1. Freddie Welsh turned professional as a boxer in Philadelphia in 1905, and spent the best part of his career fighting in the United States.
110 Facts About Freddie Welsh
1. 2.
Freddie Welsh spent much of his career chasing the world championship title, held in turn by Battling Nelson, Ad Wolgast and Willie Ritchie, failing through a series of events to meet each until a successful encounter with Ritchie in July 1914, when he finally became world lightweight champion.
3.
Freddie Welsh held the title until 1917 when he lost to Benny Leonard, though he continued to fight sparingly until 1922.
4.
Freddie Welsh was born in Pontypridd on 5 March 1886, to John Thomas and his wife Elizabeth Thomas.
5.
Freddie Welsh's father was one such commercial immigrant, setting up a business on Taff Street as an auctioneer.
6.
Freddie Welsh's parents moved into 17 Morgan Street in the town, where Freddie Welsh was born.
7.
Freddie Welsh had two younger siblings, a brother, Arthur Stanley and a sister, Edith Kate.
8.
Freddie Welsh's mother was the daughter of a hotelier from Merthyr, and the Bridge Inn was her responsibility, as John Thomas was often away from home.
9.
Freddie Welsh's mother, faced with running the hotel alone, sent Kate and Stanley to an aunt in Merthyr, while Welsh was sent to his maternal grandfather in Radyr.
10.
Freddie Welsh failed to find steady work in the States, and although his mother thought he was earning a regular wage and living comfortably, Freddie Welsh was actually taking any casual work that was offered him.
11.
When Freddie Welsh was mugged while sleeping at a cheap hotel, he was given a job as a porter by the sympathetic hotel manager.
12.
Freddie Welsh was allowed to sleep in the gym, was given all his meals, plus $1 salary a day.
13.
Freddie Welsh subsidised his work as a trainer, as a boxing instructor and training director at Brown's Gymnasium.
14.
Freddie Welsh then found work at a well-known New York gymnasium for $8 a day, the wage barely paid his meals but he took the job to learn the boxing profession.
15.
Freddie Welsh first chose Fred Cymry, Cymry meaning Welsh, but on writing to Fanny, she suggested that 'Welsh' would be less confusing.
16.
Freddie Welsh took Jack Clancy on as his American manager, and on 21 December 1905 he experienced his first professional bout.
17.
From that fight, Freddie Welsh started to take more frequent matches, sometimes accepting two bouts a week to build up his experience and stamina.
18.
Freddie Welsh injured his favoured right hand in the sixth round, forcing him to box left-handed for the next eleven rounds, and won the match by technical knockout after downing Keys twice in the sixteenth round, and again in the seventeenth.
19.
Freddie Welsh took another extended break, and when he returned to the ring, both he and Dunn agreed to another encounter, this time a twenty-round match at Dayton.
20.
Freddie Welsh now had a fine record behind him, but a few days after the Gleeson fight, he received news from Wales that his mother was seriously ill, and with Fanny still in New York, he returned to Britain on the Etruria.
21.
When Freddie Welsh returned to Britain, he was still an unknown, even in boxing circles.
22.
Freddie Welsh took the contest on points and followed this up with another points victory at the NSC, this time a 15-round bout against Young Joseph.
23.
In Freddie Welsh's previous fight Driscoll had been part of Freddie Welsh's corner, so it came as some surprise to Driscoll when his friend was over enthusiastic in the challenge, attacking him with kidney and rabbit punches.
24.
Some individuals had felt that Freddie Welsh had embraced America too much, and had undertaken too many 'Yankee' mannerisms, forgetting his home country.
25.
Freddie Welsh's final fight in Britain until 1910, took place in Pontypridd on 3 October, when he faced two opponents on the same night.
26.
Freddie Welsh stopped both in five rounds, first beating Gunnar Hart, the welterweight champion of the Royal Navy; then Arthur Ellis.
27.
