New-York tribune., 1914-11-01
LICHTWEICHTS ARE
READY FOR BATTLE
Both Welsh and WOlgast
Look for Victory To-
morrow Night.
GREAT DEMAND FOR
SEATS IN GARDEN
Williams, Who Holds Bantam
Title, Has Acquired Manner
iSms Of Champions.

Trained to the minute, Freddie
Welsh, the lightweight champion of the
world, is ready for his ten-round bout
with Ad Wolgast at Madison Square
Garden tomorrow night. Interest runs
high, and a crowd which will tax the
capacity Of the big structure will be
on hand
Jimmy Johnston. the matchmaker,
says that the advance sale was the
greatest in the history OF boxing in
the Garden since the Frawley bill be-
came a law. The majority OF the choice
seats have been taken. and those which
remain are being snapped up.
The interest Is not without good
cause Welsh and the former champion
are rivals Of long standing. When
Wolgast was champion he and Welsh
were matched on several occasions, but
something always prevented meeting.
Three years ago, on November 30, 1911.
10 be exact. the men were 70 have
boxed FOR the worlds championship,
but the night before Wolgast was
stricken with appendicitis.
Willie Richie, then unknown, fought
Welsh. and was beaten for the first
time by the Briton. On another oc-
casion an accident 10 Welsh's neck pre-
vented the question OF supremacy being
settled.
Now, Welsh, wearing the crown he
took from the brow of Willie Richie,
who previously had dethroned Wolgast,
will meet the Michigan boy. That a
royal battle will result seems certain.
Wolgast, who, despite repeated defeat.
believes that ne is still the Cadillac
Wildcat" who wore down the mighty
Battling Nelson. will tear right in, and
if beaten will have no excuse.
II is his last stand, his final oppor-
tunity 70 prove that Ad Wolgast, once
the king of them all, is entitled 10 con-
sideration in the ranks he once ruled.
Welsh, holder of the lightweight
championship Of the world and his con-
iidence increased by a victory over
Natty Baldwin, the veteran Boston
lightweight, feels sure Of winning. He
is. perhaps, the cleverest man in the
ranks Of the 132-pound men to-day. But
he is more than merely clever. There
are few who can sweep him 20 one side
in the furious outburSts of infghting
IN fact, il was Welsh's thorough
knowledge Of the art OF close work that
caused the British boxing critics to
call him the american lightweight"
He is prepared for any sort of boxing
which Wolgast ma force upon him,
and will meet his opponent at his own
game.
"Kid" Williams. Of Baltimore, the
bantamweight champion Of the world,
bids fair 10 become not only the great
est champion since the days of Terry
NcGovern. but the most popular. Will
Jams, like tho immortal Brooklyn Ter
ror," j. a fighting machine from the
tips Of his toes 20 the crown of his
head. Fighting is his business, and he
attends strictly to il, whether confront
ed by dangerous opponent or sec
ond rater To all appearances, he rev.
els in the hottest exchanges, and stall
ing apparently never enters his head.
Williams has not boxed in this city
since he won the bantamweight cham
pionsh!p from Johnny Coulon in three
rounds, in Los Angeles, several months
ago. He has acquired many Of the
habits of champions.
He has taken unto himself Navajo
bathrobe that speaks for itself, and
knows full we'll the way 10 strut around
the ring when he enters. He pulls on
the ropes. dances on the mats and
stretches his muscles while saluting
imaginary friends in the audience. IL
is the time-honored prerogative Of
champion, this getting an opponents
"goat," and apparently it has lost little
of its charm.