The Washington herald., 1916-01-11
English Battler Started Cham
, pionship Campaign by
Beating Willie Rtchie.
WILL FIGHT WAY TO TOP
By RINGSIDE.

New York. Jan, 10-we reiterats our
icisim, made several weeks ago, that
kid Lewis Is the greatest welter-
weight sxtant. And as such he should
pc universally recognized as the
champion Of that division.
II Is not for US to place Lewis on
the welter-weight pedestal. and idol
ize him as the champion. II is for
Lewis himself to fight his way to that
position And, il is our humble be-
lief, that he will loose no time in
doing just that very thing.
Lewis started his championship cam
psign some ten days ago, when he
took the best welteT-weight in Amert-
cs-Willie Ritchie is that person-and
lsmbasted out of him every titular
aspiration the latter ever entertained.
Ritchie went into the ring "a pounds
above the welter-weight standard Of
142 pounds, while Lewis came in seal
ing 13s "a. Only a disparity of 4
pounds, but enough Of an advantage
'or a fighter of Ritchie's caliber to
enhance into a victory. But Ritchie
couId not turn this advantage to pro-
At, for Lewis always showed the mas
ter hand.
The weIter-weight division was
really exhumed in the Lewis-Ritchie
tight. After hiatus of many years
the division has jumped into popular
,svor once more. and at the head of It
is a Brftisher-a Britisher for the time
being at most. For Ted-Kid Lewis
desires to become an American citi-
en-. and as soon as practicable he Will
toreswear his allegiance to King
George.
|, Lewis has just passed his majority, and
when his claim to the welter-weight title
s established he will be among the
Youngest Of ring champions. Lewis first
began wearing crowns-of the sort used
% distinguish boxing champions-at the
tender age OF Il. That was less than
five years ago. He won the bantam
then hit the trail for Australia. There
he added weight rapidly and became
featheT-Teisht champion. He returned
to England. and challenged to a brush
'Or the lightweight title of the Isles; but
Freddie graCiously retTeated and came to
America. Lewis, persistent lad, followed
the POntypridd boxer across the big
drink. But Welsh. just as persistent in
dodsinS. refused to have anything to do
e. with Lewis. so far as the ring was con-
Cerned.
Lewis came here in the fall Of 1914. and
In his first appearance here di5arranged
the features Of one Phil Bloom. The lat
ter outweighed his tOw-headed rival
many pounds. but Lewis showed latent
possibilities and he was promptly placed
under the protecting wing of Jimmy
Johnston. who is managing his affairs
after 4 break" had occurred.
The climate Of these amslgamated
States evidently agreed with Lewis, for
he bounded right into the lightweight
HvisfCn. where he snoOped around for
nearly a year. beatinS some of the best
performers in that division. Even
Charley Waite, the Chicago whirlwind,
y IL,
As there were no more Hght-weights
e. eonGEcT. Lewis begged his manager 10
-esUFeeG. the welter-wsight livision and
T~ciain hin champion. This Johnston
Jnhesitatinsly did. after Lewis had
1rOUised to te-ead the sslf-imposed title
4E1irst al Comcrs.
Willie Ritchic was the first legitimate
yeItcr 10 fall victim Lewis has gone so
ar rs to box middle-weights. with un-
'al,inS success; but now he has a regular
.Ocati0l-bossing the welter-weights-it
s unlikely that he will step out OF that
pasture unless forced to do so by added
weight. He still has three pounds to go
% hit the weIter-weight mark. And
he is at his best under the 40 pounds!
Hark. We hear a sound as from a
tomb. Why. it Is the mOurnful wall Of
our own Patrick Mcfarland He desires
to know why he. OF all persons, should
be left out Of the wweIter-weight consid
GRAFTON.
OF course, PaCkey is about trying to
prove his right to the l2-pOund cham
Dionship; but he neElects to state that
he can never make that pOundage. Yet
he would be champion. although he has
long outgrown the welter-wewight divi-
ion.
For years Packey went along beating
ID HSht-weights when he was a weter-
weight himself. Now. when he is full
1edged middle-weiCht he wants to lick
,Il the little welter-weights. Naughty
oackey.
BY the way PaCkey is becoming reg
Ilar promoter of sports. He has inter
ssted himself in the promotion of a six
day bicycle race in Chicago; and now he
- thinking of hiring a baseball park
% stage fights and other sporting events
during the summer Packey just can't
keep out Of the sporting limehght.