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Syracuse Herald 27 October 1915 What New York Critics Said About Ritchie – Dundee Go
New York, Oct. 27.—Johnny Dundee beat Willie Ritchie the former lightweight champion of the world, in their bout at Madison Square Garden and beat him through all but about two of ten hot rounds. The queer hop toad tactics of the little Italian seemed to completely befuddle the one-time title holder. Willie was more of a welterweight than a lightweight on the scales, having nearly ten pounds advantage over Dundee and he was more of a second rater than a champion in the ring. A fast and clean boxer at his best, there were moments when he seemed painfully slow before the weird squatting, hopping; bouncing attack of the Italian.
In the eighth the Californian appeared to finally be getting unlimbered and he caught Dundee on the tip of the jaw with a right hand lick that knocked Johnny to the ropes, following this a second later with another slashing right that staggered Dundee. In the ninth he unveiled a beautiful right cross, catching Dundee fair on the jaw, but the Italian proved that there is no glass in his facial structure by shaking off the punch and then winning the round.
Ritchie was cautioned for holding by Bill Brown in the fourth. In the fifth the fighters fall in a heap when Johnny almost hurdled Ritchie in a wild rush. Once Willie slipped and fell on the wet canvas, the rain falling through the open skylight and dampening the surroundings. Through the earlier stages of the fight Ritchie fought in a dazed manner and let Dundee swarm all over him. But in the concluding rounds he was fighting In something like the form that once made him champion.
He had no chance to catch up however. Dundee tried to make every round a winning round and won too far away foe any argument.
There was a row over the matter of weights although the men had agreed to box at catch weights. However there is a boxing commission rule that prohibits one man from weighing ten pounds more than the other. Monteith brought up this rule and after Ritchie had entered the ring the chairman of the commission took him back to the weighing room. He tipped the beam at 141 ¼ pounds with just his shoes on. Dundee who had also entered the ring went back and showed that he weighed 132 ½ pounds.
By Freddie WelshLightweight Champion Of The World
Johnny Dundee defeated Willie Ritchie in their ten round bout last night. According to my figures Dundee had the advantage in four rounds, three were even and the rest go to Ritchie.
It was a hard slashing fight, and Dundee deserves credit for his showing when you consider he was forced to give away about nine pounds. Dundee did the only thing possible by being on the offensive most of the time, for that was the only way he could overcome the handicap.
Ritchie put up his usual aggressive fight, but he couldn't keep up with his light-footed rival. In the ninth round it looked gloomy for Dundee. Ritchie landed hard rights to Dundee's heart. Willie landed a few hard rights and at the finish Johnny appeared to me to be rather tired.
The weight and steady bearing of Ritchie appeared to tire the little Italian. The last round was a thriller arid both boys worked hard enough to get the crowd to its feet.
It is hard thing for a man like Ritchie to fight a fast boy like Dundee, so you've got to give Ritchie credit just the same.
It was terribly disappointing that more persons didn't turn out to see this good fight. As far as I am concerned I'm still willing to fight either Dundee or Ritchie if satisfactory arrangements can be made. Of course, one of the stipulations must be that the fight is conducted under the lightweight scale.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Friends of Willie Ritchie, champion, and Johnny Dundee, the Italian fighter, disagree over the outcome of their ten-round bout last night Each side claimed their man had the advantage. Dundee had all the better of the early rounds. His fast work puzzled Ritchie, and it was not until the last few rounds that Ritchie got the Italian's measure and gave him a severe lacing, evening- up what advantage the New Yorker had earlier in the bout.
NEW YORK HERALD
Willie Ritchie the Californian boxer who formally held the lightweight championship but who was trained down fine to make 141 pounds, last night fought a draw of ten rounds with "Johnny" .Dundee, the local contender for the title. Dundee weighed only a little more than 132 pounds and was a true lightweight. If Ritchie had weighed two pounds more than he did there would have been no contest, for the rules of the commission will not permit two contenders in the smaller classes to meet when there is a difference of ten ponds between them.
New York Tribune
Willie Ritchie of California is lightweight champion of America today only because decisions are not allowed in this State. he met Johnny Dundee of this city in a ten round bout at Madison Square Garden last night and came out second best after a bout, which sizzled with action in every round, Had the battle been of greater duration Ritchie might have won, for during the last three rounds he easily swept Dundee before him. But the conflict was for only ten rounds, and in perhaps six of these the local lad showed superiority.
New York Sun
Johnny Dundee a legitimate lightweight of this city, out boxed Willie Ritchie in their ten-round bout at Madison Square garden last night. Ritchie, a California boy used to be lightweight champion of the world before he lost a decision in twenty rounds to Freddie Welsh, the Briton. Ritchie never will be lightweight champion again —not unless he loses a leg or a couple of
arms. He is a welterweight and cannot get away from It. Ritchie last night weighed 141 ¼ pounds, with his shoe Dundee 132 ½ in the same equipment.
New York World
By the grace of the Boxing commission Willie Ritchie of California ,still is the lightweight champion of America. It was a fortunate thing for him that the commission would not permit Referee Bill Brown to give a decision. Had permission been granted Ritchie would have lost his title for Johnny Dundee of New York gave him the trouncing of his life in a ten-round bout at Madison Square garden last night. Dundee had a clear advantage of seven rounds, Ritchie pained the honors in the eighth and split the popular decision in the other two chapters. Dundee was Ritchie;s master at all styles of fighting.
NEW YORK TIMES
Willie Ritchie, the American lightweight champion, had to extend himself to the limit to get a draw in a speedy, slashing ten-round bout with Johnny Dundee at Madison Square Garden last night. The bounding Italian's fast work early in the bout puzzled the champion, and he missed repeatedly. It wasn't until the last few rounds that Ritchie got Dundee's measure, and then he gave him a severe lacing.
The eighth round was a whirlwind and while Dundee was dancing rapidly around his opponent Ritchie clipped him with a right on the jaw, which took the little Italian off his feet and shot him against the ropes. Ritchie drove Dundee around the ring under his fierce attack, and when on the other aide of the ring he again hit him on the jaw and partially knocked him off his feet.
New York Press
In one of those old-fashioned, give-and-take, cockle-of the heart-warming scraps such as father used to see in the old bare-knuckle days, Johnny Dundee shaded Willie Ritchie, the former world's champion lightweight, in Madison Square garden last night. Ritchie was defeated, but not disgraced, and showed himself to be every inch a champion. Scotty Montieth's Scotch Wop only was better geared for ten rounds—that was all. All the credit to the dank-skinned flashing son of Italy, however, for his victory on points, for the raging, fighting little scion of the Caesars gave away eight and three-quarter pounds to the former lightweight king of the squared circle, and emerged with a victory which, though as slim as the hair from off the beard of the prophet, was clear and pronounced. What the result would have been in a longer bout is a matter of conjecture. Last nights battle was a ten round affair, and in It Willie Ritchie had to play second fiddle.
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