Philly Boxing History

MARCH 21, 1930

WOLGAST WINS BOXING CROWN
 

By Dixon Stewart / United Press Staff Correspondent

NEW YORK, March 22 - (UP) - Complaints regarding the decadence of boxing's flyweight division were forgotten today as fans paid tribute to a new 112-pound champion - Midget Wolgast of Philadelphia.

Wolgast won the title by decisively drubbing Black Bill of Cuba in the 15-round final of the New York State Athletic Commission's (NYSAC) title tourney at Madison Square Garden last night. The speedy Philadelphian looked every inch a champion and won all but two rounds, the first and the fifteenth.

Billed as the semi-final, on the theory that it was not attractive enough to draw a big gate, the bout proved a much better contest than the main event in which Kid Chocolate knocked out Al Ridgeway of Union City, NJ.

The undefeated Cuban outclassed his foe and dropped Ridgeway for four counts of nine being awarded a technical knockout after two minutes and 29 seconds of the second round.

Wolgast may not be cast from the same mold as the flyweight greats of the past, but his exhibition stamped him as a fighter worthy of the title. He thwarted the fiery little Cuban at every turn and showed the heart of a real fighting man by refusing to accept victory on a foul when hit a terrific blow below the belt in the sixth.

The new champion has been boxing for three years. He has been beaten only twice, once on a knockout and once on a decision, by opponents he subsequently defeated.