An insight into Freddie Welsh's personality was recorded in a legal case he raised which was concluded after he had left for the States.
28.
On 2 November 1907, Freddie Welsh faced Cyclone Johnny Thompson at the National Athletic Club in the city.
29.
Freddie Welsh then experienced his first American fight outside Pennsylvania when a bout was arranged between him and Dave Deshler at the Winnisemmet Club in Chelsea, Massachusetts.
30.
Freddie Welsh went on to beat Eddie Carter in Philadelphia on Christmas Day 1907, Kid Locke on 2 January and then Maurice Sayers at the Milwaukee Boxing Club.
31.
Freddie Welsh then faced local Milwaukee boxer Charley Neary in a ten-round match, the decision going to the referee Al Bright, who called the encounter a draw.
32.
The contest caused controversy after Freddie Welsh was floored in the fourth round following what is believed to be a low shot.
33.
McFarland took the result badly and launched into a vicious tirade of abuse towards Jeffries, though Freddie Welsh too thought he had done enough to win in the first two-thirds of the fight and sent a cablegram to Wales stating such.
34.
Around this time, Freddie Welsh received a promise of a fight from fellow Brit Johnny Summers for the European title, but the major challenger in California was Abe Attell, the featherweight champion of the world since 1906.
35.
Under stormy weather conditions, Freddie Welsh won by points in a fifteen-round match, with one newspaper reporting that although Attell did not lose his featherweight title, he did "lose the title that he has held for years, that being the cleverest man in the game".
36.
Freddie Welsh followed up the Attell fight with a narrow victory over George Memsic in Los Angeles, before heading to New Orleans to take a points victory over Young Erne and then a knock-out win over Ray Bronson.
37.
Shortly after the Bronson fight, Freddie Welsh learned that Nelson had no intention of facing him, deciding to face three more opponents before retiring; none of these talks included Freddie Welsh.
38.
Freddie Welsh carried on fighting, with one final match in New Orleans against Young Donahue.
39.
Freddie Welsh finished off his tour of America with far more convincing displays over Jack Goodman and Phil Brock.
40.
Freddie Welsh began his British return with an encounter with Young Joseph at the Pavilion in Mountain Ash, a 20-round match which only reached the eleventh after Young was disqualified for two low punches.
41.
Just over a month later, Freddie Welsh was back fighting in Mountain Ash, to face little known French lightweight Henri Piet.
42.
Freddie Welsh took control in the first round and never let Summers into the fight.
43.
Freddie Welsh took a break away from boxing after winning the Lonsdale Belt, earning good money making theatrical appearances at music halls in London, but a chance meeting with Packy McFarland led to a match being arranged between them.
44.
Freddie Welsh warmed up for the bout with a win over Jack Daniels, before facing McFarland for the third time, now on British soil at Covent Garden.
45.
McFarland started the fight well, and most reporters gave him the first nine rounds, after that Freddie Welsh took most of the rounds, though in the eyes of the British press he failed to claw back the advantage McFarland had opened up in the early rounds.
46.
Driscoll lost his temper with Freddie Welsh, became verbally abusive and stormed out of the meeting.
47.
Freddie Welsh started well, surprising the crowd with a straight back stance, out-jabbing Driscoll, but in the fifth he reverted to his normal crouched stance.
48.
Freddie Welsh's tactics changed and was now using his kidney punch on his opponent, amidst cries of "foul" from the crowd.
49.
Freddie Welsh tried to get in close to Driscoll, holding with one arm and delivering body blows with the other, which saw Driscoll adopt a similar tactic.
50.
In early 1911, Freddie Welsh was about to set off for the United States when Matt Wells, a little-known British boxer who had recently turned professional, challenged him for his title.
51.
Freddie Welsh accepted, but was unprepared for Wells, who had been studying Freddie Welsh for the last eighteen months.
52.
