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Show -t- " 'SBi b I II i I I lra I HI II II H I IIEBM Ritchie Welcomes Fred Welsh to Ranks of Ex-Champs DENVER, May 30. Willie Ritchie, former lightweight champion of the world, and one of the classiest little athletes who ever graced tho prize ring, climbed into his motor car this morning. A few moments later he "opened her up" and wont whizzing away to St. Louis, where the advertising advertis-ing men of the world will assemble in their annual convention on Juno 3, Willie paused long enough on tho running run-ning board to remark: "Well, another fellow has Joined our association of ex-champs!" Of courso he referred to the defeat of Freddlo Welsh at the hands of Bennle Leonard in Gotham last night. While it Is a well known fact that jM Rltchio has never loved Welsh like a S brother professionally, there was no jM feeling of exultation in his tono as he '9 commented on the passing of the Pride jm of Pontypridd, Wales. Wt It was on July 7, 1914, In London, S that Welsh won the lightweight laurels 'fl from tho samo Wllllo Rltchio, who vis- jfl Ited Denver yesterday and this morn- fl lng. Willie forced Wolsh to some se- fl vore terms prior to tho battlo and in Wl stead of winning a purse on the bout, jH Welsh lost something like $10,000 to M gain the championship. But that 21 round victory over Rltchio brought W him a "mint of money" in tho long M run, undor tho shrowd guidance of m Harry Pollok. Ever since that bout Ritchie clam ored for a return, claiming that Welsh -fl had not earned a clean-cut victory. SL But Welsh always hold that Ritchie ! must Induce some promoter to give S him terms Identical with thoso that V Rltchio had demanded In their memor- able London engagement, so tho battle ! never took place. Some hard fooling V developed between tho pair on this Jl account. At any rato, It takes tho soft- K onlng hand of tlmo to smooth tho ran S kled feelings that usually exist be- 9 tween tho conquered and the conquer- S or. -JH "Leonnrd will provo ono of tho most 9 popular champions tho ring has seen M in recent years. He will elevate the '9 game. Welsh, while a charming chap 9 personally, Is not a pleasing fighter. 9 Whllo very scientific on tho dofenso, 9 ho lacks the aggTesslvoness that 9 marks Leonard's style. And Leonard 9 ls-'vory handy with tho mittens, too. 9 In addition to his extreme clovorness, 9 ho has tho punch. Ho has all tho good 9 points of Welsh, Charlie White, Dun- 9 dee and others, eliminating their weak 9 spots. He is a second Joo Cans in 9 ring generalship." '9 Rltchio is halo and hearty. Ho 9 woighs 146 pounds and Isn't trying to 9 reduce. Ho does but little gymnastic Si work, now living for tho moBt part in 9 tho open air. Ho Intends to start an m automobile establishment in San Fran- 91 Cisco after tho war. but until that timo L is.holdlng himself ready for service for Bk the flag. w |