The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-11-23
tBy James J. Corbett, Former Heavy weight Champion of the world.o
 Especial to the Farmer.l

(By James J. Corbett, Former Heavy
 weight Champion of the World.>
 Especial to the F'arner.)
 will again monopolize the spotlight Thanksgiving Day as has been their custom for years. At. the principal points of hsttc activity in the West the 133 pounders are billed as star holiday attractions, while in the East they will contribute more than fair share towards making next Thursday an eventful day in pugilism.
 The feature event is billed for San Francisco where the champion is booked to defend the title in twen- ty round match with Willie Ritchfe- 0 development of the past twelve months and deemed by many wise acres the most formidable candidate for WoIsast.s honors. This predic- ton is based upon the splendid record RttcIaie has made during short but eyentfuI career.
 A year ago willie was employed by Packey Mcfarland at the San Francisco camp where the Chicagoan was busily engaged in preparing for a bout with Harlem Tommy Murphy. Practically unknown at the time Ritc1ie's chance for fame came with Ad Wo1gast's attack of appendicitis on IA0S eve or the QEOPOS907 WO1&dSl- Freddie Welsh contest Tom McCa- rey promoter of the match, sent out a hurry call for a volunteer to '.subs for Ad against the clever Welsh. Ritchie responded and in the short space of twenty-four hours made the trip from Frisco to Los Angeles. stood Freddie off for twenty rounds, pugi1istic hall of fame. Apparently the youngster had improved the gold en opportunities while assisting the masterly Mcfarland at the training tasks.
 Shortly afterwards followed the four round bout with Wo1gast which established the youngster as the real thing and not flash in the pan as many thought when he startled the world by sticking 1t out with Welsh. Then the trip East. None of the talent in this neck Of the woods wanted Wi1lfe's game. A novice who could hold Welsh fairly even and slug for four rounds at top speed with the champion was too dangerous to take d chance with, the local bunch decid- ed. It is matter of record that willie did not show his wares in Go- tham. A little later ne boxed Joe Mandot ten rounds in New Orleans. According to the newspapers Joseph was on the receiving end throughout the contest.
 } Some going. that, for a youngster in his first year as glove slinger. For a beginner to take on a boxer of welshss calibre, barely losing the de- cision, and to follow it up with q draw with w Wolgast and popular ver-9 dict over Joe Mandot, recognized as championship timber. is stepping some, and proves the boy has the real fighting stock in him.
 Many critics will have it that Vol gast is through, has shot his bolt. so to speak. his recent indifferent per formance with Mandot being used to emphasize their assertions. The op- eration of a year ago is blamed for the decay in the physical powers of the champion. Be that as it may l believesAd to be the daddy of the le- gitiInate 1S3 pounders and that the coming encouner will show he has plenty good fight left in his make up No boxer ever held title who boasted greater courage and conf dence when facing an opponent and those qualities are hard to down. in the ring or elsewhere. Possibly he may not have completely gotten over the i'll effects of the appendicitis carv- ing q can bear testimony that it takes some time1, but I know for 3 fact the champ is satisfied with his physical condition. I had a long talk with the little fellow at the time he called on me in the Philadelphia hos pital and, if he was '.hulhng'' me wolgast is a corking good actor.
 While admitting his work in the Joe Mandot job was not particularly impressive Ad points to his record as evidence that he never was a star oy-= CT a short distance The twenty round and finish contests are far more suited to his particular style cf milling. He is very confident of vic- tory over young Ritehie.
 At that Willie has an outside chance to vanquish the champion. He is younger, a niftier boxer and the splendid account he gave of himself in their four round meeting instilled him with confidence that he will prove the master in a longer bout. But the odds are that he will not be able to- turn the trick Thanksgiving Day, 1912, as Wolgast has gradually fought himself back into shape and when close to top form is practically unbeatable at the weight and dis tance. In forecasting a battle at 1S3 pounds in which the champion is to be a contender, it must be taken into consideration that Ad is a natural and makes the mark without having to resort to strenuous training methods in which a portion of his stamina might be left on the road or in the gymnasium. It will be seen that he has a great advan- tage in this respect over aspirants who are compelled to put in weeks of hard work and continue the heavy