New Britain herald., 1914-08-01
twritten for the New Britain Herald )

minus the title of worlds lightweight champion, is back home again. Willie left us flat six or seven weeks ago COZ fldent that he would be victorious in the match with Freddy Welsh. AL though the loser, according to the Judgment of Referee Eugene Corri, the American champion is not by any means discouraged nor for that mat ter dtsgraced in the eyes or estima- ton of his countrymen. Ritchie fought the best he could, which is all anyone can do, and that he put up a great battle is patent by the tes timony of many experts both Amer ican and foreign, who were present at the ringside and who contend that the San Francisco boy should nat have been given any worse than 9 draw.
 However Mr. Corri decided that Welsh was the winner on points and that's an end of it. All the argu- ments in the world will not bring the title back to the former holder. The only way he can get it is to win 1t fairly and squarely in the ring and there Is little prospect of that event taking place in the very near future if the ultimatum handed out by Freddy's manager is to be taken seriously.
 It looks as if Welsh doesn't want any more of Ritchie's game for the time being, if at all. According to the terms for a return match given out in London Ritchie would have to dig into his own pocket for about $10,OOO to make up enough to cover guaranteed, with the privilege of 50 per cent of the gate. Where in the world are these boys to draw a house where there would be that much left after the promoter got his? Not in this country where Welsh has never been a drawing card. And there IS no chance of Ritchie fighting again in London, and If there was there is no promoter there who would assume the responsibility of guaranteeing such an am mount. Those back of the London venture had to dig to pay Ritchie's guarantee: they could hard ly be expected to try 1t again in the face of what happened the first time.
 In this country San Francisco, Los Angeles, and possibly New Orleans, are the only places where the bout could be staged. I doubt if there is a promoter in any of these cities who would undertake to pay Freddy $25. 900 for his end.
 Even. if Ritchie were willing to fight for nothing, as Welsh is alleged to have done in England, it would hardly make any difference. About $15,OOO with the percentage privilege match-unless the promoters sudden ly go daffy, which is extremely doubtful.
 Then Welsh's demand that Ritcnie bet 5000 on the result is silly. Even if he is sincere about that part of it the laws in the states permitting box ing matches would not tolerate side bets. No one should know this pet ter than Welsh who has spent many years on this side; in fact, this ls where he made his reputation as boxer.
 Harry Pollock, Freddy's astute manager, called Ritchie 8 coward and other things when Willie withdrew from the Vancouver match with Welsh year ago. 1t will be interest ing to note what defense Harry will have to offer if he attempts to dodge Ritchie's demand for a return bout when the champion returns to this country.
 Still American Champion.
 And in the meantime all those young men who are engageu in cnal- lenging Welsh should not forget that Ritchie is still the American cham pion, and that. before Welsh will con- sider them at all they will have to prove they are better men than Will lie. Anyway if reports from the other side are to be relied on Fred will be very busy with his vaudeville engage l ments tor the next six months. Af- l ter that, 1 presume ne vii. ny -., hand at the theatrical game on this l side.
 read recently where Packey Me- l farland, the erstwhile star light or WelterWeight (no one but Packey knows which) and at present en- eageo' prohtably l hope, in brewing the stun which makes cities famous, had challenged Freddy Welsh to box ! for the worlds lightweight title. Packey in the def agreed to make the same weight-135 at 2 o'clock-that prevailed in the Ritchie-welsh bout. ] That is one match I would like to see arranged. But there is even less chance of its being consummated than 1 there is of return bout between the champion and Ritchie. Packey is one young man Freddy <has a great deal of respect for. It was Packev l who trimmed him to the kings taste l in London several years ago, and al | lcIa cri1r