Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-25
RIICHIE-WELSH
LLNLONDON
ON JULY FOURTH

DeyOnO dispute VIII Jake place Wn6n
Willie RitCh.', champion lightweight
OF the world. and Freddie Welsh, hold
er of the English title by virtue of
his decision over Mat Wells, meet in
twenty-round bout before the Olym-
pia Club in London on the Fourth, OF
July.
There is many a slip twixt the cup
and the lip, il is true, and with so
many tangles and postponements, one
cant blame the sporting world for
wondering whether there will be still
another bit of worriment. However,
with Richie on the high seas, the
worst of the hurdles seems 10 have
been passed. and II Richie has TAX
en- the precaution to have all of the
details observed and the forfeits post
ed, there is really no reason for fur
Their delays.
Oddly enough, the match is to take
place on the one greatest holiday Of
the United States, the anniversary of
the independence of this country from
foreign rule.
Curiously enough, as we'll, the fate
lines of Richie and Welsh have
crossed and recrossed until one might
almost say 1t has been far more than
a coincidence. AS you will remember,
il was really through Welsh that Rit-
chic was brought to the front prom
inently.
Up to the Welsh match in Los
Angeles. Richie was little more than
an ordinary boy of the four-round
game, promising, to be sure, and yet
not otherwise marked. Persistence
was his CHEF virtue and through the
sticktoitiyeness that brought him into
the ring en- every possible occasion
to be introduced, Richie was more or
less widely known in local circles.
Willie was sparring partner to Pac-
key Mcfarland when the Chicagoan
was training for Tommy Murphy, At
the same time, Wolgast was stricken
with appendicitis and on tWenty-four
hours notice, Promoter Tom McCarey
was without an opponent for Freddie
Welsh With no definite understand.
ing. Richie jumped train for Los
Angeles and showed up at McCareS's
headquarters. There was the usual
dickeFing Tor terms and even when
Richie went to the arena 1t was far
from Settled. Remember that Ritchia
was a novice pure and simple. He
didn't win, but it was considered at
the time an achievement of no small
moment a 81.
Indeed, it made Richie. Following
that, the champion-to-be went East
and finally took Joe Mandot into camp
decisiYely in no-deeision ten-round
bout in New Orleans. Came the four.
round bout with Wolgast and finally
the championship match itself. All
OF which, as you can see for yourself,
hinged on the ability of an untried
boy to stand twenty rounds against
Welsh, then in his prime and con-
sidered quite strong enough card to
send against AID Wolgast
Later the. paths of the same bows
crossed when the Vancouver, B. c..
match was arranged. The outcome of
that affair caused world of discus.
sion. Ritchie. seeing he had no real
prospects OF forcing the promoters to
go through with their offer, left Van.
couyer in hurry Naturally this
called down upon his head a certain
amount of condemnation from peo.
pie who. did not fully understand con-
ditions.
And until the night before the Cali
fornia boy sailed, there was still
much doubt, for the disagreements
However, the troubles are
safely out of sight There should be
no further delays, for there has been
quite enough time to straighten out
the last possible cause for a hitch of
any sort.
How the Rules Will Work Out
In this country, discussion as to
the outcome of the bout hinges chief. |
~ on the proposition of whether the
rules in England, which call for clean |
breaks and no hitting in the clinches,
VIII be OF any decided advantage to
Welsh.
Indeed, if the match were slated for
San Francisco the chances are that
Rltchle would be an overwhelming
taYorite. On the other hand. with |
new rules to govern, there is room
for debate. Welsh is deemed the clev.
er boxer Of the jab and get away |
type, rather than the out and ont
nghter of the aggressive school. He
Is certainly more experienced as y
boxer than Richie, and on the sur.
race it might easily appear that the
rules would be a distinct advantage |
to him.
To the writer's mind this is not So
much of a handicap as a lot of peo-
pie think. While it is true thar BIT.
chic has developed a style of working
n the clinches and coming out of
mem he has always done good eve.
;utlon at long range.
The champion himself and he
seems to have given the subject con. |
siderable thought, is not perturbed
over the task of beating Welsh. nor
n the east. am thoroughly acouajnt.
'ules with dismay.
have talked the matter ove-
Win myself from every angle" he said
o San Francisco ewspapermsn one
Jay before he left on his last eastern
rip and cant see that Welsh viii
ave any advantage. know tbat
eIsh has been a great student Of
wrestling and | don't think the Eng.
lsh rules. will avail him ANYTHING
men, TOO. having boxed more or less