Evening journal., 1914-07-07
Lightweight TITLE
BATTLE ON TONIGHT
Both Ritchie and Welsh
Confident OF Winning
the Mill
CLERGYMAN TO
BE AN OFFICIAL
BY ED L. KEEN.
United Press staff Correspondent.

$4,000
LNDON, July 7.--"I know | can fight.
and know I can win.''-Wilhe Ritchie,
lightweight champion.
"All that know Is that / have a
good chance to capture the worlds
lightweight title-and that's enough for
me. Freddie Welsh.
Weighing in this afternoon. Ritchie
tipped the beam at an even 1874
pounds. Welsh weighed l34 l-2.
Welsh appeared slightly nervous as
the weighing in was in progress. Dur
ing the afternoon several big bets
We're made at to 4 on Welsh.
This was the word today from the
camps OF the contenders for the worlds
lightweight championship title. Inc
two fighters look fit London expects
the best 'four-fsted fight that has
been staged here for years The light
weights will face probably the classiest
audience in the history Of the ring.
Big boxing matches in England al
ways partake more or less the nature
Of society functions. Full dress is usu-
ally worn by occupants of the boxes.
The higher priced ringside seats and a
number OF women usually attend But
tonlghts tistic entertainment will be de
luxe, not to say recherche.
Manager 9. B. Cochran, manager oil
the Olympia, where the contest win be
staged, said tonight that fully fifty per
cent. OF the tickets-of which more than
5000 have already been disposed Of
have been purchased by women He
feels safe in estimating that probably
20 per cent. of the audience will be of
the gentler sex. One womens club
made reservation for block of seats.
Among the men spectators will be
an unusually large number OF members
of the nobility and at least three clergy
men, one of whom, the Rev. J. II.
Bounier, will act as master of cere.
monies.
That all win get a good run for the
money the tickets sell from 1925 to
$5-is indicated BY the attitude Of the
two principals. Granted that the young
American tltle-holder has been sidestep-
ping Welsh in the past, he appears fit
and eager today, and the Britisher is
equally prepared. Both arrived from
America barely three weeks ago
In his eagerness to make the match
with Ritchie, welsh surrendered every
disputed point. and permits the Ameri
can to walk away with $4,000. win or
lose In fact, the arrangements are
such that Welsh won't know until after
the fight is over whether he is TO get
anything.
Arrival OF several thousand South
Wales miners, weighted Gown with coin.
boosted the odds this afternoon to 10
to 9 in the Britisher's favor. Welsh
spent the night at Cardiff, and arrived
at Paddington early in the afternoon.
going direct to the Olympia, where the
two fighters weighed Ritchie was Sc
cluded in private residence near the
arena, to avoid enthusiastic fellow
Americans.
Both men were in e primest physi-
cal condition Experts agree on the
prediction that the mill will be the
greatest lightweight contest ever
staged
Eugene CorIi, the famous referee Of
the National Sporting Club. is to be the
| third man in the ring. The contest,
which is for 20 rounds, Queensberry
rules. is scheduled for 10 o'clock (about
o'clock eastern time in the United
States). after series of prelimnaries.
The two principals today wrote the
following statements for the United
Press.
BY WILLIE RITCHIE
Lightweight Champion OF the World
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