The San Francisco call., 1913-11-28
JEFF LIKES
WORK Of
RIVERS
Former Champion Believes He
Is Entitled to Another
Bout With Ritchie
BY JAMES ]. JEFFRIES

Los ANGELES, Nov. 2S.-Joe Riv-
ers fought like a champion Yesterday
and his victory over Leach Cross was
natural result. Any time that Rfv-
ers puts up such fight he is worth
bet against any lightweight living.
1t was the best battle 1 ever saw
put UP, and in going back over the
fight by rounds I munable to offer
single criticism of his tactics or OF
his conduct in the ring.
Throughout the battle he kept a
cool head on his shoulders and used
more brains in directing his efforts
than I previously had given him
credit for having. He fought a per-
feet battle in every respect Refus-
| ing to be ratified or to lose his head
by the taunts of Cross, carefully plan
ming his battle as he went along and
boxing and fighting at his best form,
he was invincible. There never was
a time when / feared that he might
lose. especially after the first three
rounds.
Rivers one big fault in the past has
been his carelessness in the ring, his
proneness to lose his head when stung
and leave himself open to attack by a
wise ring general. Cross used every
device known to him in an effort to
get Rivers goat, but the Mexican was
steady at all times and refused to fall
for any of it. In my opinion, this was
one Of the big factors in his victory.
CROSS DESERVES CREDIT
I can not criticise the battle that
Cross put up. He fully lived UP to his
reputation for cleverness, brains,
punch and courage, and is entitled to
a great deal of credit for the showing
he made against odds. The battle that
Cross put up would win nine battles
out Of 10. can not say that he was
outclassed, but Rivers proved himself
clever, faster, better puncher and
equally as cool headed.
Any other sort of battle would
have produced different results for
Rivers, no doubt. While he was al
ways leading by at least a slight mar
gin, Cross was ever alert, watching
constantly for chance to get over his
right and win the fight in single
punch, and he was willing to mix it
and take a chance. He is a shrewd
| ring general, and Rivers had to keep
his head with hi mall the time to as
sure victory for himself.
Rivers clearly won fhe right n do
mand a return match with Ritchie by
his showing yesterday, and I would
like to see these boys matched for a
bout here.
There may be something in the
home air or In the home surroundings
to make Rivers fight better here than
elsewhere, but. anyway. IL they meet
again, / hope 1t will be staged here.
Ritchie might defeat him again, but
If Rivers would put up the same sort
of a fight against him that he put up
a sensational scrap.
RIVERS ALL THE WAY
1t may be that the distance was too
great for Cross, but I hardly think 80.
He finished strong and full of fight,
| fire in the first half. so the distance
probably had little effect upon his
| chances.
| Rivers would have won just as de-
cisely had II been a 10 round affair in
stead of double the distance. He was
| leading by the same margin. practi-
cally, at the start of the eleventh
round
Both boys stripped in fine condition
and the battle they put up proved that
| they had not exaggerated in stating
| that they were fit for the best offtr OF
their careers. There was nothing at
any time during the bout to indicate
! that either was lacking in conditinos