Willie Ritchie Explained

Willie Ritchie
Realname:Gerhardt Anthony Steffen
Nickname:Willie
Weight:115 - 145 lbs.
Reach:26½″ [1]
Nationality:American
Birth Date:13 February 1891
Birth Place:San Francisco, California
Death Date: (aged 84)
Death Place:Burlingame, California
Total:77
Wins:45
Losses:14
Draws:17
Ko:9
No Contests:1
Style:orthodox

Willie Ritchie (born Gerhardt Anthony Steffen, February 13, 1891  - March 24, 1975), was the World lightweight champion from 1912 to 1914.[2] [3]

Gerhardt Anthony Steffen was born in San Francisco, California on February 13, 1891. He began his boxing career in 1907 under the name of "Willie Ritchie" so that his mother would not be aware of his career.

On July 16, 1908, he met future World Bantamweight Champion Jimmy Walsh at the Reliance Athletic Club in Oakland, California, and won a six-round points decision. Ritchie was one of the most accomplished opponents Reagan would meet in his early career.

Ritchie's first title shot was with reigning 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.[4]

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.[5]

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.

Ritchie was a 1962 inductee to The Ring magazine's Boxing Hall of Fame (disbanded in 1987),[6] and a 2004 inductee to the International Boxing Hall of Fame. He died in Burlingame, California, in 1975.

Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec,[7] unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
77Win33–10–16 Dick HoppePTS6Aug 29, 1927
76Win32–10–16 Bobby LaSallePTS6Aug 5, 1927
75Win31–10–16 Tommy ComiskeyKO4 (4)Jun 28, 1927
74Loss30–10–16 Joe SimonichPTS4Aug 20, 1924
73Win30–9–16 Buck HolleyPTS4May 31, 1923
72Loss29–9–16 Benny LeonardTKO8 (8)Apr 28, 1919
71Win29–8–16 Benny LeonardNWS4Feb 21, 1919
70Win29–8–16 Frankie JonesPTS4May 10, 1918
69Loss28–8–16 Marty FarrellPTS4Oct 10, 1917
68Win28–7–16 Battling OrtegaPTS4Sep 10, 1917
67Win27–7–16 Frank BarrieauPTS4Sep 3, 1917
66Draw26–7–16 Frank BarrieauPTS4Aug 22, 1917
65Win26–7–15 Johnny McCarthyPTS4Aug 3, 1917
64Win25–7–15 Sid MitchellKO4 (4)Dec 3, 1916
63Win24–7–15 Sid MitchellPTS4Nov 22, 1916
62Draw23–7–15 Johnny McCarthyPTS10Nov 12, 1916
61Win23–7–14 Johnny McCarthyPTS10Oct 12, 1916
60Win22–7–14 Willie HoppePTS4Aug 11, 1916
59Draw21–7–14 Willie HoppePTS4Jun 30, 1916
58Win21–7–13 Ralph GrumanNWS6Jun 6, 1916
57Loss21–7–13 Ted Kid LewisNWS10Dec 28, 1915
