Willie Ritchie

Infobox Boxer
name = Willie Ritchie


imagesize =
realname = Gerhardt Anthony Steffen
nickname =
weight = 115–145 lbs.
height = height|ft=5|in=6.25|frac=4
reach = 26½″ cite web | url=http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=011916&cat=boxer | accessdate = 2008-04-28 | title=boxer: Willie Ritchie | work=BoxRec]
nationality = United States
birth_date = birth date|1891|2|13
birth_place = San Francisco, California
death_date = death date|1975|3|24
death_place = Burlingame, California
total = 80
wins = 48
losses = 13
draws = 18
KO = 8
style = orthodox

Willie Ritchie (born Gerhardt Anthony Steffen, February 13, 1891 – March 24, 1975), was the world lightweight boxing champion from 1912 to 1914.cite web | title=IBHOF / Willie Ritchie | url=http://www.ibhof.com/ritchie.htm | publisher=International Boxing Hall of Fame | date=2004-01-10 | accessdate=2008-04-28] cite web | title=Willie Ritchie | url=http://cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/ritchie.htm | work=The Cyber Boxing Encyclopedia | date=2008-01-07 | accessdate=2008-04-28 ]

Biography

Ritchie was born in San Francisco, California. He began his boxing career in 1907 under the assumed name of "Willie Ritchie" so that his mother wouldn't know.

Ritchie's first title shot in a match with lightweight champion Ad Wolgast on November 28, 1912 in San Francisco. Ritchie dominated the fight, and after Wolgast landed two blows below the belt in the sixteenth round, the referee called the fight for Ritchie.cite news | title=Wolgast, Tottering, Fouls Ritchie; Referee Disqualifies Champion in Sixteenth Round of California Fight. | date=November 29, 1912 | work=The New York Times | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E02E0DF103CE633A2575AC2A9679D946396D6CF | format=PDF | accessdate=2008-04-28 | page=13]

He held the title for two years, successfully defending it four times. In 1914, he sailed to London to face the British lightweight champion, Freddie Welsh. Welsh won the 20-round match by decision.cite news | title=Ritchie Expected a Draw. American Says He Did All the Fighting and Welsh Held On. | author=Associated Press | authorlink=Associated Press | work=The New York Times | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9801EFD91F39E633A2575BC0A9619C946596D6CF | format=PDF | date=July 8, 1914 | accessdate=2008-04-28 | page=10]

After losing his title, Ritchie continued to fight until retiring in 1927. In 1937, he became chief inspector for the California State Athletic Commission, a position he held until 1961.

He was inducted in the Boxing Hall of Fame in 1962.cite news | title="Willie Ritchie Dies at 84; Ex-Lightweight Champion | date=1975-03-27 | accessdate=2008-04-28 | url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70F14FF395E157493C5AB1788D85F418785F9 | work=The New York Times | author=Associated Press | authorlink=Associated Press | format=PDF, fee required | page=28] He died in Burlingame, California in 1975.

References