New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-06-29
LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE
SWINGS IN BALANCE
Battles of independence Day IN
California May Mean
RitChie'S Downfall.
CHAMPION MEETS RIVERS
After That. if Successful, He
Will Meet Winner Of Ander
SON Cross Bout, Also
Set for Holiday.

Tho eyes Of the boxing world are cen
tired upon California where, on Friday
.'uIv 4. four Of the most prominent light
weight boxers in this country will meet
fr two twenty round bouts. Tn the most
i.rro-ta,t Of these. Willie Richie, cham
MON of the world. Will cross gloves with
Jo. Rivers. rated by many as the great
est fighter Of his pounds and inches in
tine world to-day. Rivers and Ritche
viii meet IN San Francisco The other
contest will be between Leach Cross, the
New York man. and that new meteor OF
the boxing arena, Bud Anderson, OF
Medford, Ore They will battle at Tom
McCarey's arena in Los Angeles.
With the result of these battles the
entire lightweight situation may be
changed. There is Of course, always the
chance Of a champion meeting his mas
ter. and in the minds Of many, Rivers Is
capable Of beating the best in the ring
m perfect condition. Should Rivers fail
then Richie win gain only temporary re-
spite. for he has already signihed his
intention Of meeting the winner Of the
Cross-Anderson fight. If Anderson
comes out victorious, and the Western
critics believe that he will, Cross will
limp back TO New York and the ten
round game. but should Cross eliminate
the Oregon slugger. he will remain in
the West until Labor Day, then TO get
his chance at the title
Not since the day that Joe Cans the
''old master" met Battling Nelson in
that memorable battle on the sun
H.a
been so much speculation upon the out
come Of a championship battle. Were
critics satisfied that Rivers was attend
ing strictly TO his training he would be
an equal choice in the betting, but the
critics are not satisfied. Reports have
been received from San Francisco which,
n taken at their face value would indi-
cate that Rivers is not overworking HIM
self I'm the training camp. Rather than
hitting the trail over the mountains for
his roadwork and filing his lungs with
invigorating mountain air, Rivers, IL is
said on good authority, has been cover
ing long distances by night in the mazes
Of the Texas Tommy and the zone
Step
II these reports are true Rivers might
lust as well remain in his camp on July
4. for if ne IS not ready to fight the battle
Of his life Ritchie will win 10 moral
ccrtainty The latter, a careful, clean
Twins boy, has been training for two
months for this contest realizing the
calibre Of his opponent and will not be
caught mapping. II was through his dis
regard Of training rules that Rivers was
whipped by Joe Mandot in their first
battle.
with both men in the best Of condition,
these who have followed the boxing game
for a long time can see no reason why
Rivers should not enter the ring an even
fa5orite. Rivers has shown in all his
borts that he is a clever boxer. tricky and
resnurceful under all circumstances. 1t
matters not to him how furious the pace.
lie can hit with the force of trip ham
mer, using both hands equally we'll. and
he is a great inside fighter
II Richie IS the champion by virtue Of
fairly fought battle That Wolgast tot
tering and on the verge Of a Knockout
fouled him 10 prevent the disgrace Of
knockout. was no fault Of Ritchies He
played the game squarely. and after TAX
ing all that the champion could hand out,
came back with redoubled vigor and
strength. knocked him down and made
him practically quit to save himself
Ritchie is a clever, two-handed fighter.
rated as one of the cleverest boxers Of
the last ten years. He leaped into fame
by stepping In at the last minute and
making Freddie Walsh box at top speed
10 shade him IN twenty rounds. At that
time Welsh was sparring partner 10
Packey Mcfarland
Leach Cross IS now standing on the
threshold Of fame and prosperity. If he
should pass Anderson and thereby place
himself in line for a battle with the
champion he will reap a golden harvest,
for Cross Is nothing II not a shrewd bust
ness man. He stands more than an even
chance of beating the oregon lad TOO.
He has the experience OF eight years.
Anderson has engaged in fifty battles.
His principal claim TO fame rests on
defeat of the generally discredited
Knockout Brown.
Reports from the West, which must be
accepted as a basis for rating him, since
Anderson has never boxed IN this city.
say that the Oregon boy is not particu-
larly clever. The stories Of his match
with Brown tend 10 bear this out, for
Brown numbering and clumsy as he is,
had little trouble in landing hard punches.
His assets seem TO be ability to block
punches with the tip Of his chin and his
stiff hitting.
Inn Cross he will meet a fair boxer, who
has the ability 10 snap over q knockout
punch from almost any angle. While
cross is not the most scientific boxer in
the world. his experience has taught him
it rival for the best men in his division.
Already the odds are dropping, and Cross
viii probably go into the ring at even
money.
The defeat Of Charley Ledoux. champion
Of Europe al the hands OF Eddie Campi
Was not surprise TO those who have
seen the Frcucuman in action. In his
bouts here he showed nothing but an UNI
limited store of gameness and wide
Opcn defence. Cdmpi. VINO by his game
stand against Kid Williams and his de-
feat of Frankie Burns won his place I'm
the foremost ranks Of the bantamwcights,
had little trouble iu boxing rings around
tho foreigner. who landed few clean blows
in the whole battle.
Johnny Coulon is wonderfully careful Of
his title Of champion bantamweight
After being outboxed by frankie Burns,
the jersey City lad. in Kenosha the other
night, COulon decided that he would not
meet Kid Williams. who defeated him
iu "a ten-rouud bout in this city recently.
Williams and COulOn were 10 have boxed
twenty rounds I'm Los Angeles but CoulOn