The Alaska citizen., 1912-08-05

| clearly the winner: that he struck i Rivers two blows in the pit of the stomach; that neither was low; that | he (Welch) did not see what hap pened to Wolgast. and that Rivers did not act as if he had been fouled But, contrary to WelChs state ment Rivers. in his dressing room after the contest exhibited two large dents in the aluminium protector 1 which he wore. If Welch did not see what happened to Wolgast. I wonder how he accounts for the champion being on the floor when the end came.
 The statement of Rivers to the effect that he hit Wolgast on the jaw, dropping him, for what should have been the count. was afterward verified by many of the newspaper men who were seated at the ring side. There is no clause whatsoever in the Queensberry rules which per. mits referee to lift man off the floor
 Welch saw Rivers and Wolgast on the floor; he knew what put Rivers there, but as to how Wolgast got there he was up in the air. He heard Rivers seconds and manager set up a claim of foul. Wolgast's sec onds said nothing. Welch started to count over Rivers, and says he counted Rivers out before the gong sounded for the close of the round Others who were present say Welch counted four or five while they car ried Wolsast to his corner. Rivers got to his corner amidst great cheer ing and in great pain. Welch de- clared Wolgast the winner after he had helped him to his feet.
 Through this action Referee Jack Welch has brought down upon his head the wrath of the southern Cali fornia fight fans. What he should have done when both boys were on the floor and claims of foul wera being hurled at him. when he be lieved that there were no fouls com mitted, was to have left both on to Wolgast by helping him to his feet.
 This alone Is a direct violation of the Queensberry code Welch should have started his ten count The first man able to arise before this count ended should have been declared the winner. If both were unable to get up. then It was up to Referee Jack Welch to declare the fight no contest.
 The battle is over and the cham pon won. but he had no easy time. To settle all disputes. the boys should meet again. And all things point to the fact that Referee Welch has sounded his death knell, as far as the boxing game in southern Cal l llOFHld IS concerned.
 The Las Vegas Battle. The big battle which took place at Las Vegas, New Mexico, is now thing of the past The fact is to be deplored that the fight had such an unsatisfactory ending.
 Being a white man. l would have liked to see Flynn win. but I can not help but criticize his mode of battle. Had Flynn controlled his quick temper and bded his time there might have been a chance for him to wear Johnson down. If he could have stood the terrible beat ing that he was getting for ten or fifteen rounds he might have had a good opportunity to slip over the sleep producer on the big black.
 To me it would seem that after Flynn had reached the stage where he got a match with Johnson for the worlds premier honors in the boxing game he should have acqur- ed the knowledge that in meeting Johnson he was meeting the marvel of the squared circle, the man who is considered the greatest piece of fighting machinery that ever stepped into the ring.
 Flynn was in perfect condition when he entered the ring. In fact he appeared to be the better con- ditioned of the two. He should have realized that he was to fight Johnson in high altitude, and that he, the fireman. was more acclimat ed to thin air than Johnson, having fought and lived in the high altitude nearly all of his life He should have taken into consideration that Johnson might have blown up any time after ten or fifteen rounds.
 Flynn, by his action in putting Johnson last Thursday, has probably tossed off the golden opportunity of his career for fame and fortune in the pugilstic world.
 AS early as the third round it was apparent to those seated at the ringside that Flynn was hopelessly outclassed; that he could not solve the champions masterful style. In