The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-01-07
WELSH CONFIDENT HE {. CAN WIN BACK TITLE

At the age of B, Freddie Welsh is at- tempting fistic come- back, a feat that
 many persons have tried, and all have failed.
 Maybe it will be the same with me and maybe it won't" declares Welsh. Anyway, I have gone back into ring
 warfare confident that I am better
 man now than I was before 1 lost my championship. My fight the other night was the first I have waged in more than l three years. But think that my show ing was enough to increase the hope
 that can take my place once again with the leading lightweights.
 "On that night in May, 1917. when Benny Leonard dethroned me. he told me he would give me return battle. For some months afterward I attempted to
 have Leonard make good on this prom ise without result. Just about then we
 became seriously involved in the Euro- pean warfare. and I gave up all thought of fighting and got into a uniform. My long service in the American army put me into the best condition of my life. After I got back into 'civvies . continued to work for improved condi- tion. Most of the months since then have been spent outdoors rebuilding. Gradually I reached the point where my muscles became as hard as nails. where
 my endurance powers were better than thCy hshNG bCCi dl dAy llIllc III lO yCdI
 and where I felt that I had a stiffer punch than ever before"
 Having reached that stage Welsh launched again into ring warfare. On December B he took on Willie ("Kid') Green in a Newark arena and displayed punching power infinitely more powerful than did the Welsh of old. The former lightweight champion was phantomlike that night and made Green look like the worst fighter that tver stepped into a ring. Green never laid a glove onto him, and Welsh battered Green to such point that the youngSter could not answer the bell for the fifth round.
 Victory in that first fight has en- unused me-" commented Welsh. My | showing was all that I had hoped for. 1 realize that a man of s who is attempt ing comeback can't take on one or two
 easy fights and then jump right in | against the tough ones. He has to work his way up gradually, the same as does a youngster. My programme calls for taking on three or four fighters of the Green type and working along easily until I have reached the point where Benny Leonard alone stands in my way of re- gaining the title.
 Leonard repeatedly has said that he would give me another fight. don't see why he shouldn't. I gave him three cracks at me while I was lightweight champion, and it is only fair that he should give me at least one return bout if make good in my comeback If he does it is my hope that I will have worked myself back to such condition that I can whip him. Leonard isn't un- beatable, and I hope to be the man to prove it."
 Welsh is striving to achieve what many
 folks contend is impossible in his effort
 to regain championship at so advanced a fighting age. But Welsh has always
 beer an extremely brainy fighter, and IL may be that his rejuvenated physical con dition. plus his agile brain. may make it possible for him to hurdle the barriers which now stand in his way.
 Copyright, 1921. by King Features Syn dicate. Incl