New Britain herald., 1914-08-02
(Written for the New Britain HerAld.)

minus the title Of WOrId'S lightweight
 champion, is back home again. Willie
 left us flat six or seven weeks ago COZ.
 the match with Freddy Welsh. AL
 though the loser, according to the
 Judgment of Referee Eugene Corri,
 tho American champion is not by any means discouraged nor for that mat ter disgraced 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 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 have been given any worse than draw.
 However, MT. 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 ou.
 by F,reddy'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 return match given out In London Ritchie would have to dig into his own pocket for about $10,o00 to make up enough to cover Freddy's demand-which Is $25,O0O guaranteed, with the privilege of 50 per cent. of the gate. Where in the world are these boys to draw 8 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 amount. Those back of the London venture had to dig to pay Ritchie's guarantee; they could hard ly be expected to try it 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 $15,0OO with the percentage privilege would be the maximum offer for the the promoters sudden ly go daffy, which Is extremely 1 doubtful.
 Then Welsh's demand that Ritcfie bet $25,000 on the result is silly. Even if he is sincere about that part of it the laws in the states permitting box l Ing matches would not tolerate side bets. No one should know this pet 1, ter than Welsh who has spent many years on this side; in fact, this IS where he made his reputation as a boxer.
 Harry Pollock, Freddys astute manager, called Ritchie a coward and other things when Willie withdrew rom the Vancouver match with welsh year ago. 1t will be interest ns to note what defense Harry will have to offer if he attempts to dodge Rltchle's demand for d return bout when the champion returns to this country.
 Still American Champion
 And i'll the meantime au those young men who are ensageu in cna,- ieAslhs Welsh should not forget that Rltchle is still the American cham plon, and that before Welsh will con- sider them at all they will have .o prove they are better men than Viii lie. Anyway if reports from the other side are to be relied on Fred will be very busy With his vaudeville engage ments TOT the next six months. .Af- ter that, 1 lresuIl. He ,o... ~ hand at the theatrical game on this side.
 I read recently where Packev Mc- Farland, the erstwhile star light or tho one but Packey knows which) and at present en- gagged, profitably 1 hope, in brewing the stuff 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 l would like to see arranged. But there is even less chance of it's being consummated than 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 Packey who trimmed him to the kings taste in London several years ago, and al- though Welsh was given draw it was the opinion of all experts that the referee pulled "bone." Ac- 1