South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-06-05
RING LURE DRAWS
FIGHT CHAMPS ON
Boxers Stow Up Wealth While
Slowing is Good But Then
Keep on Boxing.
BY Ringside.

glory and rolling in wealth, the stars
of the pugilistic ring never quit the
game, with few exceptions, until
they are forced TO. Why?
Probably the fighters themselves
would like 10 have this question an
swered as much as the fans. Yet
the answer is simple. The fighters.
as we'll as the fans. would both
know why II they would just stop
TO give the matter thought.
Take the case Of "StrOngarm
Jones''-whoever he is, for instance
StrOngarm is young, say about so.
He's been in the boxing game five
or six years. Having fought all
kinds and manner of men, ne finally
climbs 10 the pinnacle of his di-
vision and stays there for six months
or a year.
Meanwhile ne has accumulated a
roll that would choke a horse. He's
got so much money he doesn't know
what TO do with It. He slows away
nine-tenths of his fortune, probab-
~ i'm something like real estate
where there's slight chance Of los
ing except through failure of the
earth 10 keep going around-then
sits back content with the thought
that come what may he has enough
TO see him through though he lived
TO be a hundred
Just about this time some young
ster-comparativel speaking-hits
him i'm the jaw with a swift right,
and he goes down, only TO wake up
with the word "ten" ringing in his
ears. He's no longer the champ.
But does he stop? Not for p min
ute. He keeps on going until he
has been knocked down for the
count several times more. If he's "A
tenth wonder Of the world he may
come back, but generally he keeps
right on until finally the promoters
and fans together cOnsign him 10
oblivion. despite his efforts 10 keep
UP the sham SO he quits finally, If
he is forced to; if not, he fights
whenever he gets a chance. But
he never quits the game until he
dies or he cannot get fight.
The answer? It's easy. Just
sporting proposition. The fighting
bug. once in possession Of a man,
refuses 10 let 90. do or die is
the watchword. and gameness is the
inspiration. pride of craft, In
other words. refuses to let him ac-
knowledge that he's "has-been."
Look over the field once and see
how true this is. Take Ad Wolgast
and Willie Ritchie, former light
weights. and Johnny Coulon, former
bantamweight.
Wolgast has paid the stiffest pen
atty for failure to Quit the ring at
the proT IT time. Today the little
bearcat is in a sanitarium at Mil
waukee. adjudged incapable OF
handling his own affairs. He was
hardly a lightweight. for he weigh
ed less than 100 pounds. but he
fought in that division and scored
triumph after triumph until he
landed on top Of the heap when he
defeated Battling Nelson.
Then along came Willie Richie
the California automobile mechanic.
brimful of pep and confidence, and
the defeat Of the Cadillac bearcat
followed. No longer was Wolgast
champion OF the world. But as
champion WolCast had prospered
These we're the days Of big purses
in California. when 2O-round bouts
were permitted. and Ad a shrewd
youngster. pulled down the big coin
and saved il. He stuck a lot of II
into farm land in Michigan, and II
is there vet. a monument 70 the
ring proves Of its owner. He's
credited with being worth 100000.
But financial success wasn't
enough for Ad. He liked the boxing
game. and even worse than that.
there stuck deep in his crew the
belief that he could accomplish that
remarkable feat Of winning back a
championship after he had once
lost il. So Ad wouldn't quit. He
got a new manager to so ahead and
arrange matches for him. He fought
battle after battle and often met de-
feat. nearly always taking lacing.
But he did not keep in condition,
and that is mainly responsible for
his present dilemma.
Passing on brings us 10 Willie
Richie. the boy who took the title
from Wolgast. Only recently Ritchie
left Chicago after a visit of several
months. going 10 California TO enlist
i'm the aviation corps. But Richie
still wants 10 fight with the gloves,
probably Just as much as he wants
to knock German aviators out Of the