Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-15
BY w. w. Naughton.

y Champion Willie Ritchie's de-
termination to force an extern
| sion Of the lightweight boundaries
will be far-reaching in its effect. For
one thing, it will bring Packey Nc
Farland to the front as a candidate
for the title
While Richie was working his way
| over the footlight circuit and keep
| ing close lips as to what was pass
! ing I'm his mind in respect to the
weight terms he would impose when
fighting began again a good many
thought that Willie was confronted
with a double horned dilemma.
He is growing boy and II ne
elects to stick TO 1873 pounds ring
side he may weaken himself making
the weight said one sporting man.
"On the other hand, IL he raises the
limit a couple Of pounds he wtll
have to box Mcfarland and / am not
sure that he is looking for trouble Of
that kind"
When these remarks We're repeated
to Richie, al the time when the ar
gument over weight with Rivers was
in progress, the champion said:
That's all a mistake. I'd Just as
soon meet Mcfarland as the next
man"
Continuing. Richie said. at one
stage Of our tour, Nolan agreed 10
allow Packey TO weigh 1856 pounds AZ
six o'clock in the evening II McFar-
land and myself were matched For
a night fight that would mean
weighing in three or four hours be
fore and no offer that has been made
since would be an Improvement on
/ that so far as Mcfarland is CON
| cerned. I wanted the weight for the
match with Rivers 10 be 1874 pounds
three hours before fight time, and
Mcfarland IS as welcome as the
flowers in May 10 this Arrangement
il he cares 10 accept IT,
Asked If he did not consider Nc
Farland his most formidable oppo-
nent at the new weight scale. Richie
said.
Not in a championship battle I
know Packey very well and I like
him personally. / have worked with
him in training quarters and with an
eye TO the possibilities that are al
WAYS attached TO pugilism, ! made
a close study Of him. He is an amaZ-
ingly clever boxer-I know Of none
better in fact-but he is not d
puncher What is more. he does not
like the long route. If YOU look over
his record you will find that he has
Z -
matches. and won only one OF them,
and that by no very great margin.
] mean his twenty rounds with Tom
my Murphy, in san Francisco.
PaCkey is grand performer over
a short distance. but ] am satisfied
that l can take his measure when
! get him in the ring for contest OF
the regulation championship length.
Boxers Fib About Weight.
TF Sc ST 10
boxers fib systema tically about their
poundage and for this reason every
I thing that any of them has TO cay
on the subject is taken with a grain
OF salt Richie insists. however.
/ that under suitable conditions ne
can make 1913 pounds Just as easily
as he did for Wolgast. We want
little leeWay for that Fourth ot
July match because ! had been a
I long time out Of training and I'D not
! care 10 reduce at too short notice,
said Willie Right here / want TO
/ brand that story that / was weak
after doing that ringsioe weight for
1 WolEasr ! weighed less than 1872
when I stepped on the machine for
I that bout and did not take any nour-
Iighment after weighing. as has been
claimed They gave me a little hot
I beef tea and the taste Of IL did not
.
other thing. Even though / may
want TO weigh hours before. I w-I
mot take on more than "a pound 90
/ the outside by fighting time. This
/ is mainly because / don't eat OF
drink anything 10 speak of between
7 the weighing hour and the time 90
begin boxing ] know that any
weight gained by putting stuff into
ones stomach in "a case If that kind
lis a detrimeut rather than help
land therefore ] avoid it
Richie Puzzles Fans.
/ With Richie ~ emphatic about MS
liability to defend his championship At
frra weight at which he won 10, and
In view Of HIS claim that he does not
6aUaff- 10 the extent Of increasing
mis- pouuGage If ne weighs hours be
( fore. the sports are mystified as %
why tre champion sought SO deter
u75rE-E Co change The old order ~
. -rsuEs for his match with Rivers.
And -re answer with good mauE
lis. Nolan Richie is legitimate
nr1,wsfsh. au right. bug Nolan
wants something different. said one
FIGHT fan He likes Co hear people
-41srs well YOU see Nolan has bus
81 course Nolan denies this s1ft
frrra. .rwsur. He says 20 is his DUTY
3D.. match his boxers interests uloS.-
d, and hold n1- rur what be- 1orSi;-
.r- his hes. interests. even though
|r..rE motives may De- attributed 'r
4 = t.--L-. 49, -l--- . . E4-.el