New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-05
RITCHIE SHOWS
HIS WARES AT
TRAINING CAMP
Boxes, Punches Bag and
Gets Rubbed Down for
Dedication of Fans.
TAKES LEACH CROSS
ON FOR SNAPPY SET-TO
Willie Confident of Regaining
Lightweight Crown When
He Meets Welsh.

II appearances go for anything In
this world Of make believe, Mr.. Freddie
Welsh, a native of Pontypridd, Wales,
is going to pass an extremely busy
evening next Thursday night in Madi.
son Square Garden. That eminent tan
goist and former lightweight champion
pugilist Of the world, Willie Richie,
has an engagement to box ten rounds
with Welsh at that time and place,
which all means that things are liable
TO be happening every second OF IN,
thirty minutes of actual boxing be-
tween the past and the present cham
pions Of the class.
Mr.. Richie is sure he can do sons
business with Mr.. Welsh, as the latter
is carrying about with him an article
that Willie could make great use OF,
namely, the lightweight title. Tie
Californian believes he can induce tie
Welshman to relinqulsh his grasp on
the crown before the ten rounds are
up. merely using the persuasive power
Of his two hands.
Richie and DR.. Jefreys, his trainer
and manager, held open house" a.
/ Billy Grupp's gymnasium, in Harlem,
| yesterday afternoon for the syowed
! purpose of letting the experts get a
| line on the Frisco boys condition and
! prospects.
Jimmy Johnston and Ike Dorgan, thu
manager and press representative, re-
spectlyely, Of the Garden Club, escorted
the party W to Grupp's and main
tanned continuous duologue ell the
way as to what a large evening is
going to happen on Thursday.
Richie was busy punching the bag
when the visitors entered, whipping
the oval around IN workmanike fash
ion. He stopped long enough TO share
hands with everybody and then entered
the ring with Willie Jackson for his
first three-round workout. Ritchie's eye
was clear anG his complexion rudy
and bronzed, but he seemed a triAs
heavy about the waist and legs. He
probably weighed about l35 or l39
pounds.
Both the former champion and Jack
son donned regular football headgear
and went at each other in earnest.
Ritchie's left hand jab, delivered with
q stiff arm, brought Jackson up
on his toes every time II landed, and
when the bout was ended the sparriEg
partner bore a split lip as souvenir.
While waiting for Dave Cross, his
next opponent Richie spied Leach
Cross coming through the door and
hailed him cordially. Il can never tell
you from Dave, Sam or Marty, Leach
said Willie. You all look alike"
Cross grinned, and as Richie posed
for camera man, said IF | vas as
good looking as you, Willie, ] would
never fight again"
Cross gave the eX-champion a lively
three rounds of work, and; although hs
was bleeding freely from the mouth
and once in the last round almost went
down from left hook. he did his best,
and that was all Willie wanted.
Freddie Reese was kitchie's last box
ing mate, and this was the lIyeliest
session of the afternoon. The Cali
fornian moved about the ring with
great speed. his foot work carrying him
out of harms way, while he jabbed and
jabbcd and jabbed, until Recess nose
cracked" under the strain and his
left eye was pulled up like an egg.
Some shadow boxing followed, and
then Richie went TO the rubbing room
where DR.. Jeffreys took the boxer In
charge and explained his method Of
manipulating the muscles as he yorked
over Willie.
There was not muscle, a lyamert
or bit of skin that Doc" did not
pull and yank, while he discbursed
fuently about the tibia, the p tulla,
the occiptal. the phalanGes aid the
pectoralis major ard their fun tions.
Then he grabbed Richie by The head
and pulled as though he wanted 20 re-.
move that piece of his anatomy This
falling. Dr. Jetfreys reversed things.
and did his best to jam Willie's face
below his collar bone.
While going through his work Richie
had the lower part Of his body and his
legs encased in rubber, 20 induce ex-
cessive sweating, he said. No word
escaped his lips as to the possible out
come of his bout with Welsh, but Willie
said if ne felt any better he would
feel that he was taking a mean adyan-
tage of the champion.
And now the only thing 10 do Is 20
wait until Billy Roche calls time q.
the Garden next Thursday.