El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-12-06

lew YORK, Dec. 6--Willie
n Richie, lightweight champion,
4 will be seen in the ring again
the coming week. Only this time San
Francisco sports and not New Workers
are to have the privilege of watching
the sterling little battler perform.
Richie boxes Tommy Murphy at Jim
Coffroth's club next Wednesday, Dec.
10. out California way where Tommy
has fought several corking 20-round
battles the sports are anticipating a
great contest Here in Murphy's home
town the opinion prevails among the
talent that the bout will prove the
easiest task Willie has undertaken
since coping the title.
Richie IS one Of the best balanced
chaps I've met in a long time and 1
DO not think him the sort to overrate
his own or belittle another's ability
However, I happen 10 know he does
not regard Murphy as his most dan
EerOus riVal-nOt by a good deal. Still,
as he told me, he was morally bound
to meet the New Yorker and as Cal
ifOrnians have very high regard Tor
TOmmy's fistic proves he viii be well
paid for his time and trouble
Youth and Skill Favor Bitchie.
by own opinion is that Ritchies
youth and skill will prove quite too
much for the veteran. While real
lie that Murphy is a tough customer
and one of the gamest in the ring,
everything considered, / viii not be
surprised if the champion stops him
before the limit. I am not predict
ing any such result however, as ap-
preciate that it is not such an easy
matter to accomplish as all that. The
dope though, faYors the champions
success and If he puts up the same
kind Of battle he showed local fans
h. 10
eeedingly fortunate TO be there at the
finish.
Richie Is getting better right along
He is the intelligent breed OF boxer and
viii benefit by every fight he has IN
til the time comes when nature calls
2 halt on the other hand Murphy, al
ways a bit short of championship
class, has seen his best day and is on
the tObOggan-
cult matter to call the winner of next
Wednesdays match, does it2
In view Of the results of recent i'm
pOTtant lightweight battles it begins to
look very much as though the cham
pionship title will remain in Ritchie's
possession for some time to come
Leach Cross defeat by Joe Rivers
practically eliminates the New Yorker
from the contention for the title, and
at the same time was not successful
in satisfying fight followers that the
Mexican would have a chance in an
other battle with the champion.
CrOss's Defeat No Surprise.
Cross defeat was no surprise 10 any
one who saw him take a grueling from
Ritchie two weeks before the Rivers
bout. At his age Cross cannot assim-
late much punishment and come back
in so short a time for battle with a
strenuous customer such as Rivers has
proved himself on occasion.
Richie has already demonstrated su-
peri0rity over the Mexican Good
judges who saw Willie beat Joe last
summer have told me that Rivers
does not belong" with the champion.
Of course that can only be proved by
bringing the boys together again, al
though there is no denying that Willie
won decisiVely enough last time. Fur
sure thing Rivers would consent to
another match with Richie should II
be offered him. 1t is thought Willie
has the indian sign" on Joe, and that
Joe knows it.
With Cross and Rivers out OF the
running for the time being, anything
worth while in the way of opposition
u the champions claim on the title
viii have to come from Freddy Welsh I
or Jack BrittOn-alWays reckoning
Packey Mcfarland out Of the argument
or possibly Young Joe Shugrue or
Jimmy Duffy. the Buffalo sensation. (
lately Jack is finding 135 Tingside no
more to his liking than Mcfarland
does. II that's the case, II is a pity /
for it puts a mighty good man out Of
the running for the lightweight
title
Welsh Might Try Richie.
Welsh appears TO have better claim