On 27 February 1911 Freddie Welsh entered the ring at Covent Garden to little cheer, with the crowd supporting Wells the underdog.
53.
Freddie Welsh departed for America on 11 March 1911, no longer a champion.
54.
Freddie Welsh won the Baldwin fight on points in a performance that was considered an excellent display of boxing.
55.
When Jones and Freddie Welsh met each other by chance on Windward Avenue in Venice, California, the men came to a heated argument with Jones threatening that he would 'knock his [Freddie Welsh] block off'.
56.
In January 1912, Freddie Welsh dislocated his neck in a bout of wrestling.
57.
Freddie Welsh was now unable to box and running low on money after living beyond his means.
58.
Freddie Welsh then decided to head to New York as to take in some six-round matches to earn some money.
59.
Freddie Welsh fought three more times in America before he returned to Britain, two draws against Grover Hayes and a press decision over Phil Knight.
60.
In September 1912, Freddie Welsh travelled back to Britain on the Mauritania.
61.
Wells took the first four rounds, but in the sixth round, Freddie Welsh landed a combination of punishing blows which slowed the champion down.
62.
The encounter went the full 20 rounds, and although Freddie Welsh won on points he took a severe beating, complaining he found it difficult to sleep from the pain three or four days after the fight.
63.
Freddie Welsh gave up his immediate plans to chase Willie Ritchie and stayed in Wales for a while to be near his family.
64.
Freddie Welsh fought four more fights in Britain, beginning with a home contest in Aberdare against Frenchman Paul Brevieres, who was stopped in the third.
65.
When Freddie Welsh returned to America he was intent on fighting Ritchie, having failed to meet both Nelson and Wolgast.
66.
Freddie Welsh employed the services of Harry Pollok, one of New York's most flamboyant sports impresarios.
67.
When Freddie Welsh arrived in New York, Billy Dolan, Ritchie's manager, announced that the champion would not be fighting for four months as he was touring Europe to fulfil theatrical commitments.
68.
Freddie Welsh sat in with 'Speed King' Bob Burman when he broke the record in 50.8 seconds in his Blitzen Benz.
69.
Freddie Welsh responded to his bad luck by throwing himself back into competitive fighting.
70.
Freddie Welsh faced Phil Bloom in New York, the press decision favouring Welsh, before he returned to Canada for a knockout win over Canadian Champion Arthur Ellis.
71.
Back in the United States, Freddie Welsh, although struggling with his weight was able to best Johnny Dundee in New Orleans, followed by a points victory over Frank Whitney in Atlanta.
72.
Freddie Welsh continued his journey east, stopping at Philadelphia for a match against Sam Robideau.
73.
On his build-up to the match, Freddie Welsh suffered his first defeat since 1911, when Jimmy Duffy took the press decision over eight rounds in Saint Louis.
74.
Rivers started as favourite, but his inexperience showed and Freddie Welsh dominated the entire fight winning on points.
75.
Freddie Welsh wrote to His Majesty thanking him for his support, the next day he received a royal response by telegram.
76.
Freddie Welsh cabled the Olympia Theatre, London, and began booking advertising space.
77.
When Ritchie finally stated that he wanted $50,000, win lose or draw, Freddie Welsh said the price "would make a horse laugh", and was double what he was expecting.
78.
Freddie Welsh played defensive, but landed with jabbing blows to the head, while Ritchie kept looking for the massive knockout punch that would win the match.
79.
Freddie Welsh was declared winner and lightweight boxing champion of the world, with the consensus around the ring that Freddie Welsh took ten rounds, Ritchie five and five were even.
80.
Freddie Welsh's expected payout touring theatres was curtailed and he lost more than $50,000 in music hall engagements alone.
81.
Still, Freddie Welsh wanted to show he was not going to choose soft opposition and began a series of bouts against serious contenders.
82.
Freddie Welsh was expected to retire in 1915, with Harry Pollok stating that he planned to fight on four more occasions before leaving the sport.
