Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-11-14
WELSH MAY LOSE HONOUS
Dear Old England is Peevish at
Freddie and Threatens to Take
Title Away from Him.
DELANEY WANTS THE BELT
NJ RINGsIDE.

Nv HlNGkIDE.
NEW YORK Nov 13-Freddie Welsh
Sc in imminent danger Of losing his light
weight championship OF England As
Frederick's bump Of combativeness is ex-
ceedingly small ne has resolved TO forfeit
his Lord Lonsdale belt. symbolic Of the
championship OF Jawn Bulls domains In
preference to returning 60 England to
defend his honors Welsh Is averse to
fighting in the ring. so why should he
take chances in the trenches?
Fred Delaney, who has defied Welsh 10
return TO his native heath and defend his
laurels. will claim the lightweight cham
pionship OF England by default II Fred
die persists in lingering in these Anal
gamted States. We herewith award thai
empty honor to Mr. Delaney. for Freddie
Welsh should worry about such an in
significant thing "a the English cham
pionship so long as he is the worlds
champion and gets the purses that 20
with IT,
Delaney IL rugged lightweight and a
two-handed fighter. lie fought as a
fcathorweight in Philadelphia about three
years ago. His brother was with him,
and both returned 20 England after that
match Delaney typifies the American
fighter when in the rit g. He Is given TO
hukbluE INSTEAD OF fancy DoNlnk, the
forte Of English ring artists.
II would occasion little surprise II Matt
Wells. who did 80 astonishingiy we'll
against Charley White two weeks ago.
regsined his English championship
welsh. It will be recalled. won the Ions
dale diadem from Wells and the title
therefore. would revert TO Wells n Welsh
does not defend his crown within sixty
days.
A bout between Delaney and Wells IL
being considered and the winner will be
proclaimed the new lightweight cham
: pioaN OF England. Freddie Welsh, not
withstanding.
Richie f. Too Heavy.
Willie Richie is the first Overgrown
lightweight TO acknowledge that he IL no
longer legitimate lightweight. He has.
therefore promoted himself into the well
terweight class. and claims the champion
ship Of that division. Ritchie realizes that
he will never get another crack at the
lightweight championship while Welsh In
custodian OF that title; so he has picked
out a title for himself.
II is about time the welterweight di-
vision began TO thrive again. II has been
long time since that class has had a
recognized champion. And we assure you
Il will be quite some time before one IL
universally recognized as such, there
being so many claimants 20 the crown.
Ritchie IL sincere In his determination
to adopt the founding welter title. Tie
has started by challenging Paekey Nc
farland. who cannot make the weight.
Ritchio's def l. general. and is aimed
at other boxers who have outgrown the
lightweight grade. Ted" Lewis, Jack
Brttton and a few others now ranking
lightweight will be Accommodated by
Richie Il they are looking for action.
Decision FiEht IL ON.
A spirited fight IL on In the metropolis
for decision bouts. The ants hold the
upper hand, as no decisions have yet
been legalIzed: but the pros have a strong
card In Fred A. wenck. chairman OF the
State Athletic commission. which does
all In its power TO purify professional
boxing In this regal state. wenck Is
strong for decisions and cannot under
stand the attitude OF those who oppose a
definite result on bout by n qualified
expert.
The contingent against decisions con-
tend that decisions would mako for dis
honest referees. and killings" by pro-
fessional gamblers. But could a referee
taSRe " OAAASAaeo A&at OuCe nc pultcQ
raw" one7 True. the damage viii have
been done. and some bets might have
been decided on that raw" one; but
then again betting Il illegal. and no one
has any business betting on the outcome
Of fight.
Permitting decisions would merely in
sure better fights for the patrons who
give up their good money at the box Of
flee. fighter would strive harder for
victory were the refree empowered 70
name the winner. A winner under a
referee could earn more than a winner
named by newspapers. with their varie-
gated experts. Few fights nowadays
roach a satisfactory result Some pro-
claim ono man the winner. while others
tab his as the loser. while still others
call the affair a draw. With a referees
decision. the verdict would be final. and
all the abuse could be heaped upon one
man, who alone Is responsible for his
actions.
Governor Whitman has declared him
self on the subject 10 the extent that he
viii shortly appoint two new commits
sioners 10 fill the vacancies. and then
the decision question can come up for
discussion.