The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1913-08-05
PINNELE HAS RECORD
GERMANY KNOCKOUTS

Gentleman Jim's opinion of the Califor.
man: -.la
Willie Richie, he says, is the class.
lest lightweight champion we have had
since the days when the late doe Cans
ruled SAnsfeme in the division. There
were number of so.called experts who
asserted that Willie was very lucky
youth when the referee awarded him
the title on foul in the battle with
AID Wolgast, and referred to him as an
accidental champion, but recent de.
velopments have proved his right to
the championship.
Ritchie's impressive victory over Joe
Rivers, the sensational youDgster from
Los Angeles, has satisfied the most skep-
teal among fight followers that he is
the goods and that he is in every
respect worthy holder of "A title held
in the past by such great opponents of
the manly art as Jack McAuliffe
"Kid' Lavigne, Frank Erne and Joe
Cans.
Willie began his career in San Fran
| cisco in 1910, but he was practically UNI
known until two years ago, when he
first began to attract attention as Pac-
key Netherlands sparring partner. 1t
was while assisting Mcfarland to train
for the match with Harlem Tommy
Murphy that Willie was given hurry
call to substitute for the appendicitis
stricken Wolgast in the match with
Freddy Welsh, champion lightweight q
| Great Britain and one of the most scien
ticfc boys of the weight in the world
His First Opportunity.
Ritchie's first real opportunity after
the Welsh battle came when AID VOL
CAST returned to the ring following his
long siege in dry dock. Ad selected vii
lie to meet him in four-round bout
at San Francisco, and while no decision
was given, per previous agreement, the
honors easily belonged to the young
ster. Willie followed this up with Q
ten-round set-up with Joe Mandot, al
that time looked upon as championship
material, and clearly demonstrated su
periority over the southerner.
Richie is that very rare combination
of scientific boxer and hard hitter
which is hard to beat. There is ne
reason to believe that he will not hold
the title for a long time-quite as long
even as the great Cans. There is nj
one in sight who looks good enough t,
beat him at 1873 or 1874 ringsido. Lcacl
Cross might give him an argument TO
few rounds, but Willie's superior sci
ence and generalship should enable hin
to beat the New Yorker over any rout'
from six rounds to a finish
Freddy Welsh is another who woulc
give Richie battle. Freddy is a yer.
clever boxer, every bit as scientific n
Richie, if not bit more so, but he il
not so young as he used to be, Will
Willie has that great asset, youth, il
his favor. And Welsh thought he nigh
succeed in holding the champion ever
for ten rounds or so, could hardly hop
to beat him in a longer match. Richie
superior hitting powers and stamin;
would give him the edge in twenty
round bout,
OF course there is our old frien
Packey Mcfarland. We will have to ad
nit that Packey might turn the trick
but as he will not consent to 1873 or 10
ringsde that seems to let him out o
the argument. Packey would like moth
ling better than a match with his fol
mer sparring partner over any old dis
lance, but it is doubtful if the pal
will ever come to an agreement on tn
weight question. A Mcfarland Ritchi
combat would be worth going miles t
see. However, it looks too beautiful
dream ever to come true.