83.
Freddie Welsh retired from boxing after a defeat by Archie Walker in 1922, but retired as a wealthy man.
84.
The farm was set in 162 acres and Freddie Welsh spent thousands of dollars on improvements, installing a gymnasium, a state of the art kitchen, golf course, tennis courts and a swimming pool.
85.
Freddie Welsh's idea was to turn it into a health spa, and on 11 August 1917 a host of celebrities and dignitaries were invited to its opening.
86.
Freddie Welsh found Long Hill a poor distraction and thought of joining the British forces, but was persuaded out of the idea by Fanny.
87.
In 1918 Freddie Welsh was struggling with Long Hill and decided he wanted rid of it.
88.
Freddie Welsh had spent $150,000 on Long Hill, his entire life's earnings, and he placed it on the market for $20,000 cash as his business was close to collapse.
89.
Freddie Welsh's dream was to earn and run a health farm, held since his first days in America; now with his dream in tatters his life began to disintegrate.
90.
On 11 October 1919, Freddie Welsh was the only diner in a restaurant on 50th and Broadway, when by coincidence Harry Pollok walked in.
91.
Pollok swore out a warrant against Freddie Welsh who was arrested upon complaint that he had bitten his former manager's ear in half.
92.
Freddie Welsh denied the charges and after Pollok failed to appear to press the charge for a third time, the case was dismissed.
93.
Freddie Welsh returned to Long Hill, and with his money dwindling made the decision to return to the ring.
94.
Freddie Welsh then fought twice in May 1921, against Willie Jackson and Kid Murphy, both wins; but the most notable event regarding the bouts was the appearance of heavyweight champion Jack Dempsey, who was spending time relaxing at Freddie Welsh's health farm.
95.
In 1924, Freddie Welsh was back in court, after he was involved in a car collision caused by him driving his vehicle on the wrong side of the road.
96.
Freddie Welsh began looking for other ventures to take him away from the health farm, and in 1925 he rejoined the US Army, becoming a boxing instructor at the Plattsburg Barracks in upstate New York.
97.
Bey later recalled Freddie Welsh fondly, stating that he was a man who enjoyed having a good time, but was a terrible businessman.
98.
Freddie Welsh's doctor reported that Welsh was depressed and was drinking too much.
99.
On 17 July 1927 Freddie Welsh appeared at the West Side Court in New York City, sporting a black-eye suffered in a street brawl.
100.
Freddie Welsh faced a charge of disorderly conduct, after he came off worse in a drunken encounter with Edward Delaney of New York.
101.
The patrolman who saved Freddie Welsh from a serious beating assured the magistrate that it was a friendly fight and the charges were dismissed against both men.
102.
On 28 July 1927 a maid at Hotel Sidney, discovered Freddie Welsh laid face downward in his pyjamas and bathrobe.
103.
Freddie Welsh was inducted into the 'Ring Boxing Hall of Fame' in 1960, the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and the 'International Boxing Hall of Fame' in 1997.
104.
In 2008, Freddie Welsh was celebrated by Rhondda Cynon Taf council when it was decided to raise a blue plaque at his former boxing club to commemorate his life.
105.
Freddie Welsh had a history of boxing in his family, with his paternal grandfather being a mountain fighter.
106.
Freddie Welsh was calm, elusive and able to frustrate those who faced him, especially heavy hitters.
107.
Freddie Welsh, when talking to the press, always stated that he was a vegetarian.
108.
Freddie Welsh was a vegetarian for its health values, inspired by the writings of Bernarr Macfadden, and showed no interest in animal welfare.
109.
When Freddie Welsh beat Phil Brock, he received a telegram from Macfadden stating 'Mr Freddie Welsh - Dear Sir: Hope you will go through the whole bunch of meat eaters'.
110.
Freddie Welsh was known to slip away after training to secluded roadhouses where he would eat his favourite meal Chicken Maryland.