Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-18
RTTCHIE STRANGELY SILENT
Pugilist Hasn't Peeped Since He
Arrived in New York.
he Is rTLEIEss BUT R1OH
Meanwhile FREDDIE welsh, thS New
IAghtweight Bees, IL Issuing
Ultiuasums 60 winnie for
Aasther risht.

NEW FORK. oct f7.-willie Richie r.
strangely sflent--for a pugiiist with
championship aspirations. The whfiom
lightweight peer has not emitted a verbal
blast ever since he landed on these shores
several months ago. minus his title, but
enriched By many Thousands
This crninous silence prompts an inves-
tgation into the affairs OF Willie Richie.
for Il 10 not IN keeping with ring tradi-
tion for . contender TO any championship
not TO Issue volumes Of speech and liter
allure during the courss OF . few months.
Meanwhile Freddie Welsh. tho new
lightweight boss. is issuing an sorts OF
uitimatums TO Ritchie; and stEll While
does not counter with words. The only
solution 10 the mystery IL that While
Richie has outsrown the lightweight
division.
II Ritahis were stin within range of
the lightweight limit OF 1876 pounds, or
even close ID the 1S-pound marx, IL IL
an assured fact that he would not let
the many challenges hurled AZ him 70 un-
answered. That Ritchie il far too heavy
for the lightweights IL divulged In a letter
from the coast TO the writer.
Tryfne 60 Reduce.
The ecreed goes on to state that Willie
Is making a determined effort TO pare off
several superfluous pounds, and n sue
cessfui he will resume activities in the
ring with the llghtweighta. II unsuccessful
In shedding a couple OF pounds by
means OF strenuous cailsthenics, Ritchie
Intends TO make an announcement that he
win fight only In tho weiterweight divi-
sion hereafter.
so that satisfactorily explains Ritchie's
prolonged silence Richie has always
been honest with the public in his ring
dealings. and II 10 with a view OF not
deeeiving his adherenta that he reffains
from an announcement until he has def
initely decided ~ % which division he
belongs.
For years Packey Mcfarland inveigied
the gullible public into the belief that he
was a legitimate lightweight and he was
fighting lightwelghts when he himself
weighed close TO it5 pounds That was
why Packey never would assent 70 weigh
In for any bout
But Richie IL OF different ilk. He has
no desire TO cheat the supporters Of the
game. His motto has always been to
give the public a run for its money. And
no lived up to this motto.
The advent OF Richie into the weiter-
weight division would start q new era
among the 1is-pounders. There is no right
fui owner Of the welterweight title; and
there hasn't been for number OF years.
For q time Mike Gibbons was generally
tho champion. but he speed
iiy graduated into the middleweighs divi-
sion.
Few within the Limit
There are quite a few boxers masquer-
aiding a. lightweights. although they have
not been able 10 sight 1s3 pounds as long
a. they can remember. Among these are
Jack Britton and Harry Stone Both are
legitimate weitarweights. yet they per-
sist In taking on lightweights. Should
Richie enter the weller fold he would
find plenty OF opposition. II is not VIII
lies intention TO claim tho title right
OFF the reel He desires to be acclaimed
the undisputed champion after a series OF
elimination bouts. Wa shall hear from
Mr.. William Ritchie IN a short while. and
then II win be up V the promoters to-
help clear tho weiserAeight muddle.
Adoiph woIgast. the original hard luck
champion. insists that he is far from be-
ing through with the ring. wolgast IL
fairly bsistiins with fight talk, and de-
olares that he has many good fights in
his person.
ring oddlties-a real fighter, OF the Bet
Ting Nelson type. who never cease fight
ing from the first clang OF the gong until
the end Of the bout Wolgast'a latest bit
Of misfortune occurred while preparing
for his proposed fight wt4h Jose Rivers.
Wolgast had the plaster cast cut away
from his right hand the other day. and
IL now ready for the active winter cam
paign-
white Open for nooksnss.
Charley White admits that his streak
OF homes.clkness has worn off and he IL
opon for ring bookings. White ana his
manager are casting eovetous giances
eastward from Chicago. for New York
promises to be the boxing haven during
tho frisid months
white and Leach Cross have been
friends ever since boyhood. and each has
repeatedly declared that he would not
fight his friend even n the championship
were at stake.
But the lure of sold apparently is
stronger than the strongest bond OF
friendship. for white now says that he
wiz fight cross In order to provo his
right 10 a meeting with Champion Fred
die Welsh, Cross comedies with White IN
these views. and for = suitable pursa
these two OF Americas leading light
weights win forset their friendship for
half an hour % settle the mooted question
Of which is better entitled to tackle