The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-05-08
Claims Made He Is This Since
the Days Of Joe Cans Welsh
Logical Opponent.

Willie Richie seems fated not 10 be
accepted as prophet in his own land.
Despite the masterly style in which he
eneompassed the defeat of Tommy Muir.
ply, and, barking still further back,
notwithstanding his showing against
Joe Rivers, Leach Cross and Ad VOL
gast, there remains that disposition on
the part Of many to make excuses for
the defeated and TO belittIe the cham
pion, says Harry 3. Smith in q recent
issue Of the San Francisco Chronicle.
II doesn I seem quite fair in view
Of what the San Francisco title.holder
has accomplished, but IL isn't the style
of the world to be fair, Hence il hap
pens that Richie, who has done all that
could be asked Of him and accomplish
ed 1t in workmanship manner, is still
more or less an object of debate, with
the inevitable question mark appearing
when his ability is mentioned.
Fortunately for the fairness of the
American sporting public, such an opin.
ion does not generally maintain. II is
the minor sentiment, but minority, as
the world recognizes, can sometimes
make quite enough noise TO be consid.
cred as an active factor. A majority of
the critics who saw Richie in his bout
with Murphy and q majority of the
thinking fans are quite agreed, that the
local youngster showed wonderful i'm.
proyement over previous performances
IN the West; handled himself as a vet
efan, and more than that showed the
spirit Of aggressiveness, not being con
tent merely with a close verdict in his
favor. Richie has been labeled as the
nearest approach TO Joe Cans since the
Baltimore lightweight passed out Of
ring history, and il isl tribute Of
which be is deserving.
II is quite generally agreed, as well,
that Richie has an easy field in front
Of him, with, perhaps one ehap-Fred-
dy Welsh--entitled to serious consider.
alton as contender. And whether
Welsh is to remain TO the fore as
challenger win depend largely upon the
way he shapes up against Leach Cross
in Los Angeles and his prospective bat.
tie some weeks later against this same
Tommy Murphy.
AS such boxers as Cans and Abe At
tell had ample opportunity to realize,
II Is not well to be so formidable in
any classes as to find il difficult in the
extreme TO land matches. The big
money is only to be secured where the
contests are Of sufficient Importance to
attract large crowds, and unless new
faces are brought to the front, Ritehie
will find very shortly that he has fought
himself through the list.
From that standpoint, he is fortunate,
undoubtedly, in having critics who do
not take kindly TO his worth and argue
against him. That naturally creates
the impression that the other fellow
is to be more seriously regarded and
while IL is by no means flattering to
champion, all the same IL water on his
wheel
Murphy Match First Test.
The Murphy match was in many ways
the first real test and unquestionably
the most severe TO which Richie has
been subjected, at least in California.
The bout with Rivers did not 20
sufficient length to prove much as re
CARDS ring geReralship. Richie, after
a sorry start and slow one knocked
out Rivers in such hurry as to bring
the charge that Rivers quit cold.
With the New Yorker, ID was d differ
ent story. Tommy, while he had abso
lnteiy no chance of winning, forced
kitchie TO extend himself and TO show
what he has. The Californian proved |
his ability to beat Murphy at every
angle of the game, and while there
was some disappointment that Richie
did not score Knockout, at the same
time he won so far of and made so
spectacular finale in the last two
rounds, there could be little on which
to criticize the boy ..'.# H. '"Ht
When the local man started against
AID Wolgast, he had precious little ex
perience, "A light left jab that was more
tantalizing than dangerous, and his
right cross. Today he has QUILTED him
self with a left, both to the head and
body, and what is more il hard
punch. He is eoolheaded in the tight
spots and has the fighting spirit.
Getting back to the criticisms that
have been Ieveled at Richie, apropos
OF his most recent match, here are
few picked off-hand; &.
Leach CrossI don't agree with my
brother that Richie is an improved
Loxer | think he has gone back since
his match with me in New York.
Sam Wallaeh (manager and brother
Of Leach Cross) --R Richie 10 me didn't
show the same snap in his punches that
he did against Cross, but for all that
he Is entitled to a world Of credit. lie
y better than ever and his speed in
the last two rounds was s'mp'y wonder
fpl
Freddy Welsh-I am oil ligel to give
Murphy five cut Of the twenty rounds
with four even. The match convinced
me that Richie is oyerrated and / am
more sure than ever that | will beat