Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 310, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1910 — RYAN WAS FIRST CHAMPION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

RYAN WAS FIRST CHAMPION

Syracuse Fighter Gives Interesting Statement as to How He Won Title From Needham. Tommy Ryan was asked for a statement regarding the first welterweight champion. Boston papers put forth the claim, recently, of Paddy Duffy for this honor and others said Ryan was entitled to it. Ryan claims to be the first welterweight champion of the world, but gives to Duffy the honor of being the first welter champion of America. Here is Ryan’s statements as mads to a newspaper correspondent of Syracuse, N. Y. "Paddy Duffy of Boston was recognized as the first welterweight champion. He dropped out of the game—just how I do not recollect, and then

Patsy Carrigan of Boston and Denny Needham of Minneapolis fought 106 rounds to a draw in California for the title. “Needham claimed the title, for Patsy did not stay in the game much longer. Needham was generally recognized as the champion and I was matched with him for a finish match for the honors. “Let me say right here that in those days champions had to make weight at the ringside, with their fighting togs and gloves on. There was no such thing as weighing in at 3 o'clock in the afternoon and fighting six hours later. “For five hours and five minutes Needham and I fought. The bout, which took place in 1891, went 76 rounds and I won on a knockout. I was then recognized as the champion of America. “Tom Williams came over from Australia about that time. He was recognized as the welter champion of the land of the kangaroo, having beaten George Dawson for the Australian title. “William's first fight in this country was with Mysterious Billy Smith and Smith knocked him out in three rounds at Coney Island. Smith then challenged me to fight for the world’s championship. had the Australian title while I held! that of America. “We fought in Minneapolis and I won in twenty rounds, making me the undisputed welterweight champion of the world. “My next fight for the title took place in The Alhambra here in 1897. Tommy Tracy had come over from Australia and claimed the championship of that country. He challenged me, and when we met I knocked him out in nine rounds. “After this bout I drifted into the

middleweight division, leaving Walcott, Smith and others to battle for the welter honors. ‘‘Right now it is pretty hard to say who is the legitimate welterweight champion. I doubt if there is a real welterweight champion at the present day. By that I mean a man who can make weight, 142 pounds,, at the ringside, as all the old-time fighters had to do.”

Tommy Ryan.