56Win21–7–13 Eddie McAndrewsNWS6Dec 20, 1915
55Win21–7–13 Eddie McAndrewsNWS6Nov 22, 1915
54Loss21–7–13 Johnny DundeeNWS10Oct 26, 1915
53Draw21–7–13 Matty BaldwinPTS12May 18, 1915
52Win21–7–12 Johnny GriffithsNWS6Apr 9, 1915
51Win21–7–12 Freddie WelshNWS10Mar 11, 1915
50Draw21–7–12 Johnny DundeePTS4Oct 23, 1914
49Loss21–7–11 Freddie WelshPTS20Jul 7, 1914
48Loss21–6–11 Charley WhiteNWS10May 26, 1914
47Win21–6–11 Harlem Tommy MurphyPTS20Apr 17, 1914
46Win20–6–11 Ad WolgastNWS10Mar 12, 1914
45Win20–6–11 Leach CrossNWS10Nov 10, 1913
44Win20–6–11 Mexican Joe RiversKO11 (20)Jul 4, 1913
43Win19–6–11 Ad WolgastDQ16 (20)Nov 28, 1912
42Draw18–6–11 Joe MandotNWS10Jun 24, 1912
41Win18–6–11 Ad WolgastNWS4May 11, 1912
40Draw18–6–11 Phil BrockPTS10Feb 22, 1912
39Loss18–6–10 Charley TurnerNWS6Feb 10, 1912
38Win18–6–10 Young ErneNWS6Feb 7, 1912
37Win18–6–10 Harry TrendallNWS6Jan 27, 1912
36Win18–6–10 Yankee SchwartzKO2 (10)Jan 22, 1912
35Win17–6–10 Milburn SaylorNWS6Jan 13, 1912
34Draw17–6–10 Paul KöhlerPTS12Jan 1, 1912
33Loss17–6–9 Freddie WelshPTS20Nov 30, 1911
32Win17–5–9 Jerry MurphyPTS4Nov 17, 1911
31Win16–5–9 Jack BrittonPTS4Oct 6, 1911
30Draw15–5–9 Johnny McCarthyPTS10Sep 20, 1911
29Win15–5–8 Tommy McFarlandKO4 (20)Sep 16, 1911
28Loss14–5–8 Matty BaldwinPTS20Aug 31, 1911
27Draw14–4–8 Johnny McCarthyPTS4Aug 11, 1911
26Win14–4–7 Charley ReillyPTS4May 5, 1911
25Draw13–4–7 Johnny McCarthyPTS4Mar 10, 1911
24Draw13–4–6 Charley ReillyPTS4Feb 17, 1911
23Win13–4–5 Guy LeePTS4Dec 9, 1910
22Win12–4–5 Abe LabelPTS4Dec 2, 1910
21Win11–4–5 Abe LabelPTS4Nov 18, 1910
20Draw10–4–5 Jimmy FittonPTS4Jun 17, 1910
19Win10–4–4 Anton LaGravePTS6Dec 21, 1909
18Win9–4–4 Kid FrenchKO8 (?)Nov 25, 1909
17Loss8–4–4 Oakland Frankie BurnsPTS6Sep 14, 1909
16Win8–3–4 Jim FordPTS4Jul 21, 1909
15Loss7–3–4 Charley ReillyPTS6May 21, 1909
14Win7–2–4 Tony JosephKO3 (?)Apr 22, 1909
136–2–4 Eddie MenneyNC6 (6)Dec 29, 1908
12Win6–2–4Willie O'NeillPTS6Nov 24, 1908
11Draw5–2–4Tommy McCarthyPTS4Sep 25, 1908
10Draw5–2–3Tommy McCarthyPTS6Aug 28, 1908
9Win5–2–2Jimmy ReaganPTS6Jul 16, 1908
8Win4–2–2Alex McDonaldPTS6Feb 27, 1908
7Win3–2–2Harry DellPTS4Feb 5, 1908
6Draw2–2–2Oakland Eddie MurphyPTS4Dec 19, 1907
5Loss2–2–1Jack DavisPTS4Jul 5, 1907
4Draw2–1–1Kid AustinPTS4Mar 31, 1907
3Win2–1Deacon JonesKO3 (?)Apr 1, 1907
2Win1–1Monk EnochTKO2 (4)Mar 8, 1907
1Loss0–1Eddie SteeleKO1 (?)Jul 19, 1906

