New Britain herald., 1914-08-08

boxing in this country. For many years we reigned supreme in the sport and there were scarcely such thing as international rivalry. Now with an Englishmen at the head of the most interesting and popular classes in pug ilism, the representatives from the U. S. A. will have something to strive for. George Lavigne won the worlds light weight title from Dick Burge and for nearly twenty years 1t remained in this country. We had it in our posses sion so long that we began to believe we held a mortgage on the blamed thing. Welsh's victory opened our eyes to the fact that there are others now in the race for f1stic supremacy.
 Another good thing about it is and the fans are to be congratulated as a result--that Ritchie is sure to be seen in the ring more frequently in the future. AS soon as Willie adjusts his business affairs to his satisfaction he intends to pitch right into training for a long and hard campaign Had he defeated Welsh the probability is Ritchie would have limited his box ing for the next year or so to stage exhibitions exclusively.
 Charley White is one boxer Ritchie professes great anxiety to meet again. But, he says, it must be for twenty rounds next time, so that he will have plenty of time to prove to a skeptical public that he is the Chicago mans master.
 Ritchie Should Meet White.
 1t certainly is up to the American champion to erase that Milwaukee affair from his record at the very
 
 contended all along that he, and not White, should have received the popu- lar decision at the time, the fans only knew that the consensus of opinion made White the winner by a mile. And if Willie believes he can convince us that he is the better man of the pair he should lose no time getting busy.
 In the event of a convincing victory over White there will be plenty of profitable matches in sight for the champion. The New York enthusiasts will pay we'll for the opportunity of watching Willie and Leach Cross re- peat their battle of last fall. Jack Eritton also would be a corking good opponent for Ritchie here in New York, from a scientific as well as financial point of view
 In the west big money awaits Ritchie in matches over the Marathon course with Wolgast and Joe Rivers, and especially with Rivers if the lat ter scores again over Leach Cross next Tuesday. Everything considered Ritchie is in a fair way to reap a rich harvest; like Ad Wolgast, Ritchie will ! find the loss of his title not necessar- l. fly meaning that his earning powers in the ring have diminished. Wolgast has made about as much money box ing since losing the title as when he reigned at the head of the class. Rivers vs. Cross.
 Joe Rivers and Leach Cross are due for their fourth ring duel August H. Tuesday next Three times has this pair met without satisfactory results. In two ten round bouts in this city neither showed anything much to brag about, but their Los Angeles meeting was said to be hummer Rivers copped the referees decision on that occasion although there were many 1 who took the New York boys end of the argument and protested against l the verdict The result is next Tues days match.
 {! It's to he hoped that this bout will settle the question of superiority be- yond all doubts. While Joe has had ] the best of it so far. according to the referee, there is no denying that he l was not at all anxious for another 1 meeting with the hard hitting New l Yorker. In fact it is said that only l fear of severe criticism in his home l town papers made him consent to a | renewal of the proceedings-and then only after he held Promoter Tom Nc l Carey up for a big guarantee. Rivers l courage has been questioned more than once, but it must be said he can show some fight when the spirit m oves him. He was openly charged with quitting cold against Ritchie and @ lso in that memorable bout with Vol gast the time when Referee Jack Welch nominated Wolgast the winner l while both boys were on the floor. On | champion Only recently he made Matty McCue, touted by many a I coming champion, look like the veriest amateur. Joe tore after McCue at 1 the tap of the bell and the result was never in doubt.
 If Rivers will show the same ag- l gressive pirit against Cross he ought to stop the New Yorker. On the other hand, if he should bump into Leach's 1 right early in the melee, the yellow | Is likely to crop out.