The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-07-06
Eighteen Years Since
England Has Witnessed
Lightweight Title Bout

For the first time in eighteen years
the lightweight championship of the
world will be fought for on English soil.
Willie Richie, holderSof the worlds
title, and Freddie Welsh, lightweight
champion of Great Britain, will meet at
the mammoth Olympia, London, tomor-
row, in twenty-round struggle for The
honors that George Lavigne wrested
from Dick Burge in the National Sport
ing Club. London, June /, 1896.
On that occasion the stumpy, though
rugged. Lavigne was merely the cham
pion of America, and went over the
water to tussle with the English title
holder.
In the present instance Richie. who
inherited in a direct line the champion
shop won by Lavigne when he knocked
out Burge in the seventeenth round.
makes the concession of risking the
worlds title at the doorstep of the chal-
lenger.
In view Of the numberless assertions
by Welsh and his manager that Richie
was lodging a contest, the action of
the American in consenting to a match
in England must be accepted as 4 COM
plete REPUTATION of the charges OF the
Eglish champion
Welsh bases his belief of victory for
himself on the fact that on November
30, 1al1. nearly three years ago. he got
q decision on points over Richie, at a
time when the American was practically
a novice. Welsh had been matched to
fight Wolgast, and the champion was
stricken with appendicitis on the eve OF
the battle. Ritchie volunteered as
substitute, was accepted and boxed 4
close twenty-round contest with. the
Brtton- The verdict of the referee Went
TO Welsh, but II was conceded by ring
side experts that the margin of victory
was narrow.
has stood stationary during the interval
OF three years. and that he will not be
more difficult now than he was then.
In this deduction. Welsh would appear
10 be making a serious mistake as
there Is no doubt at all that Richie is
very much better man now than he
was when he put up so gallant a fight
against a veteran and one of the clever
est nShtWelghtS IN the ring.
Not only has the American become
possessed of the confidence born of nd
merous victories, but he has also de-
veloped destructive punch and broad
ened in the matter of generalstip.
without question, Welsh will outlook
Richie for a certain number OF rounds
for the Englishman is a very clever
boxer. and unless he is crowded too
hard by a heavy puncher. he can score |
points with the greatest regularity.
However, the man who can take |
Welsh's jabs for a few rounds and keep |
boring in. can, provided he has the |
necessary punch. put the Briton TO |
flight, causing him to lose on points, or |
else take a chance of being knocked out |
From all points OF view. RitchIe ap-
pears to be the man to corner the elu- |
sive Englishman and stop him before |
the limit OF the bout.
Although lighting on English soil and |
with an English referee, Richie has !
nothing to fear. Eugene CORR, who |
VIII be the third man in the ring is not |
professional referee. but a prominent |
business man who is enthusiastic on |
the question of boxing, and who is
noted for absolute fa,r play.
II Richie were one of those hug
ging. clinching chaps he might be in
danger OF disqualification, but it hap
pens that the American is one of the
cleanest boxers in the game, and so
there is small danger Of him losing on a
foul.
Too much importance should not be
attached to the victory of Charley
White over Richie. for II is declared
that the blow that did the most dam
age to the champion was struck by
Whites head.
Welsh feels confident that he will
Sab Richie to a fare you-well and win
the worlds title, but there Is strong
reason for the belief that Ritchie will
rush the jabber- to q corner and batter
- down.