New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-18
Champion of Lightwelghts
Wins Easily in Twenty
Round Bout.
"HARLEM TOMMY" Is
GAME TO THE FINISH
Courage Only Keeps Him in Ring
TO End Of One Sided
Contest on Coast.
LIZ. r.Iesraph o &C TrIbgne

San Francisco, April 7.-Willie Ritchie'
lightweight champion Of the world ana
every inch a real fighter, completely ana
easily defeated Tommy Murphy. OF New
York. in a twenty round battle for the
worlds championship here tonight.
There was scarcely round, nor even
minute i'm which the title holder ana NOT
do as he pleased with the challenger. II
was Just one more example Of now youth
will be served in all matters and especial
lv in the roped arena The wonder was
that Murphy ever managed to last
through until the end.
Certain n II that the Harlem boxer
proved one thing. RE IS the gamest OF
the game. For twenty rounds, which TO
his sadly battered senses must have
seemed as many decades. he stood up
there a target for bruising. batterlns
punches that crashed through a guard
which existed more in attitude than In ac-
tuality.
Every lead carried force that rendered
the brain dazed and muscles numbed, out'
never FOR a moment owning defeat. tne
New York Irish lad leaned In to take MS
bitter medicine No doubt he hoped 10
emulate the example Of Al Mccoy and
turn the tide OF battle with one desperate
punch.
With the grim determination oil ms
forefather. Murphy carried the oattie
with all his power. but his most savage
smashes were picked OF almost before
they started. his iabs blocked ar1 MS at
tempts at infghting smothered by one OF
the greatest lighters who ever held
championship title.
lust how Murphy ever escaped oelhs
knocked out will never be explained IN
the sixth. tenth. fifteenth and hilti
rounds he was in a pitiable condition
Savage smashes on the jaw reduced AH-
~ q state Of helplessness. where ne vas
utterly incapable Of defence.
Al SUCH times. however. the instinct OF
the fighter rallied 10 his aid and carrleu
him through the perils Of his positioh,
Able no longer 20 fight he simply covered
ND and stalled with all the cunning tina;
eleven years in the ring have taught mn
II was a clear cut case Of the mastery
OF mind over matter. Murphy determined
that he would not be knocked OUT ah-
that determination prevailed over a nat
ure that fairly shrieked its rebellion.
Murphy was knocked clear through the
ropes in the twentieth round and was al
most out. but he scrambled back int'
the ring and fought with redoubled fury
The crowd cheered his courage, but Il
was only a fash I'm the pan. He sooi
tired. and the champion did about as ht
pleased.
The battle was fought according to The
plans mapped out by Murphy but. IN
fortunately for him, carried far 70 wind
ward. lie carried the fight, but his at
tacks were met with a cool. steady skill
and a counter that Offset everything
Tommy planned. Timing the Harlem
boys rushes with steady skill Ritchie
shot home punches 10 head and wind with
both hands. At times Murphy gasped
from body blows and staggered from
punches on the head, but hs would nor
down
II was the consensus that Richie
showed wonderful Improvement in his
work, both with regard 70 generalship
and hitting ability. Murphy showed little
aside from his willingness to fight in the
cli1ches, and there. too, he was met by
his master.