New Britain herald., 1914-07-08
WELSH KNOCKS CROWN
 OFF RITCHE'S HEAD
(Continued from Eighth Page.)

fashionably gowned women, furnished equalled at prize fight in Great Brit ain. Father Boulder, wear of St. Michaers Anglican church, Islington. was master of ceremonies. He is known to his parishioners as one of the most popular clergymen in this vicinity. He is an ardent sportsman and encourages his flock to play foot ball and cricket and to learn a bit of boxing. When a curate at Cardiff he established temperance saloon which was a great success.
 Father Boulder took the place of the Rev. Digby, who was refused pernis- sion to so act by the bishop of Lon- don. But Digby received big ova- tion when he appeared and shook hands through the ropes with Father Boulder.
 The odds just previous to the fight were to on Welsh. but during the early rounds the odds heightened, with few American takers.
 Welsh the Better Boxer.
 George Considine lost large sum on Ritchie, and speaking about the fight said:
 LII would give Ritchie the better of 1t in only three rounds. It was a magnifi- cent contest, with Welsh showing him. self the better man practically all the way
 Ritchie appeared nervous when he entered the ring and many times was hooted for holding, although Welsh was guilty only in lesser degree, of the same thing. Ritchie seemed some what overtrained, but stood lot of punishment. At times when the American fighter got in those fierce uppercuts his countrymen gave vent l to cheering, but it was soon drowned 1 in roars of thousands of Britishers l at the superior work of Welsh Be- 1 fore the fight began Britishers joined 1 in singing patriotic songs, which also l marked the close of the contest. l In winning the bout. and with it 1 the worlds championship, Welsh 1 was a revelation to even his most ar dent admirers. He was quick as summer lightning, a veritable phan- ] tom, as he darted about the ring snapping home his wasp-like blows ] to the face and body of the Ameri- 1 can.
 1 His punches were not particularly 1 hard. They stung for the moment without doing much damage, but l served to confuse Ritchie and make him miss his counters. In the in- 1 fighting, too, Welsh easily held his 1 own, and, boxing like a fiend. had a l long lead at the end of ten rounds.
 Wonder on Defensive. 1 What served Welsh best in his many moments of distress was his ] wonderful defensive skill. He stooo l there, lowering just out of range. a bland smile of contempt for his man lighting his features. Pointing crary- fly, he made the Yankee fall into 1 many a false lead. His feet, mer- 1 curial in their quickness shuff1ed hal1 1 a stride, and the plunging American
 would miss, and like fury Welsh ! would sting him again and again. At the end Ritchie bore off the
 marks of battle. One of his eyes was
 badly bruised, swollen and blackened
 and a lacerated lip added to his
 troubles Welsh had his distance
 down to the last word. He made
 few false leads, and swaying with
 leads robbed them of force, or shirx- ing his head a bit allowed them tc slide over his shoulders.
 Ritchie, realizing from the star,
 that he was confronted by his mas ter as a boxer, tried to end the bou,
 with one crushing right hand count.