New Britain herald., 1914-08-22
Especial to the Hsrald.)


 New York. Aug. 22.-Leach Cross, tthe veteran New York lightweight, 3upset the dope of the wise men of the firing by defeating Joe Rivers at Los Angeles last week. Cross not only showed surprising form reversal, 3beating Rivers in a f1ercely contested must once more be reckoned among 2 the first flight of light-weights. Cross | is an old-timer at the boxing game, I but is far from being in the has, | been class If his victory over Rivers [ was as corking a performance as the treports indicate.
 Cross and Rivers had met three times before last weeks contest, and in all three matches Rivers had been lgiven the credit of victory. Even in ttheir two ten round matches in this lefty Rivers was the popular winner. And in their first long bout in the west Joe was awarded the referees decision. even though a number of experts disagreed with the business of the verdict at that time.
 His Ueverness Surprising. }, The surprising part of their latest 2 match was that Cross should win on
 
 the New Workers chances for victory depended practically on his getting home sleep producing wallop. It was taken for granted that, should the bout go the limit. Rivers superior cleverness would bring him the deci- .sion. But Cross fooled the talent by .winning 8 hotly contested battle on 1 points. thus restoring himself to fgood standing among the champion ship possibilities. Cross is to be con : tgratulated on his perseverance; few l fighters would have the nerve to stick Ito the trail of fighter who had al- ! ready trimmed them three times land what is better succeed in revers- ] ing the verdict on the fourth at ftempt.
 | Cross is a heady fighter if not a l particularly clever or showy one. I Fighting is a business proposition with Leach and he operates on business basis. Although no longer a ! youngster as boxers are rated, he is 2 splendid example of what strict < adherence to the simple life will do for an athlete. At present he is in as good physical trim as at any time during his long career in the ring, and his stock of strength and stamina is so great that the longer the distance the better he is suited. Cross is credit to the game and although his style of milling hardly appeals to those who delight in scientific exhibi- tions in preference to slugging matches, his earnestness and willing ness to stand toe to toe and mix it with his opponents have made Leach lone of the best money getters in the ! rIof- iobf 1 ,icin he's probably made more money than any fboxer of recent years who has never sboasted championship title-barring 'Packey Mcfarland
 Rivers Being Criticized.
 Rivers furnished his knockers with more ammunition in their campaign Atof endeavor to prove the Mexican a quitter It is argued that Joe fdogged it completely after Cross demonstrated he could take every thing offered and come back for more. Joe may be game enough-it , may be he is not physically capable of standing a grueling-although he has no great liking for an uphill struggle, judging from his record.
 Cross vs. Duffy.
 Cross has been rewarded for his victory by getting a match for the Labor Day date-which means big receipts in California--With Jimmy Duffy of Buffalo, N. Y. Cross and Duffy met in New York about two years ago and Cross was disqualified for roughing his opponent in the clinches. In a return match in Buff 1alo Jimmy was given the unanimous verdict by the scribes
 Has Wicked Left. @
 Duffy is a boxer of the Freddie Welsh order A good defensive man, he is left handed jabber who can take much of the "ambish" out of sturdier opponent by the simple pro- cess of beating his man to the punch on almost every occasion. Duffy's left hand is corker and barring the chance of pumping into one of Leach's swings he stands a mighty good chance of beating the New Yorker to the decision.
 Willie Ritchie Heavy.
 Announcement comes from the west that Willie Ritchie has made up his mind to make all matches in the fu- ture at heavier scale than the ac- cepted limit for lightweights in this country Willie has been picking up flesh ra pidly of late and finds the task of taking off the surplus poundage no