Norwich bulletin., 1914-07-08
WELSH'S DECISION OVER RITCHIE
Had the Better of American in Twenty Round ing Was Fast and -Ritchie Came Back Strong in
 Thirteenth Welsh Shows Great Cleveness in Covering

London, July 7.-Fred Welsh, the
 lightweight champion of England, to-
 night outboxed Willie Ritchie, the
 American champion, and on the
 referees decision won the lightweight
 championship of the world.
 The fight took place at Olympia, and
 the 5000 spectators witnessed fast and clever bout, in which rapid foot
 work and a good deal of infghting
 were pronounced The British vic
 tory was cheered to the echo although
 there was some dissatisfaction among
 cision because neither man was best ed at the finish. Although Welsh scored the greater number of blows. those of the American appeared to be the more telling.
 It was a fine exhibition of boxing throughout. Neither man went to the floor and the struggle during the last six rounds was of a hurricane characteR Welsh was the quicker man and tapped Ritehie repeatedly on the face, finally drawing blood. The Amer ican tried continually for a knockout, but either he was short or Welsh got inside or under the swing. Ritchie Broke Down After Fight Ritchie broke down when the de- cision was given against him and was in tears when seen in his dressing room. He refused to talk then but later at the hotel where he is stopping he said:
 T do not intend to make holler but do think the worst I should have got was a draw. Welsh was holding all the time and I was doing the fight ! ing. Therefore I think the decision was not faif to me-.
 Ritehie hurt his right hand in the bout, but otherwise was not much l damaged, except for a few bruises or l the face
 Great Exhibition of Boxing. All the old timers are agreed. tha; ] the contest was one of the fastest and l finest exhibitions of boxing witnessed l in London in recent years. Some oi | them expressed the opinion that Rit- chic would have come out on top in a | finish fight The Welshman's gootwork and lodging were far quicker than the Americans ard he preferred much o1 ! the time to get to close quarters where | Ritchie could not use his powerful l swings. There was altogether toe
 much holding throughout to please the | English audience.
 | During the last four rounds Ritchie l forced the fighting hard for a knock out, while Welsh was playing to win 8 | decision on points.
 The success of the affair is likely tc kindle great interest in the coming contest between GunbOat Smith and Georges Carpenter the French cham pion. Smith was given a warm re- l ception when introduced tonight. Welsh Led Halfway Through. In the eighth round the Welsnman recovered his 1iveliness and in this and the ninth round forced the fight ing and had the better of the en- counter. When half the match was over Welsh led easily on points. Ritchie revived somewhat in the eleventh and there were some hot ex- changes in this and the twelfth, Welsh repeatedly, by his remarkable quick | ness, scoring and then eluding heavy returns.
 Ritchie Game Back. In the thirteenth Ritchie had 1t all his own way, leading some heavy | blows and forcing the fighting while l Welsh appeared to be weakening The fourteenth was also Ritchie's | and the fighting was fast Then both slowed up, putin the sixteenth round there was lot of infighting anG Welsh was boxing splendidly, Ritchit
 meantime trying for knockout Welsh Clever In Covering. In the seventeenth Ritcfie got home l a number of sharp body blows and