Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-09-04
Held Title Two Years


Colorado Springs, Colo, Sept. 1.-Two
years ago in Greater London, Freddie
Welsh of Pontypridd, Wales, wrested
the lightweight championship of the
world from Willie Richie, an Ameri-
can.
Today before these westerners he de-
Tended it against an American in what
is called "Little Lunnon this noun
tain resort of Colorado Springs, and
for the first time since he won the title
Welsh is booked to travel the twenty
round route-mith Challenger Charley
White.
Probably never was a championship
battle fought in such quaint and pic
turesque surroundings.
The gigantic arena which has been
splendidly erected for the fight rests
in grass grown hollow four blocks
from the center of the town. To the
east stretches for miles and miles sun
burned prairie, while to the west, in
all its stupendous glory, rises Pixies
Peak, heap of brown granite. Far
up on its tip white ring of snow can
be seen. Below to the west is the con
tinental divide, swathed in snow, and
across which western breeze gently
whipped today.
The Fight Bugs There
In this poetic setting thousands Of
fight bugs gathered today, every one
an authority, every one critic, shout
ing mind bets, predicting this, predict
ing that and every other possible event
of championship battle. The only
thing universally believed is that
when Freddie Welsh and Charley White
sail in there mill be fight. This Is
based upon the frank arrangement of
the fighters and their managers to bar
nothing in the method of fighting. The
only restriction placed upon the cham
pion and his opponent is that which
will pfevent holding and hitting. Ev-
cry thing else goes-blows in the break
kidney punches, clinch milling and
what not of fighting tricks. Every
things fair above the belt.
Referee Billy Roches announcement
that the decision, if the fight goes
the full twenty rounds, will be given
ON points, also was well received.
"The first round counts as mucn as
the last" said Roche. ga flash fin
ish by either man will count no more
in the summary than sturdy battling in
the early rounds.'
Welsh is Favorite
Welsh men declare White hackers
want unreasonable odds. 1t is pointed
out that the only possible way White
can win is by knockout and the
White men are asking 3 to l. This,
the Welsh men say, is simply 3 to l
that Welsh wins, Those bets that
have been made are mostly at figures
Of 3 to that Welsh wins.
Welsh and White weighed in at 0
a. M, both making the stipulated
weight, 135 pounds. Welsh barely tip
ped the beam, while White scaled 1885,
pounds.
Statements of the fighters:
Welsh and White gave the following
statements to the United Press this
morning after they were officially
weighted in at a. m.
Freddie Welsh, world IS lightweight
champion-"'l think / stand in better
condition today to win from White
than in either of our three former bat
ties. ] am in good trim, feel great and
bear no uneasiness regarding the re-
suit. j do not underestimate my oppo-
meme. ! realize that the battle will be
hard but / think / can beat him easi-
ly and perhaps stop him."
Charley White, challenger" No man
who ever fought ring battle could
possibly nave felt better than ! do
today. have trained hard for many
weeks in the belief that | will take
the title from Welsh and l intend to
do it today. ! think my chance has
come to bring the title back to Amer
lea and IN sure Welsh is due to be
beaten. That's all. I'm not afraid Of
tho rasilf -