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RITCHIE MAY FIGHT PACKY MTARLANDNew' 'Titleholder is Said to Be Willing to Give Chicago •' Boy a Chance.wuile Ritchie, the new lightweight champion. who has been' a training partner Tor Packey McFarland. Is ready to-give lt;hirago boy a chanoe at the title, according; to the following report in the New York Evening World:“Billy Nolan announces that Willie Ritchie wants to bo* Packey McFarland before he meets any other 'aspirant to the lightweight ch«»pion^ ahip. *Packe- may have a chance at last. , Nolan adds,, very loudly, that Willie won't’force Packey to make 1331 pounds ringside, but will allow him five hours before the battle, or come jn at 135 pounds ringside Remembering William Nolan'a'way of doing business when he wag manager of Battling Nelson, I suspect that Ritchie may favor that 136-pound mark himself, although he beat'Wol-gatrt at 133. Nolan never gave away anything he could hold In making a match for any of bta lighters. It waa Nolan who forced Joe Oana to weigh 133 -pounds ringside in hla flxhtinr togs at Goldfleld.- ^oor Joe worked' so hard to make the weight that he went ti Jlttfcr below.“He weighed under 131 stripped, and many believe that the weakening efTect of *h«t terrific training down was responsible for his contracting consumption soon after the battle.I wonder if the thought of that has ever worried Nolan.“willie Ritchie seems, by-bis willingness to meet McFarland, who la by Tar the best of the lightweight contendere for tbe title, to be a genuine champion Nelson n«*ver would fight McFarland while flat held the title, Wolgast never co. :d be dragged Into a ring with Packey.“It Is refreshing to find that there is one champion who doesn’t intend to trr to stall along and hold his money earning UO*-.by avoiding those who might have a chance to take it H^ay. and Ritchie knowg McFarland. Ilo .,oxelt;i with Pnrkey on the roadbreak; and now he’M come across with 310.000 or I'll remain In vaudeville. And that's no dream, either, Miss Seeley and I have bookings covering the next twenty-two weeks. That will keep us busy till June 1; ao you see, New York must pay me my price or do without the 'Reuben' next season.Conspiracy ^gainst Him.So'much for the salary question; now comes the part about the alleged conspiracy to keep Marquartl out of the world’s series—the part McCJVaw laughs at. Oa t^la subject the Rubo discoursed an follows to the St Louis sport writers: -MdGraw didn't want to upe me In the world's series. He know that I Intended holding out for n big salaryincrease this year, and thought he could get along without ine. He didn't want to give me a chance to add to my prestige and thought he ’could win the scricB with Matty and Tesreau. Tbe New York baseball.writers made him uBe me, however. When Boston got out in fro'nt the write rb howled for the 'Rube,' and McGraw was forced to Send me In.. 'So much for Marquard and his nlde of the case. Now hearken unto Me-Graw7 tho manager—the: man wbo-hB the last say: . . .., “Is It true,” was asked, that Mar-quord is a hold-out?”'I don’t think so.” came the reply. “Ah I told you,. L believe It is a coso of the Rube seeking notoriety. Further than this I don’t care to discuss the case. I im too busy with my 'act.',and have decided not to meddle in baseball matters until after the first of the year.Taking Life Easy.“Areu’t you dvlbK anythin^ in bano ball-now?*' was the next question.Not a thing; I.am taking life easy and am not worrying aboat pitchers, .catchers. Inflelders, outfielders or pennants. I’ll have enough of that to do when I .get back Into harness again. __l'How about the 1913 pennant?. Are tbe Giants going to repeat?'1Oh, eay! _ Lay off that .stuff!. What'a the use of meeting trouble when you don’t have to? I’m -apt bothering my head about \peuuftnta now.”How about the Pirates—the Pirates with Roger brosnnben on their ptaffr Well, Bresnahan la a might good man and he’ll help more than Borae.'-That ehded tho Interview.”and in- training quarters for Beveralweeks.“Jlltchte has often spoken well of Packey. He admires the Chicagoan, and hasn’t been backward about saying ao. In..loot,* his feeling toward Packey is quite friendly.-Yet he is willing to «Jve him a chance to flgnt for the lightweight title that Ritchie holds.This Is the generous spirit of emulation that should be encouraged. In the old days It was customary to advertise boxing contests as ‘grudge fights.' Today boxing is a sport. Per-, sonal apimoalty has no place in lt,_| ally moreTBan in a running race or a hockey game or a football match or any other branch of sport.”
Newspaper Details
Gazette and Bulletin
Williamsport, Pennsylvania, US
Wed, Dec 11, 1912
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
John H.
IL, USA 31 Dec 2017
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