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Show I CHAMPION HERE TO MEET ALL ! ' COMERS L Erwln Ireland, better known to the aporung world as Kid Irish," the champion featherweight wrestler of the world, arrived In Ogden yesterdav afternoon on his way to Portland, Ore . The "Kid" has JuBt finished a tour of the eastern cities On reaching Ogden he was Inter- j viewed by the sporting writer of the Standard, who relates hi story as fol- I l0WR "When Ireland, or Irish, a.- he ill I called, came up to me and Introduced 1 himself as the champion featherweight feather-weight wrestler of the world, 1 want- ed to laugh, for one looking at 'Irish l' would think that he was a candidate for a ward in a tuberculosis hospital But It was not long before 1 had changed my mind. When the "Kid" gripped my hand In a friendly shake I thought my hand was In a vice "Irish 1b a slender, serious-faced lad of 24, yet he has muscle that i Sandow might well be proud of, and when he sets them, they are as solid as iron " When asked my the reporter If he had a manager, Irish said: I "I have been In the wrestling game I I I a lltrlr- better than 11 ears and In if Hj that length of time I have wrestled over 400 times with the average J! fl weight of my opponents being a frac- I)g tlon over 135 poundB I have trained hard most of my life so that I could make a success at my game and up wL to this time I have lost only five matches. After I have worked hard for a match and have won It, T don't like to have a manager come up to me and shake hands and say 'You i did fine boy. I think I have another match for you here? and then talk a ; little and make another match, and finally get the long end of the money. When I wrestle 1 want the money, so, like Willie Ritchie, I manage myself. my-self. Thl Is the second time "Irish ' has been champion of his division, for It has been only since last October that the "Kid" was wrestling at 115 pounds. He held the world's championship at J that weight until he started In the featherweight, 122-pound division, where he has been successful In reaching the highest honors. "Irish" it eager to arrange a match before he leaves for his home In Portland, Port-land, and Is willing to give oxtra weight to any one seeking a go with him He would like to get a match with Harlln Payton with a guarantee to throw him twice In an hour. This is the chance to see a fine match, if the arrangements can he completed before "Irish" leaves, and It should draw a big crowd to one of the parks or the Orpheum. Should Payton or any other lightweight light-weight care to accept thlB challenge, "Irish" can be found at the Standard office. |