El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-11-23

p EW 1OrNhs N IL NOV. 80
nj Those who bank on ante cleo
- ton promises generally live to
regret their foolishness. Experience
has taught me that the word of an Of
flee seeking politician is seldom to be
relied upon. October pledges Of can
sdidates are, as a rule, not so depend
able as assurances by the same after
election.
Therefore the later news from Chi
cagO and one or two other places
where professional boxing is prohibit
ed carries more weight with me than
the bunk that was peddled before cleo
ton The announcement that a Dill 10
legaliZe professional Boxing is to be
presented at the coming session OF the
Illinois legislature and that a number
of recently elected law makers have
declared in favor of a resumption OF
the sport under proper auspices IS
gratifying to all who love the good old
game. To get line on the chances
for a revival of boxing I recently
dropped a line to q Chicago political
friend and the answer was most en-
cOuraging- While pledged to secrecy
to an extent I am at liberty to affirm
the report that the movement is well
under way and that bill to license
and regulate the sport will be intro
duced at the first opportunity at
Springfield. The proposed law calls
for state boxing commission
modelled on the New York system
Those fathering the bill are confident
it will meet with little opposition and
that boxing under supervision of q
state board Of control viii be in full
sway throughout Illinois in the near
future
1t viii be a fine thing if the bill
goes through. Chicagoan were always
strong for boxing in the old days and
interest has never died out, although
the game has been legally dead Tor
years. It viii mean new and very
profitable field for the great army OF
of New York and other cities where
boxing now flOUrishes and viii un-
dOubtedly be the means Of making new
friends and admirers of the sport
The lightWeights viii mOnopoliZe the
spotlight Thanksgiving day, a has
been their custom for years As the
principal points OF fist1c activity in the
west the 1913 Founders are billed as
star holiday attra ctiOns, while in the
east they win contribute more than
fair share towards making next Thurs
day an eventful day in pugilism-
The feature event, Of course, is
billed for San Francisco, where the
champion is booked to defend the title
in a 20 round match with Willie
Ritchie-a development of the past y
months and deemed by many Wlseacres
the most formidable candidate FOR
based upon the splendid record Richie
has made during a short but eventful
career.
A year ago Willie was employed by
Packey Mcfarland at the san Fran
cisco camp where the ChicagOan was
busily engaged in preparing for a bout
with Harlem Tommy Murphy. Prac-
tically unknown at the time, Ritchle's
chance for fame came when Ad VOL
CAST was stricken with appendicitis on
q NJ
present holder of the English light
weight title. Tom McCarey, promoter
Of the championship match, sent out
a hurry call for volunteer to sub
for Ad against the clever Welsh.
Richie responded and in the short
space Of a hours made the trip from
Frisco to Los Angeles. stood Freddie
off for 20 rounds, and incidentally
carved out a niche in the pugilistlc
hall Of fame for himself. Apparently
the yOungster had improved his OPP
pOrtunitieS while assisting the master
hand Mcfarland at the training tasks
Shortly afterwards followed the four
round bout with WOlgast, which es-
tablished the youngster as the real
thing and not a flash in the pan as
many thought when he startled the
world by sticking it out with Welsh.
Then came the trip east. None Of the
talent in this neck Of the woods want
ed Wnlie's game. A novice who could
hold the Englishman nearly even and
slug for four rounds at top speed with
the Michigan bear cat was a party to
be avoided by the sure thing bunch in
this locality. 1t is a matter Of record /
that Willie was not given a chance to
show his wares in Gotham. A little
later he boxed Joe Mandot 10 rounds
in New Orleans under an agreement !
that no decision would be given. Ac-
cording to the accounts sent -Out by
the New Orleans sCribes Joseph was on !
the receiving end throughout the con-
test.
Some going, that, for a youngster
in his first year as a glove Singer. ]
For a beginner to take on a boxer of l
Welsh's caliber barely lose the de- |
cisiOn and follow it up with a draw i
with Wolgast and a popular verdict i
over Joe MandOt. recognized as a I
championship timber. is stepping some /
and proved that the boy is made of real !
stock.
Many critics profess to believe that /
Ad Wolgast has shot his bolt. his re- /
n RY /