New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-05
RICHIE RETAINS HIS
TITLE BY KNOCKOUT
Sends Rivers Down for Count
in Eleventh Round of
Furious Fight.
MEXICAN STRONG AT START
Challenger for Lightweight
Honors Forces Milling in
First Half, But
Tires Badly.

San Francisco, July Awhile Richie,
OF California, lightweight boxing cham
pion of the world, sounded the kneIl over
the championship aspirations of Jose
| Rivers, the fiery little Mexican fighter, OF
| Los Angeles, by knocking him out in the
| eleventh round of scheduled twenty
| round fight for the championship of the
world here to-day. Four terrific smashes
on the jaw. two rights and two lefts, sent
the challenger TO the canvas twice. The
| first time Rivers arose at the count OF
nine, gasping for breath, his eyes roll
ing. The second time he went down for
the count. So Richie. the first light
weight champion ever produced by Cali
| fornia, proved his right TO the title In de-
cisive, impressive style.
There was no fiuke no element Of luck
in the victory OF the champion He
proved himself the master Of the man
rated by critics as the best lightweight
since the time of Joe Cans. Taking
everything that the Mexican gave him in
the early rounds, Richie boxed gamely,
| cleverly and well. He wore Rivers down
with skillfully placed punches. and when
the moment came for the coup, he proved
| that he had the necessary power and
skill.
| Dancing to the centre OF the ring in the
final round, Richie tented his tired rival
into leaving an opening. Then he shot a
left hook that tipped the Mexican's head
| back and crashed over a right hand
cross Down on his back went the strick-
en- Rivers. For a moment he paved the
| canvas and then lay still. He appeared
TO be out cold, and the crowd rose. bel
lowing its applause for the champion.
| At the count Of six, Rivers quivered.
raised his head and, realizing that he was
| still in the ring, rose to one knee and
staggered TO his feet at the count Of nine.
With the fighters instinct he tried TO
raise his hands, but fighting instinct was
not enough. His numbed muscles were
so much dead weight, unable to obey the
commands of a sadly befudded brain.
He turned to face his opponent, grim
grip on his battered features Leaping
in, Richie chased the leer from the Mexi-
cans face with a sweeping left uppercut
that thudded home only fraction of a
second before a right cross landed. Once
more Rivers spread eagled on his back,
this time dead to the world, and the ref
|
the air, declaring him victor. Rivers was
carried to his corner by his seconds and
Joe Levy. his manager. He came TO his
senses after a short while and was able
to walk from the ring, but he was still
weak and his step was uncertain.
The fight was one of the most sensa-
tional ever seen in this city. From the
moment that Rivers lowered his tousled
head and bored in after the champion.
taking a series of lightning left hand tabs
TO land his own savage counters until the
tide turned in the tenth round, the boys
stood up and fought like fiends. Rivers
was desperate in his efforts. He evident
ly thought that he would have to win in a
punch If he won at all, and crashed
swing after swing at the elusive Richie.
He landed, too, and there were times
when his hackers stood on their chairs,
cheering him on in a frenzy Of delight.
And what a crowd IL was! The arena
built especially for the occasion. wal
packed 10 its capacity. There was not
seat 10 be had two hours before the men
entered the ring, and II seemed as II all
| California was trying TO force its way
into the building to honor the first light
weight champion the state has ever nad'
Not since the Jetfries and Johnson calam-
ity at Reno, three years ago. has such a
crowd attended fstic battle.
BY and large ii was Richie crowd,
and those who are willing TO take fier
on a sporting chance backed him with
their moral support and TO the extent or
their bankrolls. He was favorite at 10 TO
Z, with few takers. for the tales of irregu-
larities in Riyers's training caused his
hackers TO be careful. When the men en-
tered the ring 10 TO was the prevailing
price, with many offers Of 2 to l. Many
bet that Rivers would not go the distance,
and these were happy at the end.
Rivers began with furious rush, and
for the first four rounds fought Richie
70 a standstill. The science and skill NJ
the latter vailed him little against the
Mexican boxer, who forced his way inside
and battered away with both hands.
Richie jabbed and jolted, seeking the
body with his right hand. but Joe went
right ahead. playing for the head and
Jaw. His inability to cope with the stu
alton worried Richie, and IN the third
round he sought his corner shaking his
head.
Like an arrow from rle bow Rivers
bounded across the arena in the fourth
round. and, working In close, shot three
lefts TO the body. He stepped back
quickly. and then feinting with the left
threw In a right hand jolt that caved in
Ritchie's knees and had him grosgy.
Rivers went in again. but he lost his dis
lance. and Richie stalled through the
round cieverly.
hat furious squirt Slapped Riverss
steam. He realized then that the mazes
of the enhancing waltz are not as
hardening as run over the roads. In
the nth round Richie boxed him into
kinks. Placing his punches carefully. the
champion moved as II on air. He was
here, there and everywhere. except where
Rivers sent his gloves. In the sixth
round Rivers was still more tired. and n
the seventh period the tide swept toward
the champion. He landed his body
punches with both hands, and as each
blow went home Rivers lost speed.
II beaten Rivers was not convinced. He
rallied spasmodically from time TO time
and earned an even break in the ninth
round by heroic work. In the tenth
round Rivers rushed In gamely, hooking
a left to the body and taking volley OF
jabs on the face. Richie then held him
off and almost knocked him down With
right hand cross to the jaw. vicious
left hand uppercut TO the chin followed,