The Washington herald., 1914-08-30
CROSS ISREAL
COMEBACK STAR
Ghetto's Dentist Fighter Has
Brilliant Career Marked
with IN and Out Form.
HYLAND DEALS SETBACK
Fans Believed Leachie Was Finished
When He Lost in Forty-One Rounds.
Joe Rivers a Hoodoo.

New York Aug. 2.-Leach Cross. the
Ghetto's greatest exponent in the mitt-
welding game, is once again in the frst
flight of light-weights. The Gothamite,
who is at present baslxing in the .balmy
climate Of California. and internationally
gathering in wads Of Western money,
force his way to recognition again by
his decisive defeat Of Jose Rivers the
pseudo Mexican, in their fourth meeting
a short while ago.
Cross stock in the boxing market has
huctuated more than that OF any other
fighter. One year Cross leads his con-
stftuentE TO believe that he Is AL through
as a ringman: that he has reached the
tether of his ring usefulness. The next
wear he comes through with a brand OF
lighting that sends his followers into
ecstacies and has them proclaiming him
the greatest of living light-weights
L,eachie was believed to be done" as
capable performer as far back as June.
1909, when he succumbed to Dick Hyland
in forty-one gruelling rounds. This was
Ieachie's first offense in deceiving the
boxing populace. Previous to that grind
he had defeated some Of the best 1sS
FOUNDERS in the business. and had given
tie great Packey Mcfarland q couple of
hard fights over six and ten rounds.
Il Lured to Coast.
land was preached. and Cross, his eyes
blinded by the promise Of big money, was
lured TO the Coast He got as much as
500 for Juggling through forty-one rounds
under a broiling sun. He swore on high
that he would never again fight on the
Pacific But time land money! changes
the deepest-set ideas Of any man, as VIII
be seen forthwith.
Cross struggled home East with the
ayowed intention Of never donning the
gloves again. But the call Of the game
was too strong for him and two months
later he was at It again. abandoning his
profession Of molar extracting for the
more renlunerative calling OF boxing.
He Jared successfully in his first few
fights upon his return to the ring, and
decided to stick to il for all he could get
out of il He cleansed the lightweight
field thoroughly during the next three
years. He eliminated many contenders
for championship honors, while he him
self made no pretensions to the crown
Second Setback.
Then came the East Sider's second set
back In September of 1872. Leachie
fought so poorly against Jimmy Duffy, Of
Buffalo, that he WAS declared the loser
for his unfair tactics. The following
month he suffered another reversal, Jack
- Britton being his conoIeror. Then fol-
lowed two great but losing battles against
Jose Rivers. Cross was surely through,
was the universal orinion.
Then Leachie became vaErant to his
vow He shook the dust Of New York
and once again tempted Fate. as 1t Is
tempted on the Coast. He hiked to Yer
non, and convinced the Californians that
he was fighter after all. Bud An
derson, a sensational newcomer, was Sc
lected as his opponent. and Deachie put
the quietus on him in twelve rounds. He
then outpointed Matty Baldwin in twenty
and whipped Frank Barrieau, up in Van
couver.
WnH Coming Back.
Leach was coming back again He re-
turned home again and was matched to
fight ten rounds with Champion Ritchle
in Madison Square Garden. Cross was
now so confident in his prowess that he
took on Young Brown. a touch customer,
as q workout, and knocked out his COM
patriot in five rounds
Then came the bout with Ritchie. Suf-
fee it to say-or let Willie Ritchie him
self say it-Cross came within a hairs
breadth of winning the worlds cham
pionship. Ritchie admits that he never
was hit such a terrific blow as Cross de-
llvered on his person in that second
round. Cross. the veteran, the ring
general the shrewdest fighter in the
game lost his poise when a worlds title
and half a million dollars were in his
grasp. He waited too long before trying
to deliver the decisive blow. Ritchie had
recuperated by the time Leach was ready
TO send IL over. and the greatest chance
OF CrosS's career was gone.
: Less than three weeks later Cross was
on the Coast again, and for the third
time he lost to Jose Rivers. his Nemesis,
This time in twenty rounds. Was Leach
going back again? He put up a miserable
exhibition against the Spaniard. vet he
insisted that he was Rivers superior.
With this goal in view-a victory over
Rivers-Cross Immediately set about &C.
complishing Il. He realized his ambition
the other day, and now has his mind set
on bigger game-the championship Of
America. Cross has temporarily given up
2Iopes Of battling Freddie Welsh for the
worlds honors on account OF the Euro
pean tangie. But he 10 now on the TRAN
Of Willie Ritchie for a match with the
lightweight championship Of these Uni
ted States at stake. Richie, although
shorn Of his worlds title. still retains the
American supremacy, and will defend II
against all Corners, beginning a month
hence.