The Calumet news., 1914-08-24
SNUG FORTUNE
FOR n. RITCH|E
Four Ring Bouts in Five Months
Yield Ex-Champ S65,000

Willie Ritchie, former lightweight
champion, who lost his title to Fred
die Welsh in London, has made nearly
as much money in the last five months
as President Wilson gets in an entire
year.
To make this amount he has travel
ed more than 10000 miles and taken
part in four ring battles. Two OF these
bouts were 20round affairs and the
other two were 10-round eIents in
which his title was not OF stake.
In the whole sixty rounds that RS
chic boxed he was not off his :ect
once. and in only one battle-that with
Charlie White--was he punished to an
extent that he couldn't attend tea
party directly after.
Some idea Of the money the light
weight title brings to it's lucky holder
can be imagined when the figures for
the contests that Ritchie took part in
are looked over.
For his ten-round battle with Ad
Wolgast at Milwaukee, March 10. last,
Willie received Sl5,70S.
one month later April Il, Rtchie
boxed Tommy Murphy twenty rounds
in San Francisco and his share was
$15,302. Jumping to Milwaukee on
May &c. he met Charley White in n
$4,000 for his work.
His most recent battle was with
Freddie Welsh, for which he was Civ
en- $4,000, win, lose or draw. $4,000
for his right in the moving pictures
taken OF the bout and $1,000 expenses.
In the Olden Days.
Rtchie, who isn't quite "a years of
age, has been boxing three and one
half years. In that short time he has
accumulated a fortune estimated to be
100000 to $l50,O00. There isn't
mark or Disagreement on his face of
any kind. and in appearance he would
be taken for a young fellow with n
a clerical position.
Ritchie took his paltry $4,000 from
the London promoters OF his recent
championship battle and grumbled be-
cause he thought that he had been un-
justly deprived OF his title OF light
weight champion OF the world.
Eighteen years ago Dick Burge, who
lost the title to America as Richie
lost it to England, took the muniflcent
sum of $1,000 for taking n beating at
the hands OF Kid Lavigne. Lavigne
Knocked Burge out in Is rounds and
carried away a purse of $4,000 (with
$3.50 added for eYpenses) and the light
weight championship of the world.
1t was Lavigne who enabled Ritchie
to become the worlds champion rather
than merely champion OF the United
States. 1t was Lavigne who first
brought the worlds title to this coun-
try. and from him it was passed down
to Richie.
Mo Easy Task.
Lavigns had tremendous task to
beat Burge. lie had just defeated Joe
Wslcott when a representative Of the
National Sporting Club OF London,
called upon his manager, Sam Fitz-
patrick. and made overtures for a bat
tie with Burge in London. In an hour
everything was arranged. Ii took
Ritchie and Welsh a year to get to-
gether.
When Lavigne went over to England
he Immediately gained the sympathy
Of the British sports. and with their
sympathy ccme deal OF pity. Lavigne
was a baby-fa blue-eyed young
fellow, who looked as harmless as a
dove. He weighed ten pounds less
than the British champion, Burge. and
was FIVE inches shorter.
When Lavlgne and Burge slid
through the silken ropes of the ring in
London the betting was to that
Burge would win. Lavigne was popu-
lar, but hardly considered the equal of
the big Burge as n boxer.
Referee Angle started them off and
for seventeen rounds the Saginaw kid
tore into Burge before he had him
wilted. Then he knocked him out.
Angle stopped the bout as Burge was
trying gamely TO pull himself on his
feet with the aid OF the ropes.
Lavigne and his manager took their
s2,750 and worlds championship and
came home happy.
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