Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-03-16
REFEREE D|DN' 7
HEAR NOLGAST
CLAIM 4 FOUL
Harry Stout Makes Astounding
Statement-Ritchie Receives
$15,9O2 and Ad $l1,926,
By Sol Pick

STOUT, referee OIL lllt StuSdl ]
glove contest involving Willie
Ritchie and Ad Wolgast at Milwau-
kee last Thursday night. made an as
founding statement in the presence
Of Tom Jones, the writer. and others
yesterday afternoon in the PanHing-
ton Hotel. 1t certainly astounded us
and we know it did Jones, for Tom
invited the official outside when he
heard it. Harry declined. Ads man
ager and he apparently parted enc
mics.
The followers of the glove game
all know by this time that Wolgast
went down in the seventh round OF
the fight, after Richie had dubbed
him twice in the body with his right,
and lodged a claim of foul. When he
sank to the floor Richie was between
him and Stout. Willie backed away
and Stout walked quickly to VOL
CASTS side Every ringsider was pos
tive that Stout knew that Wolgast
claimed foul and that he refused the
plea and ordered him to get up and
fight. Which, Wolgast did, at any
rate. Here is what Stout said:
Il did not know until after the fight
that Wolgast claimed foul. | thought
he went down from the two stomach
punches, and l counted four on him
before he got up. l was not In
position to see the blows plainly and
] did not detect a low punch, If there
was one, for that reason. If had
known that Wolgast was lodging
claim of foul l would have stopped
the fight then and there and called
in a physician to examine him.
Jones looked at Harry in amaze
ment and then exploded. He declared
that not only did Wolgast claim a
foul. but that he (Jones) did also, and
shouted from the Wolgast corner
loudly enough for the referee to hear
him. Tom wound up by allowing that
Stout never would officiate again in
ring contest in which he was inter
ested.
Stout's statement certainly is fun
ny one when it is considered that it
was palpable to all anywhere near
the arena that Wolgast was asking
that Richie be disqualified.
THE assertion of DR.. Morter, mem
l Der Of the Wisconsin Boxing
Commission. made yesterday In Mil
waukee. to the effect that Wolgast
was fouled, gives Adolph an excellent
alibi for the newspaper decision that
went against him in the majority OF
the Chicago newspapers. If he really
WAS fouled Eve are not questioning
Dr. Alorter's official world, then ne
surely is the victim of a fine piece
of hard luck The disqualification OF
Richie would have made him cham
pion again by popular opinion. In
that case he would be able to dc
tate to Richie on the weight and nave
p much better chance against him
in any future struggle.
It's a strange thing that most or
those who saw the two Richie body
blows 20 home are willing to swear
that each of them landed a couple
Of inches above the Wolgast belt line
It's a fine little miX-up all around, and
means that Richie will have to give
Nd another whirl in order to settle
that old superiority question.
THIS question came up after the
l FIGHT: Would Wolgast be cham
Mon if Richie had been disqualified
There is a doubt about it for this
reason: No decisions are permitted
under the Wisconsin State law. If
Stout had ruled that Richie fouled
Adj he could not have lifted one OF
Wolgasts gloves and declared MN the
winner Hence the question about
the switching of the title. However
had Wolgast knocked out Rltchle ne
would have been recognized as cham-
p;on the country over even thouSh
Stout could not have given nm
decision then. A disqualification GER
tainly should have the same erect as
a Knockout i'm "A no-decision bout II
gtQ a
argument.
THE result did not damage or en-
l nance the reputation Of either
man Richie won the shade decision
of the press. but he failed utterly
TO prove that he was WolEasts fight
ing master Ad held him practically
even except for that peculiar seventh
round. and he wound up that bad ses-
sion fighting strongly. He really out
finished Richie i'm the tenth. so there
is no way Of guessing what would
have happened i'm longer bout, They
are great fighters, a Well-matched
pair, and they will pack them in again
the next time they start.
THE gate receipts were announced
1 officially by Promoter Tom An
drews as $39, S0j, almost $40,OOO That
surely indicates that they like boxing
bouts of class in the Middle West.
Had the same pair fought Thursday
night in twenty round decision con-
test on the coast IL is doubtful If they
would have drawn that much money.
Richie got 40 per cent, or $l0,902, and
Wolgast got 80 per cent or $l1962.o0.
The clubs share was $3.50 and the
Gtate's 81 qSI 80