The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-31
H CROSS AFTER
LIGHTWEIGHT HONORS
Will Tackle Willie Ritchic for the
American Title-New Yorker Has
Had Many Ups and Downs.
HE is NOW IN CALIFORNIA
Several Times 1t Has Been Said He
Was Through With the Game. but
He Has Come Back With Surpris-
ing Regularity.

Leach Cross. the Ghetto's greatest
exponent in the mitt welding game. is
! once again in the first Hight OF light
weights. The Gothamite, who is at
present basking in the balmy cline
OF california, and Internationally gath
erins In wads of Western money.
forced his way TO recognition again
oy MS decisive defeat OF jose Rivers.
I the pseudo Mexican, in their fourth
meeting short while ago
Cross's stock in the boxing marke,
mas Huctuated more than that OF any
other fighter. One year Cross leads his
constituents to believe that he is all
through as ringman: that ne has
reached the tether of his ring useful
ness. The next year he comes through
with brand OF lighting tina: sends his
followers Into ecstacics and has them
proclaiminS him the greatest of living
l!ghtweights.
Leach!e was believed to be done"
as capable performer as far back as
June. 1903, when he succumbed to D!cx
aEiahd IN torty-one gruelling rounds.
THIS was Leachie's first offense in de-
ceiving the boxing populace Previous
10 that grind he had defeated some of
the pest 1873 Founders in the business.
and had given the great Paclley Nc
Farland couple OF hard fights over
SIX and ten rounds.
Then long distance match with
Hyland was preached, and Cross, his
eyes blinded by the promise OF big
money, was lured 10 the coast He GOT
as much as $500 for Juggling through
fortE-one rounds under broilinC sun
lie swore that he would never again
fight on the Pacific. But time (an.
money! changes the deepest set ideas
OF any man, as Will be seen forthwith
Cross struggled home East with the
avowcd intention OF never DOMINIC the
gloves again. Eut the call of the
game was too strong for him. and two
months later he was at il again, aban-
donlnS his profession ot molar cX-
tracing for the more remunerative
calling OF boxing.
RE Jared successfully in his first
few fights upon his return to the ring
and decided to stick to it for all he
could get out of IT, He cleansed the
lightweight field thoroughly during the
next three years. He elm Minated many
contenders for championship honors,
while he himself made no prctensions
TO the crown.
Then came the Eastsiders second
setback. In September of ! 9lo. Leachie
fought so poorly against Jimmy Duffy,
Of Buffalo. that he was declared the
loser for his unfair tactics The fol-
lowing month he suffered another re-
Versal. Jack Britton being his con-
losing battles against Jose Rivers
Cross was surely through was the uni
versal opinion.
Then Leachie became vaSrant to his
VOW. He shook the dust OF New York
and once again tempted fate. as IL is
tempted on the coast. lie liked to
Vernon, and convinced the Californians
that he was Il fighter after all. "Bud"
Anderson. sensational newcomer
was selected as his opponent, and
I.eachie put the Quetus on him in
twelve rounds. He then outpointed
Matty Baldwin In twenty and whip cd
Frank Barreau up in Vancouver.
Leach was coming back again. He
returned home again and was matched
TO fight ten rounds with Champion
, Ritchie. In Madison Square Garden
I Cross was now SO confident in his
prov ess that he took on Young Brown.
a tough customer, as workout, and
knocked out his compatriot In five
rounds
Then came the bout with Ritchie.
Suffice II to say---or let Willie Richie
himself say it-Cross came within Il
hairsbreadth of winning the worlds
championship. Ritche admits that he
! never was hit such Il terrific blow aa
I Cross delivered on his person in that
second round. Cross, the veteran, the
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