Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-20
Bv Willie Ritchie.
IL Lightweight Champion Of the Worldly

/ lightweight Champion OF the WorId'I
IT'S a hard task to try to tell
million readers how you man
l. aged to get to the top Of the
hesp for it's hard to imagine that
thsv are very much interested IN
vour career. OF course, wearing
,bA lightweight title must have
some weight, for there is no doubt
that millions are interested IN oox-
ing. 81,
NV success in my particular line
ia due 70 the fact that was al
wsvs ambitious. From my Limited
view studied the horizon and ng-
ursd that boxing was as good as
any other profession to follow. Inc
qtorIes of fortunes being maze oy
Sullivan, Corbett, Nelson and others
reused me up.
Some OF the stars allowed the
money to slip through their myers
That Impressed me greatly Give
me a chance" I always murinureu'
"snd the wrecks will teach me d
lesson
was fortunate enough to get an
opuortunity. And you can rest as
cured that when my star sets | VIII
ba able to look any man IN the
face and not be forced to beg ana
borrow on lost laurels.
Started as a Teamster'
When I was fifteen years old
worked for my father driving
team. Asa teamster realized that
NV future Yves not very bright so l
Immediately looked to where couIa
improve.
In 1909 I determined to learn
trade. I worked in the factory OF
an automobile concern; became &C
ouainted with the machinery OF a
car and gradually worked up until
became a demonstration and sales
man. So when my star Wanes
can 90 back to that business
Nv fondness for boxing dates
back to nv youthful days. ! was
always athleticslly inclined and al
every spare moment had the gloves
on with some of my kid compan-
ions. I never cared for the brutal
part of the sport, but developed
strong liking for skill Little did
dream in those days that by the
careful practice of cleverness.
was 10 win the championship.
Like all youngsters, l had my
particular idol, and he was Jimmy
Britt. Every time the papers print
ed a, story Of Britt I read every line
and always wished that the day
would arrive when I would be as
popular as he. Jimmy was Ger
tainly clever and l made II steady
practice 10 initiate every one of his
blows.
Watches Britt Fight.
Whenever he fought l was pres
ent. Many times l was forced 10
get A lob Is usher to get view OF
my idol in action. will never for
get the day Nelson knocked him out
in Colma.
1t was impossible for me to get
my usher job and / was foriorn'
There was only one thing for me to
90. ! was determined to see that
fight. and I did The arena was
outdoors and close by were a mum
ber OF telegraph poles. 7 selected
the nearest one. Skinned up and
rested on a cross post. 1t was not
what you would call comfortable,
but that never worried me in the
slightest.
During my experience an auto
salesman I took up boxing as a
livelihood In three and a half
years l engaged in close to 50 con-
tests and in many cases had to
take a good licking with a small
purse. The last wear of my bat
Ting in the so-calIed amateur
clubs I had improved so much that
it was the case Of taking on all
corners, no matter how heavy. Sci
dom ] received less than $500 a.
bout.
then decided to- take chance
and branch out as real profes-