Evening star., 1913-07-13

but recent developments have proved his
right to the championship.
Ritchie's impressive victory over Joe
Rivers. the sensational youngster from
Los Angeles, has satisfied the most skep-
teal among fight followers that he is the
goods and that he is in every respect
a worthy holder of a title held in the
past BY such sreat exponents of the
manly art as Jack McAuliffe, Kid La
viSne, Frank Erne and Joe Cans.
Willie began MS career in San Fran
cisco IN 1910 but he was practically un-
known until two years ago, when he first
began to attract attention as Packey Nc
assisting Mcfarland to train for the
match with Harlem Tommy" Murphy
that Willie was given a hurry call to
substitute for the appendicitIs-stricken
champion lightweight of Great Britain
and one of the most scientific boys Of the
weight in the world.
Ritche's showing on that occasion was
little snort of sensational for a compare
tive novice, and, while he lost the deci-
sion after haTd-fought contest of twenty
rounds, his class was established then and
there Experts who had witnessed the
hattie agreed that he was one of the
most promising of the younger light
weights
Willie came east shortly afterward but
the best boys in this locality. among them
-<aNi4 SloSo. gave DiIl d WluS DeIlH.
was his ambition to box before a New
York crowd, for he was smart enough to
reaiize that good showing there would
De Dig boost, but suitable opponent
couiu NOT De found to meet him, and he
was forced to hop-scotch around the
country In search of matches.
Rltchie's first real opportunity after
fhe welsh battle came when Ad VOL
CAST returned to the ring following his
long siege in dry dock. Ad selected Will
lie 10 meet him in a fOur-rOund bout
at San Francisco. and while no decision
was given. per previous ag1 cement the
honors easily belonged to the young
ster- Willie followed this up with a
ten-round set-to with Joe Mandot, at
that time looked upon as championship
material, and clearly demonstrated
superiority over the southerner.
Then came the fight with Wolgast
for the title. Willie gradually wore
down the one-time terror of the light
weights until he had him in such bad
shape that to save himself from the
iSnominy of a Knockout Ad resorted
10 the tactics of hard loser and de-
liberately fouled his opponent
Cnder Billy Nolan's management
Rtchle devoted the next six months to
travelling about the country filing the
Atrical engagements. During that time
he refused to consider challenges, and
as a result incurred the displeasure of
the critics, who referred to him as a
stage" fighter and accused him of be-
Ing afraid to defend the championship.
1t is believed that the "panning" to
which the champion was subjected at
the time had much to do with the sub
sequent split with Nolan.
Finally Willie announced he was
ready to fight again, and to his credit
il must be said did not look for an
easy mark On the contrary, he select
cd Joe Rivers. one of the toughest
propositions in the lightweight divi-
sion, and proved his class to every
ones complete satisfaction by putting
ia In ell nd
Ritchie is that very rare combination
of scientific boxer and hard hitter. which
is hard TO beat. There is no
reason to believe that he will not
long even as the great Cans. There is
no one in sight who looks good enough
10 beat him at 133 or 134 ringside
Leach Cross might give him. an argu-
perior science and generalship should
enable him TO beat the New Yorker over
any route from six rounds to a finish
Freddy Welsh is another who would
give Rifchie a battle. Freddy is very
clever boxer, every bit as scientific as
Ritchie. IL not bit more so, but he is
not so young as he used to be, while
Willie has that great asset. youth. in his
favor And Welsh. though he might
succeed In holding the champion even
for ten rounds or so. could hardly hope
to beat him in longer match. Ritchie's
superior hitting powers and stamina
would give hlm the edge In twenty
round bout
OF course, there is our old friend
Packey Mcfarland. We will have TO ad
nit that Packey might turn the trick
but ne will not consent to LIB or 13-
rincsidc that seems to let him out Of the
argument Packey would like nothing
better Than match with his formei
sparring partner over any old distance
but il is doubtful if the pair will evel
cofna 10 an agreement on the weight
question. \ observation-disclosures comba
would be worth going miles to see
However. il looks too beautiful a dream
ever TO come true.
Leach Cross is deserving of consider
able praise for the mastery manner ir
which he disposed of the husky Bud
Anderson. While / rather fancied An
derson's chances on account OF his youtf
and sensational record OF the past few
months. still / was not very much sur
prised at the result.
Cross is one of the mysteries of thu
ring There is no denying he can fgh
when he cares to. Nearly all his battle.
have been over the ten-round distanc,
here in New York. AT times his show
ing has been OF high order. and a
Others he has looked like a preliminary
scrapper.
Anderson is the type Of fighter Leach
can show up Cross likes to meet the
rushing, slarn-bang fellows He has a
yaIiop second to none, and knows how Il