Evening star., 1915-01-30
BY T. S. ANDREWS.

MIL January s0.-EnortS
are being made by Dominick Tortorich
and Tom McCarey of New orleans to
bring Off world lightweight title
match between Willie Ritchie and
Freddy Welsh. the same to be held
in the Crescent city some time in
March or April. Ritchie is still the
American lightweight champion unless
he fails to make the lightweight limit
for matches with legitimate chal-
lengers. He wants to meet welsh at
the same weight at which they fought
in England-135 at o'clock-and
which is the recognized standard in
Europe. The American weight has al
ways been 1873 ringside, but it seems
that the lightweights of today are get
ting away from that scale and making
new ones to suit themselves. Welsh
demands that he be given the same
amount of money for a championship
match with Ritchie that the latter got
for meeting Freddy in London-S25.0oO
and his expenses. Just because the
promoters gave Ritchie that sum is no
good reason why Welsh should demand
of American promoters the same thing.
Freddy was well paid for his services.
even though he did not get cent for
his bout with Richie, for since VIM
ming the title he has been enabled to
visit the states again and clean up
something like $4,000 in less than six
months time and he still holds the
championship, having fought only IN
limited round bouts since anneXing the
title Under ring rules he is about
due to defend his title i'll Il real cham
pionship battle, over the marathon
route and where a decision Is gwen
Ritchie is anxious to make the match
at the same weight and offers to put
up side wager if necessary. Willie
l.I,e. OFF h n
sight for previous matches, but then
he can hardly be blamed for that as
he had been taught along those lines
by the men who held the title ahead
of him. No boxer has any right TO
hang on to a title without defending
IT at least once every six months and
promoters and critics should take steps
to put a stop to such proceedings.
Neither is there amy reason why
Ritchle should still lay claim to the
ii against home hoys. If he wants TO
remain III the game as a star then lie
should be open to meet legitimate chai
lengers for his American title and al
the next deserving lightweight sue
coed him and get after Freddy Welsh
for the world championship. There are
some mighty good lishtweiShts IN me
country just now. starting with Cnarle
White, Young Shugrue. Jimmy Dufy.
Johnny Dundee, Joe Mandot, Johnny
GriffitRs. sammy Robideau. Gilbert
Gallant, not forgetting little Adolph
Wolgast
West Virginia featherweisht. claims to
be the only manager who was obliged
to pay for his fighter to get into the
building where the contest was Sched-
uled Recently Goo was matched at Il
city in Ohio with a prominent feather
weight and he was asked to post Il for
felt of sl00 for weight, although he
claims that the other side posted only
$50. AL also claims that the promoters
did not pay his lunch money nor chair
cars while on the train, and. to make
matters worse, he received only three
tickets for himself. fighter and seconds
He gave two tickets to seconds. and
when he presented himself and fighter
at the door for admission he was in
formed that he would have to come
across with So each" Goo wanted to
which he did with much protest. Thus
Goo paid his way in to see himself
fight However, Goo said he was well
repaid for the investment. as he had
the satisfaction of giving the other fel-
low a fine trimming.
Our old friend Bill Phelon of Cincin-
pati has discovered another young
prove a second Stanley Ketchel. The
young fighters name is George Szar-
manski, and he has had numerous bouts
in the United States Navy. having won
all of them, and he carries a fine gold
belt to prove his claim. He has beaten
Tim Logan and Jimmy Gardner. says
Phelon. and recently gave Kid Clark,
the Columbus middleweight, beating.
Clark put up good fights against Jack
Dillon, Gus Christie and George Ashe. |
If he is as good as Bill says he will
make some of the 159-pounders take
notice.
The fight critics and fans are having \
quite an argument in Australia as to !
whether Jeff Smith beat Mick King, or !
the latter defeated JEFF. / am just in
re ceipt of letter from Sydney. from a
man who signed himself AN Old |
timer" in which he states that Smith !
beat king fairly. and that the decision
was a shame. However, other parties /
there, well posted on the fight game, !
gave King credit for winning by clev-