The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-07-20
BOXING NOTES

(F'rom T. S. Andrews, Milwaukee.
 Wis)
 The aII-absorbing topic among box ing fans at the present time is in re- gard to Freddie Welsh's recent victory over willie Ritchie, whereby he an- nexed the worlds lightweight cham pionship. Freddie is being bombarded from all sides with challenges and at the present tme it is hard to say just who his next opponent will be, but 1t is a. pretty good bet that his manager, Harry Pollock, will not permit him to take any chances until he has had an opportunity to rake in some of the easy money which they consider champion, is entitled to. Charley White has been a persistent challenger of. Welsh since he won the title, and now. comes Packy MoFar1and, the Chicago pride, with a deh to fight Freddie at the weight he claimed was made in the match with Ritchie-139 pounds. This Is not correct, as they weighed in, at 134 pounds on the day of the fight and from all accounts there was little difference when they entered the ring, as both boys weight was about normal However, Welsh has repeat edly offered to make 13S pounds ring side for Ritcl1ie and no doubt he can make it. There is no question but that Mcfarland can make I3 37spounds, but this is getting beyond the lightweight limit and there is no reason why a match should be made at such a weight with the title involved. If we are going to have a lightweight class, let us keep 1t where 1t belongs at 133 to 135 pounds. Mcfarland and Welsh wotlld be a great attrac- ton and 1t would be a great fight also. They have met three times, two being draws and the other a 1O-round bout -McFarland receiving the decision. Moreover, this is some time ago and does not figure in the present condf- tions in any way. While these chaI- lenges are being hurled about, why not consider AiIburn Saylor, who is now in Australia, and who claims a victory over Welsh by the knockout route in nine rounds at Winnipeg. This fight occurred October goth last, but was given to Welsh on a foul. There was much controversy over it and Ray Bronson, manager of Say lor,s had afndavits from several of the prominent people of Winnipeg to show that the blow was not foul, but a fair one. Since then Eaylor has won nine bettles in Australia, eight of them knockouts, and he is surely entitled to g. match with Welsh for the cham pionship, if any one is. By the time Saylor returns home next Fall, it is likely that Welsh will be here also and they may get together then for a big contest. Numerous clubs about the country have been hot on the trail Of the British champion for matches the coming Fall, and the chances are that if Freddie comes back to the States, which no doubt he will, ha4wiIl be kept busy accepting or trying to evade challenges and club promoters. The Queensbury club of Milwaukee has made him a nice offer to meet Charley White and also for return match with Willie Ritchte,- but as yet noth- ing definite has been done regarding the matter. The New Orleans club, of which Dominick Tortorich is the head, is also after Freddie for one or two big matches in the southern city. Tom McCarey Of Los Angeles, who claims the guardianship over the new schampions expects to have him out there for a match and Jim Cof- froth of San Francisco, is working along the same lines. So it can cas- fly be seen that Freddie is going to be a very busy boy if he wants to box.