Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-11-29
R|TCH|E'S VICTORY MAND0T EASY PREY
W0Igast Loses Title on a Foul
in Lightweight Battle.
LAUDED BY FANS
Referee Jim Griffin Says Wolgast
Twice Landed Foul
Blows,

SAN FRANCISCO. November %
Through a dense cloud Of fog at DAILY
City yesterday afternoon a wildly eX-
cited throng Of fight fans carried from a
roped arena their first pugilistic light
weight champion. Willie Richie was
ers and his victory was so unexpected
that 1900 spectators made hills echo with
their cries.
With the sixteenth round only two sec
Richie and the referee was quick to
raise the local lads glove in token of
victory. The disqualification came after
Richie had foored Wlogast twice.
Whether the foul was Intentional was
the theme Of discussion among thousands
as they left the arena.
There was no question, however, about
the foul. Wolgast delivered two low left
hand punches to Ritchie's groin and the
action of the referee was the only course
to pursue. Tom Jones. WOgast's man
ager, let out a roar about robbery, but
the fouls were so palpable his conten-
ton will be taken as one of bad loser.
Billy Nolan, Ritchie's manager, claimed
that the champion deliberately fouled
when he was stung by Richie and took
this course to save himself from knock
out. Referee Jim Griffin, who proved i'm
partial. made the following statement:
Il was right on top Of the men and
saw Wolgast plainly strike out with his
left and it went low. Richie was hurt
and in a flash Wolgast swung with his
left and 1t also went below the belt. AS
Richie sank to the floor in pain there
was nothing for me to do but award the
bout to Richie. 1 really think the first
blow was unintentional. but it looked to
me as if Wolgast deliberately aimed that
second punch low"
Wolgast had the better of the fight up
to the critical sixteenth round. but he
showed as early as the third round that
he had lost his former accurate judgment
of distance, but in this round he nearly
drove Richie through the ropes with a
after landing right and left to jaw nearly
| closed Ritchie's right eye with stiff
punch. In the next two rounds Wolgast
had things all his own way. In the ninth
Ritchie's eye was closed and he received
heavy body punishment. Richie fought
gamely, but he could do little.
In the tenth Richie rallied and ham
| mered WOlgast around the head. The
| round ended with hOnors in his favor.
| Richie came up in the eleventh eager
for battle and again 1t was his round
as he seemed to reach the champion
easily.
The twelfth was even. Richie meeting
the champion pluckily and swapping
strong punches. In the thirteenth VOL
CAST began with wild blows but steadied
| Richie, however, held his ground. The
| fourteenth was a shade in favor Of VOL
| CAST and he nearly closed RitchieS gOO6
| eye by a straight right.
Richie came up in good shape in the
| fifteenth and astonished the crowd by
| outboxing the champion and landed some
Furnishing stomach punches. In the six
| teenth Richie rushed WOlgast and landed
| a fierce right cross to the jaw which
sent Wolgast to the ropes. Again Richie
whipped his right across and Wolgas
went to the floor. He got up groggy ane
| after another right to the jaw he de-
livered the two fouls that cost him the
| fight.