Omaha daily bee., 1915-02-14
FREDDIE WELSH GOING BACK
While a Champion, His Star is DIM
ming and All Recent Matches
Have Been Poor.
FIGHTS NO-pECIsIoN BO
BOUTS

NHntWeiEnt CHAMPION OF inc Noflus ~ Aht
anomaly Of the modern day prize ring.
Here We have an undisputed titleholder
whose performances since he ascended 70
the lirhtwefght pinnacle have been me-
diocre: Vet his exhibitions before he at
toined the 1ss-pound premiership we're Of
ths supergative order. even good enough
for a champion.
which prompts the ducatJon has Welsh
seen his best days IN the ring? Ono is in
cllned to answer IN the affirmative after
witnessing Freddie IN his recent bouts
And tho suspicion IS strengthened by
Welsl,'s own words. uttered the other day,
when ne said he expects 20 retire from
the ring within two years
n welsh Is really the author OF these
words. they arc frank admission that
the lightweight champion does not think
he Is capable Of defending his title until
that time. Who ever heard Of a newly
crowned pugilistic king flguring only two
years -ahead; planning only such short
time In which TO capitalize his champion
ship? II has never been done Before and
Freddie Welsh. Is not and inventive
genius 10 start this innovation unless he
was firm IN his conviction that ne can
not endure as champion for longer than
the period he has stated.
Failed IN Every Battle.
II is worthy Of note that Welsh has not
put IN one truly good battle since ne
came into possession OF the champion
chip. II Is nothing extraordinary; yet
he managed "a. shear Rltchle OF his title.
~ ives Ritchie's poor fighting. rather than
Welsh's superior boxing ability fhat cost
the American the championship
Let us royiew some Of Weieil's bouts
since that fatefui day IN Julv Of last year.
Freddle's first bout ~ a champion oc-
Cured against Matt Baldwin. Poor old
Matty Baldwin. a marvel In his day, was
able to hold Welsh on even terms for
most Of The twelve rounds, and lost the
decision only when Freddie came through
with two good last rounds.
A few weeks later Jimmy Duffy clearly
outpointed Walsh IN a ten-rouud bout,
but as the referee was not empowered
20 render a decision, Freddie chung to
HIS Title Some little time after that
Charley White hooked up with the Briton
for ten rounds IN bfilwaukee. and ma
1ority OF the so-cailed experts said that
White was undisputabiy the victor.
Then Welsh came TO the metropolis
and. permitted himself 10 be sho~n W
By Young shugrue. who lacks vysikh's
experience by something HE zen years
The other day Willie rtBeecher, un-
trained. hog-fat. Eolrx on at few
hours notice in piatse Of Charley White.
held Welsh evqn fof nalf the bout. True,
Beecher ''biew1,in the last five rounds,
but II was ut Weish's demoniac fight
Ing that ,,Afnse Wflfe to explode. rather
e was eeechers poor condition that was
rcspogaibie for his state bordering on col
iepf<
shows None Of Ola Ferm.
IN several other bouts since he be-
Fame champion. Welsh has failed 70 show
his old brand OF fighting He has shown
his uitra-cleyer boxing only sporadicaily.
Most ef the time he has spent in keeping
his ovpohent from piling up too much of
q lead.
For : time It appeared a. Il walsh
would be niolnamed The outpolnsed
champion" for no iess than three adj
yersariea IN row gained the popular
decision over him.
NOW TO hcarken hack 10 " olden daya,
when Welsh was not champion. yet
was fishtihs like one. II ~Was only IN
1908 that Welsh fought the then great
Fackcy Mcfarland two terrific bouts. The
first . ten-round affair IN Milwaukee,
wa awarded 70 Packey. but the second.
fopeht ~ Vernon. Cal. resulted IN 4
draw after twenty-five brisiiine founds.
That same year Welsh gained q fifteen
roundA decision over Abe Attell. then
featherweight chatnpion. The bout. hows.
ever. waa fought a. catch~eIehts. With
no title IN the balance.
In 1909 Welsh trounced Johnny SUM