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Show LITTLE MURPHY MONEY IS SEEN Ritchie Favorite Over "Harlem "Har-lem Tommy" Champion Expected to Win San Francisco, Dec. 9. Indications tonight are that there will be less rioney wagered on tomorrow's twen-i twen-i v round contest between Willie Rit-i Rit-i hie and ' Harlem Tommy" Murphy than on any similar event In the his toty of the fight game in San Francisco Fran-cisco This state of affairs is due to the overwhelming consensus of opinion Mliat the present rliamplon will have ! l. th. rir r,.- li-nnhlo In retaining hla title. For the past three days odds of 2 to l have been offered on th' j Champion, but with practically no Murphy money in sight, the heavy Ritchie commission having cone bee I aing Odds of even money that Ritchie Rit-chie would win Inside the twenty round limit have been received with little more enthusiasm by the Mur phy followers and unless the Murphy Mur-phy men rome from under cover at the eleventh hour, It will not be surprising sur-prising If Ritchie enters the ring a 1 to 1 favorite Reports from both camps tonight are that th men are fit to fight for a kings ransom P.oth .ire under the stipulated 186 pounds, anil each Is confident of victory. ' All I can say to my friends is that I have trained faithfully anil will enter en-ter the ring In the best of shape." s.iid Ritchie "T am not worrying about the result I never do for any of my fights. ' W hat kind of a tight I will make I cannot say No fichter can tell about that until he nets Into action. I' takes two to make n fight, just 53 It takes two to make an argn-ment. argn-ment. 1 will do my best No boxer ever thought more of his championship than I do of mine The man who takes It from me will have to fight miKhty hard " "I have v.aited a long time for the opportunity to fight for the light-v light-v r ight championship of the world.'" said Murphy "Now that I have the chance at the title, the fans may rest assured that every bit of skill and every bit of strength I possess will be utilised in my efforts to win "1 would, of course, prefer to meet Ilitchie at 133 pounds, which Is the proper lightweight limit, and my true fighting weight. But Ritchie Is champion and he fixed tho limit at 135. So there was nothing for me to do but give In The weight will thus favor the champion But 1 in not worried." |