Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-27

Willie Richie may or may not have some
foundation in truth, but the yarn about
Richie wanting to quit and Rivers beat
| ing him to 1t is the funniest thing I've
read In long time.
According to the latest dream, Willie
was In bad shape during the early rounds
and showed signs OF the white feather. AS
far as that goes, the detailed accounts
/, Of the fight gave Rivers the best OF the
| first few rounds.
II Richie isn't game, and wanted to
Quit. why didn't he? He was getting the
worst Of It, and would have had first
guns and took his medicine like man.
and instead Of lying down" Willie kept
right on fighting until he had solved the
Mexican's style. The rest is history.
As for Rivers logging it. / don't
know. It is easy enough for some sore
head to circulate yarn about a boxer
quitting under punishment and still easier
to get the public to accept 1t as gospel
But let me tell you something. A boxer
who has climbed up so high In his divi-
yellow For that matter, 1t takes q
game man to be a fighter, II only poor
one.
AS sized the fight up it was simply a
case of a good fighter beaten by q better
one. Rivers had proved himself a boxer
Of merit long before the Richie contest,
and to my way Of thinking the question
Of his courage should never have been
brought up at ALL.
| Now that Samivel Langford, esquire, is
back in this country the question arises,
What are we going to do about it?' For
I nearly two years the Boston negro has
been away. During that time his ring
performances have been confined princi-
pally to bouts with Sam McVey over In
Australia. But it appears that McVey
has been beaten SO often. and badly. that
he is no longer available. So Langford
had to come home.
It looks as IL Sam would have to re-
sumo where he left off battling with Joe
Jeanette. / believe these boys have met
about dozen times In all and while the
tar baby has earned a decision or two
during that period he has failed to come
through with what would be called a
decisive win. And jeanette has always
coutended that he can beat Sam in a
finish fight.
Two years ago Tom McCarey or some
other western promoters had Sam and
Joe matched for twenty rounds, when all
| of a sudden Langford made up his mind
/ to go to Australia. Jeanette's manager
| claimed that fear of the outcome Of q
/ long match with Joe drove Sam out OF
| the country. Whatever the reason. Lang
ford stayed away as long as he possibly
| could.
| Dan McKettrick. who directs Jean
| nette's affairs, says that the match made
two years ago stands so far as Joe Is con-
| cerned. jeanette Is ready to fght Sam
on a moments notice. and his manager
has wired Tom McCarey to FIX II up
with Langford. McCarey is working on
Sambo. and. II successful, will hold the
bout on California admission day, Sep
| TENDER ..
| In New York state the boxing commits
| sion will not stand for matches between
whites and blacks. SO Sam and Joe are
| barred from boxing white heavies In this
neighborhood. could they persuade any
one or the hopes to take a chance
California is one of the few spots where
| Landlord and jeanette will have to do
business in the future, and. judging from
| the turning down Of the proposed four
| round bout between Charley Miller and
Langford. the authorities out that way do
not approve OF the mingling Of colors In
| the ring any more than In the east.
Looks like Langf0rd's next match VIII
be with Jeanette. The winner ought TO
be good enough to beat johnson and grab
the title for himself. Maybe by that time
Q good white heavy will have been devel-
oped. While there's life there's hope.