion back up after the latter
seemed to have him under complete
submission. He met Wolgast.s every
rush fairly and squarely. He took the
champions hardest wallops and raj
lied, and finally found his weak spot
and scientifically beat him down.
This in brief is the story of the
passing of the lightweight title from
the man who held II for nearly three
years to the man who up to a year
ago was only an ordinary San Fran
cisco four rounder. The wisest of
them were willing to bet their bank
rolls on the champion at ridiculous
odds. Only the outsiders-those who
knew Richie well and trusted him
thought he had chance.
A Fair Victory s.~s.-s -
The boy won his title fairly and
squarely. Every fair minded man in
the vast crowd will admit this.
Naturally enough, the vanquished
gladiator and his heart broken man.
ager will make a cry of unfairness
and jobbery and the like, but their
walls long since have been drowned
by the joyful shouts of the victorious
Richie boosters, who were. every,
where to be seen last evening
1t was either mans battle when
the, gong sounded the start of the
sixteenth and final round. The rivals
were weak and weary, worn and
heavy eyed. Wolgast, taking des-
perate chance, rushed at Richie and
they went into clinch. They broke,
and Wolgast rut right and left
to the jaw, It the blows did not
seem to carrv sufficient force be-
hind them. for Richie shook his head,
FdlilSu anu lUIC IISHb uIlSl lAS Shdh-
pion.
Measuring his man with his we'll
trained though almost closed right
eye, the native soG swung vicious
right hand swing directly from the
ground. 1t landed fairly and squarely
on the jaw of the title holder. who
tottered for a second and then keeled
over, right in his own corner.
Crowd With FITCH
The crowd was on its feet in an
instant
Measure him." Put him OUT"
Bring home the championship"
Take care of yourself, Willie!" were
some of the yells IF advice from the
half crazed multitude.
Slowly the champion rose at the
count of three. His eyes looked
glazed and his feet tottered beneath
him. The brandy stimulant which had
been given him a couple of minutes
before seemed to have lost its effect
His stamina had vanished, and he
knew that his only chance was that
OF the desperate, so he took it.
Blindly rushing at Richie. the
champion swung rights and lefts for
the head in vain endeavor to bring
over a winning haymaker, but his
judgment of distance was bad. He
could not rally nor come to the bat as
he used to in his palmy days before
the surgeons KNIT got the better of