New-York tribune., 1913-11-14
R|TCH|E HAS MUCH
PRAISE FOR CROSS
Guest of Honor at Boxing
Mems Dinner-ThankS the
Public, Too.

Willie Ritchie, the lightweight champion
OF the world. was guest OF honor at
dinner at Billy Gibson's Criterion hestau
rant I'm The Bronx, last night More thah
$50 guests sat Ranking the board inciud-
ing the local sporting writer's ana men
prominent in the boxing world.
Richie. in a we'll phrased speech
thanked the New York boxing enthusiasts
for the royal way in which they treated
him during his stay in the city. ana de-
clared that when an opponent worthy OIL
his steel was selected he would always
be glad 20 return and box. Ritchle SAID
in part:
Il cannot too warmly thank the New
York public foHtle cordial way In wnlch
they treated me during my stay in THIS
city. They showed that the oft repeated
statements of Fasteners being distant and
unfriendly to strangers have been grossly
exaggerated. Everybody has been my
friend since | came her, and | hope TO
visit your city often.
II have only the warmest feeling for
Leach Cross, my late opponent now my
friend He is great fighter. and clean
fighter as well / can honestly say that
he gave me hard battle. quite as hard
as / ever engaged in, and | found him a
much more formidable man than either
Rivers or Wolgast
"On Saturday | will leave for Califor-
ria, where | am matched TO meet Tommy
Murphy in a battle for the championship,
and II successful will meet all comers. !
want TO be recognized az real champion
II IL the duty of a title holder TO fight II
a legitimate challenger appears and the
proper inducements are offered. | believe,
without wishing to appear egotistcal, that
! showed the local boxing fans that
am not an accidental champion, and 1t Is
my purpose TO convince the world at large
Of my ability
Mike Gibbons. the ST. Paul wrath, and
Marty Rowan. who recently outpointed
Billy Papke, will meet I'm ten-round bout
at the Twyford Athletic Club, in South
Brooklyn, tonight.
Packey Mcfarland has evidently In
tended 10 drop his mask and branch out
as a welterweight He declares that he
is willing to meet any man In the world
at AZ pounds. weigh in at o'clock.
Ed Hagan. the Seattle hope" will meet
"Gunboat" Smith at the Atlantic Garden
on next Thursday night. Hagan is train
ing with Jim Flynn. who is giving him
much information. gathered first hand, as
to the force of Smiths wallop.
Willie Richie will give a box party
to his newspaper men friends at the
Winter Garden tonight. Ritchie was in
vited TO attend the show by William
Montgomery and Florence Moore, two OF
the stars in THE Pleasure Seekers" and
thought il would be a good idea 10 have
his friends with him to thank them in
A measure for the courtesies extended him
during his stay.
Johnny Dundee and Charley White will
Get i'm New Orleans on Thanksgiving
Day for ten rounds. white and Dundee
boxed a sensational ten-round contest In
Syracuse two years ago, with honors
about even.
Danny Morgan still believes Jack Brit
ton can whip Packey Mcfarland. AT
catch weights" he declares. "Britton
can defeat Packey. When Mcfarland has
TO train hard and make weight he is un-
beatable. but when he loafs in training
he is not at his best The extra weight
robs him of his speed and speed is what
he relies on To win
Perhaps. but Packey also has right
and left hand. a wonderful head and two
strong, fleet feet.