Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-09-30
R|TCHIE IMPRESSED
BY CASS|DY'S WORK
Former Lightweight Champion
Thinks Local Lad Has Excel
lent Ring Future.
TALKS ON DUNDEE BOUT

Joe Cassidy, OF Newark, as chief
sparring mate to former worlds light
weight champion, Willie Ritchie,
sounds good, but Cassidy, as one of
the best In his class in the country,
sounds even more impressive. Cas-
sidy is down at Brighton Beach con-
ditioning Ritchie for the latter s
scheduled ten-round bout with Johnny
Dundee, which will take place in
Madison Square Garden, New York,
one week from tonight. Joe, about a
year ago, fought preliminary bouts in
this city, hut since that time he has
shown wonderful improvement, and
If you take Ritchies word for 1t,
Cassidy has the makings of q first
class lightweight. In his sparring ex-
hibitions with the former titleholder
he holds his own In every way. and
besides carrying u good punch, he Is
clever. Rltchie was impressed at
Cassidy's showing from the outset,
and as n result Cassidy Is now Will
lies chief sparring partner.
Ritchie Real Gentleman.
Ritchie is not going through any
strenuous tactics in preparation for
his contest with Dundee, as the box
ers will meet at catch weights. His
workout yesterday included only
shadow boxing skipping the rope and
boxing two thrae-round exhibitions,
one with Cassidy and the other with
Allie Mack, q former amateur boxing
champion. During his training stunts
he talks and chats and relates events
which occurred during his career as
boxer. He is most interesting in con-
versation, and impresses one that he
is not of the 'boastful type OF fighter,
as is usually the case. He Is friendly
to everyone, and he treats his spar
ring partners as though they were
from the same family. Ritchie uses
no unfair tactics with his sparring
partners, and never cares to show
them up, although at times he is
forced to cut loose in order to test
his punch and cleverness.
Ritchie talked on his coming fight
with Dundee. The former champion
saw Dundee box Joe Mandot at Eb-
bets Field, Brooklyn, the other eve
ming, and after looking at Dundee
work he thinks he will be returned
a winner over the little Italian.
Ritchie Says He Can Dance, Too.
Dundee is a fast, aggressive boy,
and Is never idle a moment, but he
didn't seem to carry much or a wal
lop," said Ritchie to an Evening Star
man yesterday at Brighton Beach.
I'm quite a dancer myself, y'knoW,
and 1 don't think Dundee will have
much of an opportunity to display
those Vernon Castle hops before me.
I also have the advantage of a punch
which may be useful TO me next
THURSDAY night. Right now | believe
my hands are in better shape than
ever, and nothing would please me
more than to halt affairs early"
When asked of his proposed contest
with Joe Shugrue, the Jersey City
lightweight, Ritchie made a statement
to the effect that Shugrue must be In
shape physically before he would box
him.
''I have heard reports that Shu-
grue's eyes are not in the best OF
shape. You can say for me that / will
not step into the ring with Joe until
he has been thoroughly examined by
a specialist in my presence In order
to insure the public that il any Sc
rious trouble results from the battle
I will not be blamed. I will also have
Shugrue's manager post q forfeit of
$1,000 to guarantee his appearance on
the night of the fight. / made the
match with Shugrue on the Pacific
coast and came to the East with the
purpose Of boxing him. The event
has been postponed once, but l do not
care to wait around here too long.
Therefore, am forced to have Shu-
grue post a guarantee for his posi-
tive appearance on October 26, the
night of the bout"
Ritchie expressed the hope that Joe
would be all right in time for the con-
test and that his eyes would resume
their normal condition.