New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-14
Chance at Lightweight Title
Has Once More Eluded
Clever Fighter.
FRISCO MATCH WITH
RITCHIE is OFF
Bob McAllister. In Fight with
Donovan. Shows Up Well
Among the Big Men.

once more Harlem Tommy MurpaN
has been cheated out of his chance TO An
the lightweight championship of tic
world His match with Willie hitchie III
San Francisco on Wednesday night was
declared off because Richie had UNDER
gone ali operation on his nose and was IN
no condition 10 enter the ring The con-
test has been declared OFF indefinitely. nut
Richie has promised the New York boy
first chance to meet him.
Murphy's quest for the lightweight
championship has led him over tran
full Of hard knocks. turns and dioap-
pointments. For the last six years lie
has persistently challenged the title hold
Battling Nelson, Ad Nolsast ano'
lastly. Willie Richie. Neither Nelson nor
Wolgast would consider him. but Ritchie
willingly consented TO bind the match
when his demands we're met.
When Nelson was IN the heyday Of his
youth and ruled the lightweight class 40
refused to igE; Murphy unless the latter
would agree to a finish battle. Murphy
REPLIED that he was q human being not
a bulldog. ana that those who fought 10
"a llllEN NNtI llltll beN fss h4I' '''''''''' ~
stead Of their brains. Tommy further
more contended that twenty rounds were
sufficient for any man 20 demonstrate h.a
superiority over another. There the mat
.;ct rested.
"a Nogast, after one unpleasant ~
pericncc. refused To meet Murphy for n"
championship. Just before he defeated
Nelson and won the title he boxed ,.N
rounds with Murphy in PittSbursh ana
was badly beaten The final bell found
him weak and on the ropes. The men in
dulged in many saTcasHs after that boa..
and Wolgast, declaring that he had been
insulted, would no; make return match.
although Murphy never ceased to howl
his defiance. Later, however. after being
beaten by Ritcni". he fought two twenty
round battles with Murphy. BY a fast
finish he managed 10 get a draw In one.
In the other 10 was soundly wallopcd
from start 10 finish
Ii may he now that Murphys chance
has come too late lie has been boxing
for the last ten years. ana In that time
has met many Of the best men In the rims
Although his record is not clear OF de
ieat, he has been knocked out only twice.
once Terry McGoyern landed q wild. de
spairing swing on the jaw that turned
impending defea. into a ouc-rouud VIC
tory. and the other time Knockout
Brown stopped him IN round. There
vas that about this last bout which failed
10 please.
OF late Murphy has shown unmistakabie
signs OF slowing up. Never a man famed
for his ability 10 knock a man out. he
has lost mucn 81 his Old hitting ability
and boys who should have proven easy
for him were able 80 wage a hard battle
through the ten-round bouts i'm this city.
Eitchic is right at the zenith OF his ca
recr. lie IS all that a champion should
he. Fast and clever. hard punchcr. n
stif inhghter and game as a pebble. he
STANDS out as the best old-schsol type
since Joe Cans held the title
Rombardicr Wells. who despite the
numerous times he has been knocked out
is still champion OF Great Britain. has
announced his retirement from the ring
The crushing defeat at the hands o.:
Georges Carpenter convinced him that
his DAYS as Aghter were about over.
Wells Is unfortunate. He Is one OF the
clcvorcst men in the ring and a power
ful hitter. but he lacks the stamina 10
stand 10 under = heavy punch.