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
77Win45–14–17 Dick HoppePTS6Aug 29, 1927
76Win44–14–17 Bobby LaSallePTS6Aug 5, 1927
75Win43–14–17 Tommy ComiskeyKO4 (4)Jun 28, 1927
74Loss42–14–17 Joe SimonichPTS4Aug 20, 1924
73Win42–13–17 Buck HolleyPTS4May 31, 1923
72Loss41–13–17 Benny LeonardTKO8 (8)Apr 28, 1919
71Win41–12–17 Benny LeonardNWS4Feb 21, 1919
70Win40–12–17 Frankie JonesPTS4May 10, 1918
69Loss39–12–17 Marty FarrellPTS4Oct 10, 1917
68Win39–11–17 Battling OrtegaPTS4Sep 10, 1917
67Win38–11–17 Frank BarrieauPTS4Sep 3, 1917
66Draw37–11–17 Frank BarrieauPTS4Aug 22, 1917
65Win37–11–16 Johnny McCarthyPTS4Aug 3, 1917
64Win36–11–16 Sid MitchellKO4 (4)Dec 3, 1916
63Win35–11–16 Sid MitchellPTS4Nov 22, 1916
62Draw34–11–16 Johnny McCarthyPTS10Nov 12, 1916
61Win34–11–15 Johnny McCarthyPTS10Oct 12, 1916
60Win33–11–15 Willie HoppePTS4Aug 11, 1916
59Draw32–11–15 Willie HoppePTS4Jun 30, 1916
58Win32–11–14 Ralph GrumanNWS6Jun 6, 1916
57Loss31–11–14 Ted Kid LewisNWS10Dec 28, 1915
56Win31–10–14 Eddie McAndrewsNWS6Dec 20, 1915
55Win30–10–14 Eddie McAndrewsNWS6Nov 22, 1915
54Loss29–10–14 Johnny DundeeNWS10Oct 26, 1915
53Draw29–9–14 Matty BaldwinPTS12May 18, 1915
52Win29–9–13 Johnny GriffithsNWS6Apr 9, 1915
51Win28–9–13 Freddie WelshNWS10Mar 11, 1915
50Draw27–9–13 Johnny DundeePTS4Oct 23, 1914
49Loss27–9–12 Freddie WelshPTS20Jul 7, 1914
48Loss27–8–12 Charley WhiteNWS10May 26, 1914
47Win27–7–12 Harlem Tommy MurphyPTS20Apr 17, 1914
46Win26–7–12 Ad WolgastNWS10Mar 12, 1914
45Win25–7–12 Leach CrossNWS10Nov 10, 1913
44Win24–7–12 Mexican Joe RiversKO11 (20)Jul 4, 1913
43Win23–7–12 Ad WolgastDQ16 (20)Nov 28, 1912
42Draw22–7–12 Joe MandotNWS10Jun 24, 1912
41Win22–7–11 Ad WolgastNWS4May 11, 1912
40Draw21–7–11 Phil BrockPTS10Feb 22, 1912
39Loss21–7–10 Charley TurnerNWS6Feb 10, 1912
38Win21–6–10 Young ErneNWS6Feb 7, 1912
37Win20–6–10 Harry TrendallNWS6Jan 27, 1912
36Win19–6–10 Yankee SchwartzKO2 (10)Jan 22, 1912
35Win18–6–10 Milburn SaylorNWS6Jan 13, 1912
34Draw17–6–10 Paul KöhlerPTS12Jan 1, 1912
33Loss17–6–9 Freddie WelshPTS20Nov 30, 1911
32Win17–5–9 Jerry MurphyPTS4Nov 17, 1911
31Win16–5–9 Jack BrittonPTS4Oct 6, 1911
30Draw15–5–9 Johnny McCarthyPTS10Sep 20, 1911
29Win15–5–8 Tommy McFarlandKO4 (20)Sep 16, 1911
28Loss14–5–8 Matty BaldwinPTS20Aug 31, 1911
27Draw14–4–8 Johnny McCarthyPTS4Aug 11, 1911
26Win14–4–7 Charley ReillyPTS4May 5, 1911
25Draw13–4–7 Johnny McCarthyPTS4Mar 10, 1911
24Draw13–4–6 Charley ReillyPTS4Feb 17, 1911
23Win13–4–5 Guy LeePTS4Dec 9, 1910
22Win12–4–5 Abe LabelPTS4Dec 2, 1910
21Win11–4–5 Abe LabelPTS4Nov 18, 1910
20Draw10–4–5 Jimmy FittonPTS4Jun 17, 1910
19Win10–4–4 Anton LaGravePTS6Dec 21, 1909
18Win9–4–4 Kid FrenchKO8 (?)Nov 25, 1909
17Loss8–4–4 Oakland Frankie BurnsPTS6Sep 14, 1909
16Win8–3–4 Jim FordPTS4Jul 21, 1909
15Loss7–3–4 Charley ReillyPTS6May 21, 1909
14Win7–2–4 Tony JosephKO3 (?)Apr 22, 1909
136–2–4 Eddie MenneyNC6 (6)Dec 29, 1908
12Win6–2–4Willie O'NeillPTS6Nov 24, 1908
11Draw5–2–4Tommy McCarthyPTS4Sep 25, 1908
10Draw5–2–3Tommy McCarthyPTS6Aug 28, 1908
9Win5–2–2Jimmy ReaganPTS6Jul 16, 1908
8Win4–2–2Alex McDonaldPTS6Feb 27, 1908
7Win3–2–2Harry DellPTS4Feb 5, 1908
6Draw2–2–2Oakland Eddie MurphyPTS4Dec 19, 1907
5Loss2–2–1Jack DavisPTS4Jul 5, 1907
4Draw2–1–1Kid AustinPTS4Mar 31, 1907
3Win2–1Deacon JonesKO3 (?)Apr 1, 1907
2Win1–1Monk EnochTKO2 (4)Mar 8, 1907
1Loss0–1Eddie SteeleKO1 (?)Jul 19, 1906

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: boxer: Willie Ritchie . 2008-04-28 . BoxRec.
  2. Encyclopedia: Willie Ritchie . The Cyber Boxing Encyclopedia . 2008-01-07 . 2008-04-28 .
  3. Web site: IBHOF / Willie Ritchie . International Boxing Hall of Fame . 2004-01-10 . 2008-04-28 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080303211308/http://www.ibhof.com/ritchie.htm . 2008-03-03.
  4. News: Wolgast, Tottering, Fouls Ritchie; Referee Disqualifies Champion in Sixteenth Round of California Fight. . November 29, 1912 . The New York Times . PDF . 2008-04-28 . 13.
  5. News: Ritchie Expected a Draw. American Says He Did All the Fighting and Welsh Held On. . Associated Press . The New York Times . PDF . July 8, 1914 . 2008-04-28 . 10.
  6. News: Willie Ritchie Dies at 84; Ex-Lightweight Champion . 1975-03-27 . 2008-04-28 . The New York Times . Associated Press . PDF, fee required . 28.
  7. Web site: BoxRec: Willie Ritchie.

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